Leaving Toronto
My flight from Toronto to LA has been delayed but with cheaper wi-fi here in Toronto than LA and plenty of time at LAX to change flights I'm not complaining. My bags are checked through all the way to Sydney so the worst thing that can happen is I get home late.
Surprisingly for many people it was my first trip to Canada, mostly because a single entry USA visa doesn't allow me to trip across the border from the USA while on a trip there. I have family in Canada so I really should have visited before.
Highlights for me of the Toronto trip include:
* Darius and Lynette's wedding, it was an honour to be invited to this and a pleasure to travel half way around the world for it. The ceremony was brief and intimate, the reception was excellent and the wedding cake (thanks to Magda) was spectacular. The food was as good as anyone could expect, I had the beef and it was very tender (unlike the piece of shoe leather that a certain establishment to remain nameless served me on a previous trip to North America). Guys, I hope you enjoyed exploring the "care package" I brought; and no you really don't have to sample the "you'll love home brand imitation maple flavoured syrup", that one was a joke.
* Seeing Niagara Falls from the other side -- I'd previously seen it from the USA side but the above mentioned visa restrictions had prevented me from getting to the Canadian side in the past. I had to laugh at the town though, it was the worst example of stereotypical USA carnival town you could imagine.
* KWDS -- dance symposium which followed. Everyone else's main highlights have been posted elsewhere so I'll refrain from going into great detail. It was good to meet new people (Emily, Emma, Wendy, David), catch up with others I see only rarely (Geoffrey, Katrina, Rosina) renew the occasional odd past acquaintance (Felice, whose book I've been reading and will send comments on shortly) as well as see everyone I see all the time on these visits (Darius, Lynette, Gwommy, Gregory, Magda, Charles & Elaine, etc). Highlights were the Saturday night ball especially La Volta with Phillip, and Sunday afternoon dance party (where Darius and I had inadvertently dressed almost identically, if someone has some photos please share) which I got to run, and played dance tag with Darius and Gwommy.
* Spa party. Having a hot spa at the end of a dance symposium is a very good thing. By Sunday afternoon I couldn't even lift my feet, however after a half hour in a hot spa I could walk again although I'm sure my legs will be frozen again after sitting on planes for the next 24 hours.
* Maple Syrup! I'll be bringing some home.
Anyway, my next USA trips will probably be Pennsic in 2010 and then followed by Terpsichore in 2011 (when Easter falls later, meaning festival will be later and I can get away to Terpsichore without it conflicting).
Surprisingly for many people it was my first trip to Canada, mostly because a single entry USA visa doesn't allow me to trip across the border from the USA while on a trip there. I have family in Canada so I really should have visited before.
Highlights for me of the Toronto trip include:
* Darius and Lynette's wedding, it was an honour to be invited to this and a pleasure to travel half way around the world for it. The ceremony was brief and intimate, the reception was excellent and the wedding cake (thanks to Magda) was spectacular. The food was as good as anyone could expect, I had the beef and it was very tender (unlike the piece of shoe leather that a certain establishment to remain nameless served me on a previous trip to North America). Guys, I hope you enjoyed exploring the "care package" I brought; and no you really don't have to sample the "you'll love home brand imitation maple flavoured syrup", that one was a joke.
* Seeing Niagara Falls from the other side -- I'd previously seen it from the USA side but the above mentioned visa restrictions had prevented me from getting to the Canadian side in the past. I had to laugh at the town though, it was the worst example of stereotypical USA carnival town you could imagine.
* KWDS -- dance symposium which followed. Everyone else's main highlights have been posted elsewhere so I'll refrain from going into great detail. It was good to meet new people (Emily, Emma, Wendy, David), catch up with others I see only rarely (Geoffrey, Katrina, Rosina) renew the occasional odd past acquaintance (Felice, whose book I've been reading and will send comments on shortly) as well as see everyone I see all the time on these visits (Darius, Lynette, Gwommy, Gregory, Magda, Charles & Elaine, etc). Highlights were the Saturday night ball especially La Volta with Phillip, and Sunday afternoon dance party (where Darius and I had inadvertently dressed almost identically, if someone has some photos please share) which I got to run, and played dance tag with Darius and Gwommy.
* Spa party. Having a hot spa at the end of a dance symposium is a very good thing. By Sunday afternoon I couldn't even lift my feet, however after a half hour in a hot spa I could walk again although I'm sure my legs will be frozen again after sitting on planes for the next 24 hours.
* Maple Syrup! I'll be bringing some home.
Anyway, my next USA trips will probably be Pennsic in 2010 and then followed by Terpsichore in 2011 (when Easter falls later, meaning festival will be later and I can get away to Terpsichore without it conflicting).