Flying home ~*

Good evening friend’s! Yesterday. .. was seriously long but we will get to that in a bit. I got the shuttle from the hotel to the airport at 9:15am. As I approached the airport, a feeling of sadness swept over me as I had to leave my last and favourite place to stay – Canada. I know that one day I will be back for sure!

One issue I had was when I hit my last desk of security checks at pearson airport, the guy refused to let me enter America for a transit flight without an esta – for those who don’t know,  an esta is a visitors visa for America. Now I was embarrassed because even though I had a valid j-1 visa, the guy just was not budging. I spent a stressful half an hour filling out a silly application form for the esta that once I had finished and went to a different desk,  I did not need it anyway since the guy figured out that my j-1 visa was still valid.

Anyways, onto the terminal and finally onto the plane that would take me to JFK.

The plane was legit this size, but the seats were roomy.

Goodbye Toronto. ..

Hello JFK. I needed a drink after the whole esta business and, since my next flight was five hours away, I had plenty of time to chill out. I went to this place called O’Neils which I discovered was on the slightly pricey range but the cocktail was good so no complaints! 

I thought I would treat myself to a burger while I was at it…

Goodbye New York. ..

Good morning world… at 7:10am today,  I arrived back in Scotland and was excited for seeing my family and going home.

My friend’s, there is a saying that I will use here… “there is no place like home.”

Whilst my big adventure was fun… there was nothing I looked forward to than spending the night in my own bed and connecting with the family.

Goodnight my friend’s! Have a good one, wherever you are in this world ~*

Toronto! Day five ~*

Good afternoon friend’s! Yesterday was my last full day in Toronto and so to finish off, I thought that I would start “where it all began” – the old town. 

I took the subway to the wrong station – Queens, when I should have gotten off at Kings but the people in the Eaton centre were very kind and directed me to where I should go. But before I left, my eye’s were drawn to the Disney shop…

Of course I ventured into this heaven and spent some money, who wouldn’t? 

I was welcomed into the old town by, as you can probably tell, ST. JAMES’S cathedral. Now, there is a story behind this beautiful structure. The cathedrals before it got destroyed or burned down. This specific one has lasted longer than the others.

This is the St. James cross, which I think was a donation but I am not quite sure…

Onto the next stop, St. Lawrence Market. My friend’s, I spent roughly three hours in here, this place is worth visiting!  It has everything! Food, shops just everything you could want!

My last stop was the St. James garden… I contemplated life here for a long time…

That’s about it my friend’s, have a good one! ~*

Toronto! Day four ~*

Good evening friend’s! Yesterday was… a peaceful day in my life. Since I never went to the Toronto music garden the other day, I decided to go yesterday. 

There is a story behind this garden… so I shall tell it now…

The Toronto music garden was designed by internationally acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma and landscape designer Julie Mor Messerv to be a “landscape reflection” of Bach’s “Suite No. 1 in G Major.”

When I got there is thought I would be hearing this suite as I strolled through the park but was surprised to see, hear and find something totally different.  A reflection is what it is and this garden was a work of art. Different sounds from nature gave me its music and well. .. it was beautiful. ..

This is where live music is played sometimes. ..

This tree… was a nice tree…

Now… I do not know if anyone has seen the studio ghibli movie ‘Spirited Away’ but there is one seen that Sen is being led to… ah, the name escapes me but anyways,  she is guided to a house by a moving light post and this path made me feel like I was in that movie!

Just beside this garden was also a really cute harbour, check it out. ..

I wish I could tell you what the statues of the people meant, but there was no plaque so I can onlyassume that they signified something in history?

As I wandered around the harbour I seen these. ..

Brinkley – my dog, would probably love it here!

Anyways, the day ended with me eating at the harbour which was not as pricey as you would think! I went to this place called Amsterdam BrewHouse and even though I did not like beer I was quickly offered some wine, cider or cocktails instead, I went for a glass of red wine… and I had this. ..

The waiter recommended it to me and I loved it. It’s called the smoked brisket sandwich and it was super yummy!

I recommend anyone who is into the whole music garden/ harbour thing to visit this place, you won’t be disappointed! 

Goodnight friend’s! ~* 

Toronto! Day three ~*

Good evening friend’s! Yesterday was a great day. .. an epic day even, I am so excited to share it with you!

So, without further ado, let’s get started! The first thing on my to see list for the day was to visit a supposedly haunted castle; Casa Loma. I love castle’s and learning the history behind them so to hear that it was rumoured to be haunted thrilled me even more! After my visit. .. I think I would agree that this place could be haunted, check it out friend’s. ..

This was my favourite room… a guest room with a heavy Asian influence! 

This was my second favourite room…

The rest of the rooms, I won’t spoil for anyone thinking of going but the next stage was the two towers, the Norman. ..

Then… the Scottish tower #proudtobescottish…

Check out that mist! 

The other tower! 

There are of course a few more nukes to this beautiful castle including the stables and garage… but what I want to show you is the ‘dark side’ of the castle… the tunnels where stories of death and plagues were told to you. If you are claustrophobic I recommend that you skip this bit…

After Casa Loma, I had planned to go to the Toronto music garden. .. but instead, I went to chinatown. ..again!  Specifically to the Kensington market. My friend’s, this had been kind of planned but at that very moment, I winged it and it and managed to get a tattoo! 

So, basically,  ever since I left camp I knew that I was going to get one but the where and the when was tricky. I stumbled upon this shop called Pearl Harbor in Kensington and it looked nice and clean and the staff were super nice so I thought why not? 

Daniel did an epic job don’t you think?

After the tattoo I headed back to the hotel and had a cheeky room service. .. comfort food but I believe I earned it! 

That’s it for another night! Goodnight my friend’s, have a good one! ~*

 
 

Toronto! Day two ~*

Good evening friend’s! Yesterday was so much better than the day before so get ready, there was a lot that went on starting with. .. the CN tower! 

I went up to the skypod to get some real high photo’s next…

I highly recommend this gig guys, the views are beautiful. .. it was busy when I went but apparently it gets quieter at night. 

Next, I went next door to an aquarium!  As some of you will know, I love aquariums and this one was no exception!  Check it out. ..

So,  enough of the aquarium. .. but if you are in town then I definitely recommend a visit, this place is epic!

Next, I was on to my final destination. .. Chinatown! Where I had a mini shopping spree and ate out… check it out. ..

Go to TSUJIRI for a refreshing delight… I had number 42… I can not for the life of me remember the name of it but it was good!

I went for dinner at this packed place called AJISEN RAMEN. 

I ordered this spicy ramen called Tom yum BBQ shrimp ramen. .. it was my first time having ramen. .. and I think I am a fan!

I also had bubble tea for the first time, this I am sure I am a fan of! I had the coconut flavour. .. 

That it for tonight friend’s, have a good night now! ~*

Toronto! Day one ~*

Good evening friend’s! Sorry for the late post but anyways! Yesterday I woke up at three in the morning in order to catch a shuttle that would take me away from my sanctuary to a ‘fingers crossed’ new sanctuary… but what made this morning so special was that when I checked out, the woman insisted I have some breakfast -even though the kitchen was closed – before I got on my merry way.  What a beautiful human being.  

Two flights later and I arrived in Toronto. .. I hailed cab and I was of to the ‘Quality hotel and suites’… check it out. ..

I would love to tell you that I went sightseeing and stuff yesterday guys… but I was not feeling well so I just went to the gym and then to Walmart and back. In walmart, I found the wine section and all my prayers had been answered… I settled upon a recommendation that was not too pricey…

This stuff is good…

Until tomorrow friend’s! ~* 

Portland! Day two ~*

Good evening friend’s! Yesterday was all about chilling out or at least hit the ground walking instead of running. The day started with an early breakfast that was included with the room. What I did after breakfast, I would not usually do in a hot country. .. I went to the gym guy’s, yes, the gym… originally I went to check it out but then I got into the spirit and had a workout. Here’s what it looked like. ..

After the gym, I decided to go for a cool down session at the pool. It took me a while to get into it since the water was so cold but I did it and in the end, it was worth it.

Once I had spent some time by the pool side, I got tired of being splashed by anonymous people that I had to find something to do. .. so what better way to say goodbye to maine than going back to Old Port. On the way there though… I came across this park.

I think the park was called Deer oak Park. ..

I don’t know if ya’ll can see this but there was a cute little house in the middle of this pond, in front of a fountain. I just had to take a photo of this scene…

This little dude was legit that close to me I swear… at one point, I thought he was going to go all duck-zilla on me since I never had any food!

My last stop for the day took me on a historical route of one of my favourite poets. In the art district of Old Port,  you can find the house where Henry Wadsworth – Longfellow lived in for a few years with his sister & Co. All I will say is that I went in hardly knowing anything about the guy bar a few of his poems to coming out knowing the story behind some of his poems and the tragic life he led. A definite must see if you like his stuff…

This was the front of the house…

This was the garden behind the house… it was huge! 

I just liked this bench…

And with the end of the tour, I walked back to the hotel to avoid the approaching rain and pack for the next day…

Goodnight my friend’s ~* 

Portland! Day one… ~*

Good evening friend’s! Yesterday was. .. a long day. I began my day going to the Port Authority to get the greyhound bus for my first journey. I made my way to Hartford on a Peter pan  bus – part of the greyhound chain. 

After Hartford, I hopped onto the bus for Boston – another Peter pan bus…

After Boston,  I was so ready to go to bed and just go unconscious for a while but there was one more bus I had to take. .. the greyhound bus to portland.  Then and only then would I be able to collapse in what I was going to discover as one version of paradise. 

At seven at night – portland time. I hailed a taxi within seconds of arriving and could not get in fast enough. The nice driver delivered me to paradise.  The hotel is called La Quinta inns and suites  in portland, ME. Even though there may be some bad reviews, my room… everything was perfection, I could have cried. Check it out. ..

My friend’s. .. this is the biggest bed I have slept in, in three months, it’s massive!  

I got a bath! Guys, I swear at this point I was crying with joy inside. I have only been having showers for three months… and I absolutely love baths!

Finally. .. South Park was on. My night was almost complete. .. 

I was hungry since I had, had nothing to eat and drink for seven hours… and on the back of my  room card was domino’s. .. so it had to be ordered. Then and only then was my night complete. ..

Until tomorrow friend’s, take care ~* 

New York! Day four… ~*

Good evening friend’s! So yesterday was my last full day in new York and I believe I spent it as well as I could have spent it, so without further ado, let’s get started.

The start of the day began with another movie themed/ personal story of mine. So, I do not know if ya’ll have watched the movie ‘Breakfast at tiffanys’ but it’s a classic with Audrey Hepburn, I won’t spoil it so yer gonna have to watch it to understand a little of my dream…

The more personal story is that after my grandpa passed, he left a little something behind and instead of spending it on whatever. .. I wanted to spend it whilst I was in America on something special and tiffanys was that place. This is what I bought…

This piece stuck out for me the most and so I felt it was right to buy it…

Next I went to the Intrepid museum where I had my super geek-fix at the… Star Trek Experience exhibition! check it out fellow fans! 

My friend’s. .. it was an experience and a half! I went back to the hostel to phone my brother and wish him a happy birthday before going out for tea/dinner – whatever ya call it.

I really fancied Japanese food since I did not get a chance to try it before and there are so many restaurants in New York.  And so I picked a family owned one called I Ichie. ..

Even though it did take out… the restaurant was packed and the food… to die for it was so good!

This was the soup I got as part of my main meal… it came before the starter but it was so good, I do not know what was in it but seaweed was in it and spring onion to… it was tasty!

I had Nanban Zuke for a starter… lightly fried white fish with chilli and a kind of tomato dressing, it was so good!

I had chicken Teriyaki for the main course which was unlike anything I’ve ever had at home. The real thing really is the best!

I just wanted to share this with you, this was such a cute decorated section of the restaurant that made me smile…

Finally , I will leave you with this. .. as I was walking back to the hostel I noticed this on the ground. ..

Goodnight my friend’s!  ~*