Retired Nomads - Part 2 : VIA Rail Canadian Shield to Toronto, Ontario

July 12

We were supposed to arrive at 12:30 today so they were having a brunch instead of a separate breakfast and lunch. They said we could get it up until an hour before disembarking. Now that was closer to 5:30 at this point so we thought we might push lunch later to tide us over. Good thing we went when we did as they were only serving until noon. One lady we sat with said she came early for breakfast and then came back for lunch.

some of the scenery as we continued closer to Ontario

small town of Washago

poor Doug he was graffiti outside the train arrival area

beautiful flowers that we had been seeing along the way, but finally got to see them up close

It was a long afternoon until we disembarked so we were ready to track down a late dinner. We arrived and had to get our bags and since the hotel was literally right across the street, there was no transfer needed and we just pulled them across the street. We hadn’t seen “the sisters” since they were in a separate car, but as luck would have it, they found their luggage and walked across the street the same time.

The Fairmont Royal York is an historic hotel so there were only stairs with no ramp to get the luggage up to the front entrance. Of course, the “prissy one” was bitching up a storm about having to drag their own luggage and just how would they get them up the stairs? Of course, someone rushed out to take them for all of us. We did discover a ramp and elevator on the side of the hotel. (Which we used 2 days later when we checked out and pulled our luggage back across the street to Union Station.

Union Station

Fairmont Royal York

lounge in the lobby

our hall was like a scene from The Shining

our room

The train really does leave you in the heart of Toronto. (Capital of Ontario) Everything was quite walkable from our hotel. We found a drugstore for some Sudafed and cough drops. I was almost better, but felt it was better to have them should I start feeling poorly again.

After being on a train for 3 nights the humongous suite was a pleasure!

We dropped out things and settled in a bit before going out for food. We headed for Pizzeria Libretto for their wood-fired pizzas. Thank goodness I was starting to feel better.

We split some wonderful Focaccia with extra virgin olive oil, chili oil, balsamic vinegar and then split a Diavola Pizza which was spicy salami, San Marzano tomato, olives, onion, Fior di latte mozzarella, crema di pepperoncino & fresh basil.

Pizzaria Libretto

We then walked about the area and found a gelato shop which was pretty good! We walked our way back to the hotel to settle in for the night. It felt good to sleep in a real bed.