Toronto Niagara

On the shores of Lake Ontario. High rise Condos (condominiums = owner-occupied apartments) line the shore.  Bus driver advised that around $400,000 would buy a two bedroom condo, extra $50,000 if you want one actually facing the water.  It is like looking out to the ocean.The horizon is where the water meets the sky.
Other tidbits from the bus-driver: Soccer is 'getting big' in Toronto.
The Tim Horton coffee places seen everywhere are the business of one Tim Horton who once used to be a hockey star.
Population of Toronto 2.5m, greater Toronto is 5m.  GT includes new satellite cities such as Missasuaga, which is like a big LegoLand.  The only remarkable thing  is a pair of buildings designed by a team of Architects from Beijing.  The buildings are meant to be male and female.  The female, already nicknamed Marilyn, is completed.  Hourglass shape,  with an odd 30 degree twist half way up as well, as though she is turning.  About 130 stories high.  The pair can be seen from just about all over Toronto,  (Toronto is very flat), and will be condominiums, not offices. 
They are very serious about their clearways on the roads - $500 fine for stopping in one.
And $300 fine for parking in a bay reserved for disabled drivers or mothers with prams etc.
People walking dogs carry discrete plastic bags - did not hear what the fine was for failure to make us of bags. 
No wheelie bins, - rubbish goes out in green sacks.  Presumably those dogs are not allowed to roam or there would be rubbish all over.  Can't imagine what fine that would attract.

Today has been hot, 30 beneath clear blue skies - just like home.
Lots of French heard all around.  52 French speaking tourists were in the dining room at breakfast this morning, and I learned by observing that a 'continental breakfast' does not mean coffee and croissant.  It means coffee and at least four croissants.  How do they stay so slender?
For the Tequila Tippler, who enquired:  the fly enjoyed the company of Leon from Hobart and Sam from Belfast, the only English speakers amongst the group.  Leon was about to continue his holiday on an ice-breaker trip up to Greenland. So many things to do!

Niagara Falls - really spectacular of course, and the boat ride right up underneath - passengers all issued with blue rain ponchos - was exhilarating. 125,000 gallons of water per second pouring over the falls.  All very commercialised - hotels and casinos etc.  But beautiful gardens everywhere, at their very best now for summer.  Will get some pics up tomorrow. Internet too slow here.
Leaving the Falls, we passed through a chocolate box town called Niagara-on-the-Lake. "Very expensive town" advised the bus driver.  We passed showcase homes, big, built from timber or sometimes stone, with lots of gables and dormer windows. Deep verandahs with gracious furniture.  Adirondacks on meticulously mown lawns.  Carefully crafted gardens.  Not a fence to be seen, all open, very much on display. There is an overt declaration of comfortable prosperity being made.
The shopping centre of NoL was a mega version of the tourist village - think of Rickmond in Tasmania or Leura in Blue Mts or Tambourine in the GC hinterland, and multiply many times.
What was wonderful were the gardens up and down the streets, and riotously colourful hanging baskets at every lamp-post. There were shops with wares typical of various countries - Ireland and Scotland for example.  Most notable was the display in the front window of the Scottish shop of a large bottle of Vegemite!
The day ended with a visit to a winery and winetasting.  I did not try the red, but the white offered no competition at all to the best Aus and NZ products.