Country HouseSep 21, 2009
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I am blaming jet lag and the trauma of my flight from Vancouver on a very very late start today. Once up I tried to make it to the Art GAllery of Ontario but found it shut as it was a Monday - should have learnt this by now as most art places seem to close on this day. Anyway, instead I caught the subway up north to find Casa Loma which was fortunately open (thank goodness otherwise I might have cried!)
Casa Loma is an unusual place in the middle of the city. It was a gothic style "castle" built in the early 1900's by a guy called Sir Henry Pellat, an industrialist who made it big through starting electricity company in Toronto. The story ended rather sadly but the house has been maintained and it was a really interesting place to walk round which a good audio tour to highlight some of the features/stories. The gardens were a little bit sad and the weather was very grey but I am sure they are beautiful in season.
It was late afternoon by the time I left the house and headed back to the hotel. I spent the evening at the flat of a couple of Australian friends' I'd made on my first tour, who had just moved to Toronto for the year. It was a really fun evening and it was so nice to have a home cooked dinner for a change - no chips in sight!
