Day 1 – Robin’s take
Drink Up!
Update 2: Added pics from our trip to the Royal Ontario Museum to the gallery.
Update: pictures have now been posted to facebook.
Liz and I discussed trying a “She Says/He Says” format, where we weigh in separately and offer our unique points of view on the same topic throughout out travels. We will give it a go with Day 1 and see how it fares. Feel free to comment on this.
We have some pictures I would like to share, but they are currently sealed in an impenetrable vault on Liz’s iPhone, so it will be a day or so until we discover the secret incantation to unlock them (now posted). I have already tried ‘speak friend and enter’. No go.
Leaving Edmonton was an odd thing to experience. We went through weeks of prep, which included excusing ourselves from our jobs, countless wonderful yet bittersweet good-bye’s, and down-sizing our lives into two backpacks. And then we found ourselves sitting in an empty house, packed, and anywhere to go. It was a little surreal.
We chose Toronto for a few reasons. It was on our list of cities to explore, cheap flights were available at a moments notice, and then I stumbled across a hockey article that mentioned a celebrity hockey game occuring in Toronto the very next night. Considering how badly I will miss going to Oilers games this season, and the fact that Tim Robbins was one of the celebrity players (that’s how I knew Liz would go 
), it was a must see. Thursday afternoon started with us having no plan at all, and by Friday morning we were on a plane to TO with tickets to the game. I could get very used to this way of life.
My most memorable moment of people watching was after we landed and were on the subway heading to downtown Toronto. There was a young man sitting away from us with headphones on. Fairly normal encounter, at first blush. But I noticed he was talking. Then I realized he wasn’t singing to some catchy tune, or talking on a phone, but rather was reading aloud from the bible in front of him, and to no one in particular. He recited non-stop for thirty minutes or so until we reached our stop, and had to depart. Perhaps he is still going. I wasn’t able to see the front of his hat, but the back had ‘Jesus’ embroidered into it. Hardcore.
The last thing I want to leave you with is a kudos to the VP of Beer Operations at the Air Canada Centre. Not only do they serve Rickard’s Red on tap (beats the pants off of the soapy Canadian draft beer at the Oilers games), but they serve it in cups with lids that have these ingenious mouth spouts and flaps to provide both enjoyable imbibing and spill-free cheering when a goal is scored. Genious.
In short, Toronto = great, and this trip = very good idea indeed.
Robin
September 6th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Did you yell down to Sundin to make up his frickin mind?
September 7th, 2008 at 7:10 am
I thought it was funny that they had him captain the visiting team
Also, not sure if you saw the highlights from the game (TSN has it on their site somewhere), but when the announcer did a bench interview with Sundin and told him they wanted him back and the crowd cheered, Sundin didn’t look too impressed and just spit. Could be just me, but that didn’t seem to be a very good sign.
September 7th, 2008 at 8:00 am
I’m not sure if it was intentional… but you spelt genius wrong…
I am incredibly surprised that I am the first Mayne to point that out.
September 7th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Oh man – that’s what I get for writing blog posts late at night after a long day, and then not using a spell check.
In fact, that mistake is funny enough I am going to leave it :p
September 7th, 2008 at 11:58 am
Man this is sooo exciting
I can’t wait to read more!
September 7th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
hey glad you made it alright. What a great looking place that you are staying at.
This is a great way to stay posted.
Love you both, have the time of your lives.
Dad and Marlene
September 7th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Bon Voyage, I’ll enjoy watching the adventure unfold!
September 7th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
“Sundin didn’t look too impressed and just spit.”
Wouldn’t you if asked to play in Toronto?
September 8th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Hey I’m you made it safe n sound.
I would of figured Sundin would of swallowed not spit.
September 8th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I should also proof read before sending. “glad” fits in there somewhere.
September 10th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Hey guys! Love the site. By the way, we had the best tasting steaks on your BBq the other night. Thanks again! So sweet you’re finally there!
September 11th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Hey Robin whats up! The site is great.
I got guitar lessons and had a one lesson so far have learned the first few cords of Smoke On The Water. I will be famous in two years! Ha ha
Love Colton
September 12th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
It all looks so wonderful there with all the old brick buildings. I just love those types of areas. So really did you get any of those hip looking galoshes? (I sure hope I have not misspelled any words here.) Talk about Gummie overload.
It is hard to believe the architecture of the buildings, just fascinating!
Can’t wait to see more.
September 15th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Hi guys,
I’m so thrilled with what you’re doing. I think it is one of those adventures many of us fantasize about but never actually do. Traveling is the best way to learn about the world and yourselves. May you find the perfect balance between the pavement and the earth, peace and excitement, as you explore these great cities. Breathe deeply and have a ball!
December 7th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
hey liz how’s it going wish you where here
December 7th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
hey