Toronto Scorecard

We spent the weekend in Toronto visiting the daughter (who is engaged to be married as of a few days ago). Many of you remember her for her poop scooping abilities. She is also a heck of a PR professional.

Some helpful travel tips:

Even though Google maps says it takes 5 hours to get there, you need to add an hour for customs and Toronto traffic, which is maddening. Build in an extra 30 minutes for when border traffic is heavy, then make sure it's ok if you're still 30 minutes later than that.

In Toronto, stay off of Eglington for a while. The construction of the subway is making a mess of traffic.

Make sure to tune in to local news about the mayor. Mayor Ford allegedly pulled a Marion Berry by allegedly (I'm going heavy on the 'allegedlys' just to be safe) smoking crack and going one better by being caught on camera. Unfortunate city rules don't provide for the opportunity to kick him out, making a mockery of the office and likely shutting down Toronto politics for another year.  Hell, they may even vote him in again.

Gas is $4.68/gallon when the going rate in Aurora is $3.09. Buy gas in Buffalo on the way and just enough in Canada to get you back across the border coming back so you can buy it in Buffalo again. Buffalo, BTW, was $3.30.

We seem to have good luck with the Rainbow bridge coming back in terms of wait time. So I am asking you all to use the Peace bridge so the Rainbow bridge stays clear. Thanks.

If you take the Rainbow bridge home and need to stop for food, I recommend Uncle Joe's Diner in Hamburg, NY. very near the intersection of Route 75 and I 90. Good pie which we refrained from trying this time around. NOTE: they get points off for playing Christmas music on November 3.

If you're disgusted with the Krispy Kreme's that they sell at the gas station, then the Peach Road exit in Erie has an actual Krispy Kreme store, where they bake them fresh. The Missus and I split a glazed doughnut that was probably 30 seconds out of the oven. Mmmm. 

A year and a half ago I didn't even have a smart phone and now I cannot wait to come back across the border so I can use it. Voice and data charges are prohibitive on our plan so all we can do where there is no wi-fi is text and check the time. We're going to look into the cost of temporary service upgrades for trips.

Toronto is a terrific city. Go there and have some fun.