Some of those acrobats, well I wasn't prepared for how they would make me cry.
Sunday. We lounge a little over coffee, and then head out for a bike ride out to the Beaches and back, with the idea that we'll have brunch on a patio on our return. I have two of these with that excellent brunch.
Later, we buy some veg and wine for dinner later and then go hang out on my building's rooftop and watch the CNE's annual air show. There is more than one reason that air shows creep me out. One is related to a recurring nightmare I had back in a former life, which always culminated in a small plane crash. In a harbour. Much like the harbour sitting underneath these dipping and twirling machines.
The other creep factor is the raw fear the sound of the fighter jets in particular awake in me. For a moment, as it roars overhead, higher and higher, preparing for its hurtling dive back to earth, I am rendered frozen, hands tingling, heart racing.
It's the Island Soul festival at the Harbourfront Centre, and we enjoy the islandy-ness a lot. This year they're celebrating the 50th anniversary of the independence of both Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, and lucky us - steel drum gorgeousness! It's a pleasant and happy vibe and an oh-so-welcome Monday off after an eventful and busy weekend.
My niece Elaine is staying with me over the weekend and we're doing Toronto stuff. Elaine's creativity is bursting at the seams these days so we figure it's appropriate to go to the Art Gallery of Ontario to see the Picasso exhibit. We both agree the exhibit is spectacular. Sweet moment: we're walking out of the gallery and past the people lined up to get in. There is a little girl of around seven, wearing a princess dress, who spots Elaine and stares at her, turning around in her spot as we walk by. She gives her a shy little grin and fingery wave. Elaine, distracted by the girl's attention, waves back and bumps into a pole. She laughs at her herself and I suggest the little girl probably likes her even more now.
It's really hot outside. We walk down the block so I can show Elaine the Ontario College of Art building. Maybe this young artist will go there one day. We have an ice cream cone, and then catch the Dundas streetcar to go to Mia's for a family barbeque. We're charmed by this rather run-down looking cafe we see at one of the streetcar stops.
Mia creates an outstanding meal. Prime rib on the barbeque, skewers of fish and shrimp, pasta with pesto, grilled salad and this ultra-chocolaty berrylicious plate of goodness for dessert. Later we take the King car back to Spadina and walk slowly back down to my place, thinking that it's been a really great summer day.
I spend most of my last day of vacation outside. Ceri and I ride our bikes out to AfroFest at Woodbine Park and it's such a good afternoon. The music and the drumming compel us to stay longer. We do.
We ride back to have a peaceful early dinner at the Keating Channel and are disappointed to find the place has turned into an afternoon dance club with horrible dance club "music" grinding loud over the patio. We leave and ride over to the Esplanade and a enjoy patio dinner there. I have salad with steak and beets and bits of stilton cheese.
Later I meet Kelsey at the Harbourfront and we walk around the piers and look at the vendors' goods and have a drink and chat near the kids' canoeing pond.
Not pleased to get back to the office tomorrow. But I am pleased with how this vacation unfolded; I feel rested and happy and I'm sporting a fabulous tan.
Writer. Mom. Sister. Daughter. Pal. Writing Teacher. Finder of stories in daily life. Pay attention - there's a story wherever you go.
Recent Comments