We did have a quiet walk around Minilakes the first evening, meeting neighbours dog walking and seeing the ducks. However we then spent two glorious sunny days visiting the botanical gardens, Niagara on the Lake , Wilsonville and Port Dover to see normal life in the area and then the third, slightly cooler day, to the McMichael gallery of Canadian Art, a wonderful experience.
I say very funny, because Patrick can tell a good story and he appears not to stress about anything, a perfect foil for me. He doesn't use a sat nav, or Google maps, but will look up his journey first, maybe remember part of it and is disinclined to believe Google maps when I look it up! Now this involves interesting diversions, resulting in meeting many interesting strangers who help us out. There are occasional stops for his smoke breaks, then he might just happen across somewhere he knows or someone he recognises. He did jokingly assure me that we should leave tonight for tomorrow's train, but then said he does know exactly where to go! At one point, looking for the access to the highway, he asked someone at the traffic lights. They said 'follow us ' so we did
So the day of the Botanical gardens was very hot and any confusion there could be excused as it is on three sites. We started on the main site where there were some interesting displays, woodland, roses, medicinal, sensory, all interspersed with sculpture.
After this we visited the Rock garden for lunch and further exploration. There were several weddings going on and lots of wedding parties having photos, all very jolly. This had all taken a bit longer than planned so it was late afternoon before we headed for Niagara on the Lake, which involved a fairly circuitous route, when I think we missed the exit.
It is a pretty town but very touristy and being Saturday, quite busy. However we spent an hour wandering up and down and had an ice cream, the only item Patrick has allowed me to buy do far! By the time we returned in was 8.30 and dark! We passed a sign for Grimsby! I don't think we had gone that far off route! 😂
This is a statue of George Bernard Shaw. Apparently this is a very cultural town with a well known theatre. It had been a lovely day. But we were due to leave earlyish the next day, which didn't actually happen. I didn't wake up til 7.45am. Then we got lost again an route, going via Paris! Well Paris Ontario, so not that bad. We were visiting Dave and Irma, brother and sister in law of my friend Pam from art class. They were such a hospitable couple and so pleased to see us. They lived on a huge property with masses of ground and Dave is a mechanical fanatic with a big motorbike, so we had a tour of his workshop! That was an experience.
After coffee they took us on a tour of the area, showing us the crops of tobacco ginseng and vegetable produce. And the pumpkins!
We had lunch at Port Dover on Lake Eyrie where locals were enjoying the last of the summer, we ate local perch from the Lake.
Then we visited one of the local farm stores and were introduced to the owners.
All in all it had been a great day, and Dave led us back to a suitable point for getting home. They wanted us to go back and I am sure Patrick will meet up with them. Who knows about me? I think Irma thought we were an item, as she said how nice it was we had met having both lost our spouses, then when I said about Patrick's laid back attitude, she said, Oh well, opposites attract you know! I just chuckled to myself!
Today was less frenetic. We went to Kleinburg, a pretty suburb of Toronto to visit the National Art collection of the Group of a Seven. I have learned a bit about them whilst here and visited the Emily Carr house in Victoria. It was a beautifully designed and airy gallery, set in woodland and full of interesting work of many famous Canadians. We went off to the village later for some lunch.
The exterior.
Inuit textiles, fantastic some old, some more recent.
Work from the group of Seven. I later learnt that Emily Carr was linked to the group but not a member. It was an all male group, not by design, though.
Traditional costume.
The work of Maud Lewis from Newfoundland. A sort of art naïf style.
Inuit painting, very evocative of their culture.
Lunch in Kleinburg.
We returned home I've had a little snooze and have just found Patrick asleep in the lounge. I think he wants to go out as it is my last evening. So I'm all packed for my onward journey to Ottawa , but have a little washing to put through. Part of me is looking forward to some traquility and space but I know I will miss all the company of the last week.
No comments:
Post a Comment