Friday, 30 September 2011

Spadina Museum, Toronto

My last day in downtown Toronto.  Huda & Sarah had organized free tickets to the museum for me... so I'd better use it before I leave.  I also have to get my Amtrak train ticket to New York - I booked it online, however, I still have to go to the counter at the train station to obtain the actual ticket... so much for the 'E'-world....and I need a book to read for my long journey...

I get to the train station, and the Amtrak counter is only open until 1.00 p.m. - I get there at 12.00pm and the counter is closed.... I ask at Information .... and was informed that the staff is probably on a break!  Unbelievable!!!!!!!  Finally after me trying to stay calm and collected for the next 1/2 hour, the staff finally returns.. .and only for some people to jump the queue in front of me.... I decided NOT to have a go, but to be nice.....  Anyway, long story short, I got my ticket, but was told that there was no seat allocation, first come first served... great - NOT!!!!  I think I prefer the Canadian trains - seat allocation, good service, wifi..... none of the above with the American trains..... is it already 'Welcome back to America' time???? Oh dear....

Anyhow, this was my last walk through town all the way to the Spadina House and Casa Loma, with a lunch stop at Chinatown and a second hand bookstore... my list is now ticked off!

Casa Loma (Spanish for Hill House) is a Gothic Revival style house in midtown Toronto, that is now a museum and landmark. It was originally a residence for financier Sir Henry Mill Pellatt. Casa Loma was constructed by a team of 300 workers over a three-year period from 1911–1914. The house cost approximately $3.5 million. At 98 rooms, it was the largest private residence in Canada. Casa Loma has five acres of gardens. An underground tunnel connects Casa Loma to the Hunting Lodge and to The Stables (Garage, Potting Shed, Stalls, Carriage Room and Tack Rooms).

I only looked at the outside grounds of the property, as I had the free tickets for the Spadina House!  I know, cheapskate.....

Apparently this block of land (Casa Loma) used to be a golf course - and considered a long way out of town...








Spadina Museum, also called Spadina , is a historic manor on Spadina Road in Toronto, that is now a museum. The museum preserves the house much as it existed and developed historically. The art, decor and architecture of the house used to reflect the contemporary styles of the 1860s through the 1930s. Presently it shows the inter-war era style of the 1920s and 1930s. The estate's gardens reflect the landscape during the Austin family's occupation of the house.  The rooms contain furniture purchased by the family, much of it made in Toronto.  The influence of new technologies such as gas lighting, central heating, electricity and the telephone can be seen here. The life of the domestic staff is represented in the working kitchen and pantries.

In 1866, the property was purchased by businessman and financier James Austin, founder of the Dominion Bank and president of Consumers Gas. At that time, the home was located in an area that was starting to become "Millionaires Row." The Austins and their children used their 80 acres for farming until James, and later his son Albert, subdivided and sold most of the land. The remaining 5.7 acres include an orchard, a grape arbour and a kitchen garden, along with the more formal areas of lawn and display beds.

The last living resident of the house, Anna Kathleen Thompson, a daughter of Albert Austin, negotiated the transfer of the house, furnishings and remaining acreage to the City of Toronto and the province of Ontario in 1978.






























































I absolutely loved this place.  I was lucky, I just arrived in time for a guided tour!  My first question: Am I allowed to take photos?  well....I am writing a blog...

The way the rooms were decorated and furnished - fabulous!  Bright colours and lots of them.... and lots of furniture and lots of big rooms - I want to move in!!!  The lady of the house loved reds and greens.... they had gas lights and heating in the house...

The interesting bit was, the way they used to treat their domestic servants.  They were supposed to be invisible... quite amazing.  EG: There were rods with a curtain, hiding the door to the kitchen in the dining room  The purpose: so when the servants come into the dining room and put the food on the side table, they are not seen doing so.  There was also a floor trap door in the winter garden, this was for the gardener, so he could enter the room and look after the plants,without having to enter the house and be seen....  I find these fascinating facts!!  quite amazing that the servants were good enough to do all the work, but were not supposed to be seen at all.  Wow....sub humans....

This was quite a journey down history lane, very very interesting.

S & D

Thursday, 29 September 2011

Ottawa - Day 2

I slept ok - all 8 beds were occupied, but the girls were very nice and considered.  There are 2 bathrooms on the floor - clean thank goodness....

I got myself ready, checked out and went to the Byward Market for coffee and breakfast!  Need to start the day right....I felt almost like being in Paris, sitting there with my coffee and watching people pass by....

Today I am planning to see yet another Notre Dame, walk to the Rideau Falls, walk across the Pont Alexandra Bridge to the other side of the river and then back along the Rideau Canal.  I know.... some people think I am crazy... but I love walking and exploring.  It keeps drizzling so I don't fancy hiring a bike...

I have til 4pm then I'll have to figure out how to get myself back to the train station, which is outside of town.  I need to take the bus to get there.... good luck to me....






The Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica is an ecclesiastic basilica in Ottawa, located in the Lower Town neighbourhood. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990.

The Basilica is the oldest church in Ottawa and the seat of the city's Catholic archbishop. Its twin spires and gilded Madonna are easily identifiable from nearby Parliament Hill and the surrounding area.









This big spider belongs to The National Gallery of Canada (French: Musée des beaux arts du Canada).It is one of Canada's premier art galleries. The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building.

I didn't go in to see the Gallery, only used the 'washrooms'.....

Off I stroll along Ottawa River to the Rideau Falls.

The Rideau Falls are two waterfalls where the Rideau River empties into the Ottawa River. The falls are divided by Green Island. The falls were named by the early French for their resemblance to a curtain, or rideau in French. The Rideau River was later named after the falls.





 I sat for a while to take in this breathtaking environment....such a beautiful and tranquille place....




Next stop the Canadian Museum of Civilization and a stroll through Jacques Cartier Park.  The other side of the river...across the Pont Alexandra Bridge...




 View of Parliament Hill from the other side...
 Museum of Civilizations....
 Autumn colours....

After a coffee break at the museum, I continue back over the bridge all the way to the Rideau Canal.... apparently in winter, when the Canal is frozen, people can iceskate on it - that'll be fun....

The Rideau Canal (French: Canal Rideau), connects the city of Ottawa, on the Ottawa River to the city of Kingston on Lake Ontario. The canal was opened in 1832 as a precaution in case of war with the United States and is still in use today, with most of its original structures intact.   It is the oldest continuously operated canal system in North America. It is operated today by Parks Canada as a recreational waterway. The locks on the system open for navigation in mid-May and close in mid-October.





Turned out it was a good day - sunny in between.... I love Ottawa, and autumn here is a great season - am glad I stayed!  Ottawa has a lot to offer, lots of museums, universities, parks and water ways and countryside around it.... I can only recommend a visit here - specially during autumn time!

By chance I passed the bus terminal at the university from where my bus goes - had to ask which direction to go, but all went well. I found the train station with plenty of time to have a cup of tea and a snack.



The train journey was uneventful and comfortable.  There was an absolutely beautiful sunset, the sky was lit up - just beautiful.







 I arrived back in Toronto safely at 10.oopm.  Huda picked me up from the subway station - thank you!

Ahh, how wonderful to have my own room and bed and space again....

Signing out...

S & D.