This is the tenth in a series of posts covering my trip to Eastern Canada in September 2019, adapting emails originally sent to friends. I use NOW to refer to any updates since I did the trip.\
People are often shocked when I say I'm away for 15 days. Well, we're into the double digits now and still lots to do.
Room
was noisy again last night, but I think it was people unpacking. Power
snorer was gone. Got up around 5 and walked to McDonald's. My luggage
was so full I couldn't even extend the handle. Had I bought even one
more DVD it would have gone in my raincoat. Left behind the GO Transit
schedules, figuring I can get new ones. I made it to my favourite
McDonald's on rue Ste-Catherine, having found the coupons, Kiosk worked.
Glad I left Auberge Bishop earlier than planned as briefly got turned
around.
[NOW: Auberge Bishop has closed.]
At the Megabus terminal I was a bit
worried because some luggage got weighed, but then seemed only concerned
with the hard shell cases. Made it on board no problem even though
even a butterfly would have trouble fitting into either backpack or
suitcase.
I again got a top front case due to
reservations. This time there was a Kirkland pickup so Megabus took a
more northerly route to Vaudrieul-Dorion, bypassing Île-Perrot. But
we were back on Autoroute 20 well before it became Hwy 411 on the Quebec/Ontario border.
As common lately unfortunately we
weren't allowed to leave the bus at the only other stopover, Kingston.
Did a bit of real daydreaming towards the end of the 6 hour ride, but
not as bad as sometimes and I think I managed to keep with the photos.
Getting off at Toronto Coach Terminal, I visited the Edward St BMV Books
before grabbing lunch att the nearest McDonald's on Yonge, not far from
where Backpackers on Dundas used to be. Kiosk worked and a woman working
there helped me get my order to my table so I was obviously loaded
down.
I walked past Yonge-Dundas Square and
made it to a streetcar stop at Queen and Yonge. A guy who seemed
friendly asked me some questions; gave truthful but minimal answers
just in case: "Where are you headed today" "The hostel."
I
got on the 501 streetcar (Toronto Transit) and payed my fair from the
fair machine on board. The newer, more gentrified streetcars have a
machine towards the middle. I got off near Parkdale Hostellerie. When I
got the same room with lots of options, the woman was surprised I
wanted the same bunk as before. Lower level, can exist either side, has a
counter for my glasses and power outlets right above it, and easy access
to the door and the locker with minimal disturbance of other guests. Of
course I was going to take that one again even without my OCD. I took
my inner suitcase out of my outer suitcase at last.
I
walked up to Bloor; it was drizzling most of the rest of the day, but
found it a bit refreshing and didn't bother with rain coat; due to
humidity wasn't even really getting wet. Eyesore Cinema wasn't open
today. I visited Zoinks and Doug Miller Books. At Dollarama I bought a
couple padlocks to replace the one I lost the key to. I visited Seekers
Books. Got some comic trades at Bloor's BMV Books, including ones I
wanted to get earlier but for space reasons needed to wait until I was
back from Quebec. Visited Thunder Struck (comics; same location as the
former Labyrinth, also comics). I visited Bay Video. Game Centre near
Yonge apparently merged with the one on Danforth.
I visited ABC Books. I noticed as I had previously suspected that a store that I never entered but which had been
a running gag during every visit had closed down. Yes, no more Not Just
Condoms. So, for one final time... But wait, there's more!
I
revisited BMV Books on Edward St now that I was less weighed down.
There was some sore of climate thing happening at Yonge-Dundas Square.
Ate dinner at Burger King. They screwed up up order and I was too tired
and hungry to take it back. Still, cheaper than McDonald's.
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