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Tuesday's plan was for a full city day in downtown Toronto. However, Dave's camera sensor was looking muddy despite running the cleaning mode so we decided to take it into a camera specialist to have the sensor professionally cleaned. We found a firm called Vistek who turned out to be excellent. They cleaned both camera sensors, Jill's no problem but Dave's was diagnosed as having begun to suffer from surface deterioration and needed repair. Vistek then refused to charge us for any of the work! Dave's camera remains useable although there is an area of blemish that shows up on plain blue sky in particular.
This camera mission had eaten into our day a little so it was straight back on the tram, still on the same token, heading for lunch at the CN Tower. This was an extravagance but it was Jill's belated birthday celebration meal and a booking in the revolving tower restaurant included the cost of entry to the Tower and viewing platform - so a bargain really!
The experience was a bit special. The 360 Restaurant at 1,151 feet, completes a full rotation once every 72 minutes so we went round about one and a half times during our meal. Although it was hazy the city panoramas were an impressive backdrop to a delicious lunch. Lunch began on a top tier table where the view we had was good but included a sight of a very fat man on the table immediately in front of us - so between us and the view. However as we'd booked a relatively late lunch were were moved to window seats for dessert where the view improved considerably.
After lunch we took in the slightly lower viewing platform and stood on the glass floor still over 1,000 feet up - scary! Then it was back down the 22km/hour lift and out to wander by the Steam Whistle Brewery, Roundhouse Park and the Waterfront area. We also walked into the main skyscraper area to take photos of the mirror-walled buildings.
After a quick refresher drink it was time to go to the Blue Jays baseball game. They were on a loosing streak although had beaten the New York Yankees the previous night. Sadly the Yankees went 4 runs up in the first innings and the Blue Jays hardly looked like scoring at all. We found the rules puzzling although we did get it by half way through. However, we were not exactly captivated. The crowd reaction, or lack of, suggested the regular fans like to suffer in silence - not much of an atmosphere and any chants faded quickly rather than building round the stadium - not like Elland Road! Baseball is even slower than cricket and the players must be the highest paid per calorie expended of any sport! The Jays did pull one back but had little to show for nine innings in bat. And you won't believe this but at one point the big screen camera found our fat bloke from lunch time! To add insult to injury the stadium roof had been closed all evening and we left to a downpour, arriving back at the condo somewhat damp.
- comments
Sally What a shame! I thought seeing a 'big game' would have been great :-/
Chris The Americans and Canadians love for baseball somewhat mystifies me. It is the national sport of the USA, but doesn't easily fit with the up-tempo, fast-food image of the big cities. Of course you had to try the experience though :-)