Gone and back again

You know how when you go away somewhere and then come back, it feels like nothing has changed - as if no time has passed at all?  And you know how sometimes during the time away you've totally changed inside, accentuating that feeling that nothing has changed in the place you've left?

This was my visit to Toronto in June.

(Except the coffee shops.  These seem to change every 6 months.  Found some new good ones though - check out ZeZe in Parkdale and Jimmy's Coffee in Kensington.)

The visit to Toronto was our first stop on the "Abandon Ship" Tour.  Four months off the boat and into the neighbourhoods (and spare bedrooms) of our loved ones.  Today I am feeling rested in a small village outside of Manchester, UK, in the home of one of the Captain's sisters. She took us today to see boats and water, one of our favourite things to do, and we took a boat tour up the Anderton Boat Lift. This is literally an elevator for boats from the river to the canal and vice versa. Very interesting, but we forgot to bring the camera and I meant to write this post about Toronto anyways.

In Toronto, both the Captain and I were overwhelmed by the shear numbers of people and buildings. We still saw occasional sunsets, including this one.

We also had many wonderful, fabulous, excellent meet-ups with friends, and this was one thing - I'm so glad to say - that didn't change at all. I still have awesome friends in Toronto.

L-R, The Captain, Crew and Nathan - enjoying ourselves, obviously.

We did manage to squeeze in several green space visits - we went down to the waterfront, through High Park, down Philosopher's Walk and a couple other nice places.  We ate lots of mushrooms, cheese and berries, and the Captain continued his quest for the perfect Canadian Ale.  We helped friends move, part of the regular karmic balancing necessary when you are a person who moves a lot yourself. And we did a bit of shopping, of course.  (Like someone got a snazzy new smartphone, yay!)

But I had to come to terms with the fact that I am no longer a 'Torontonian' myself, and not likely to become one anytime soon.  Sad, but okay.  Don't worry, I'll be back soon - like in August, and then again in October...

It just wouldn't be a post about Toronto without a picture like this one.