July 2018
We started out by leaving Toronto for a few hours on the morning to drive down to Hamilton. There we toured the HMCS Haida, a Royal Canadian Navy destroyer. It was just recently named the ceremonial flagship of the Navy. We had a chance to talk to a few of the staff/volunteers aboard the ship, which was interesting. Then we drove back to Toronto and traveled a little farther back in Canadian military history with a visit to Fort York. It was the site of an American victory during the War of 1812. It's always interesting to see how the "other side" portrays an event such as that. Late in the evening, we walked back to Yonge-Dundas Square and Nathan Phillips Square at city hall to see what they like after dark. Both were a lot of fun.
The Rogers Centre, formerly, the Skydome and home to the Blue Jays
Not many MLB stadiums have giant fans peering out of them
We took a ride to Hamilton to tour the Royal Canadian Navy flag ship HMCS Haida
Pont Skyway Bridge in Hamilton
Walking along Lake Ontario
A Canada goose in Canada. Seems appropriate.
The sculpture on the Hamilton waterfront is called Setting Sail
The seal of the HMCS Haida
The screens are for storing beef.
Potatoes were kept in lockers like this to prevent the crew from eating them when they shouldn't be.
The ship's galley
Passageways have festive floors
The Canadian articles of war
The canteen is stocked with period items
The mess is multifunctional. There's an ammunition lift in the middle of the room.
The radio room
The view from the bow of the ship
Berthing is tight as on any naval vessel. Fun fact, my grandfather had that same sink in his house until recently
My mother had no trouble traversing the narrow ladders of the ship
Looking out over the deck of the ship
40mm Boffins Gun
The alternate steering position of the ship is out on the upper deck
The flag of the ship's namesake, the Haida First Nation
It's close quarters in the weapons workshop
The Canadian naval ensign flies on the stern of the ship
We even found some Parks Canada red chairs aboard the ship.
We even found some Parks Canada red chairs aboard the ship.
The officers get a bathtub in their washroom
It looks like there's a lot of good cooking going on in the galley
The HMCS Haida had quite an illustrious career
The medical bay is pretty cramped
The captain's sea quarters are pretty nice. He even has a fireplace!
My mother makes friends every place she goes
The screens are for storing beef.
A view of the HMCS Haida from land
In case you wondered what Navy the ship belongs to
A stop at Hambrgr for lunch. I'm not sure what happened to the rest of their vowels
Of course we ordered some poutine. This is Canada!
Wow, that burger looks good! (Spoiler: It was!)
Lest you forget we are in a British Commonwealth nation, the light posts on the Queensway will remind you
G4 TechTV still exists in Canada? That takes me back!
The stone magaazine at Fort York. We'll head inside it a little later.
The officers barracks at Fort York
A cannon firing demonstration at Fort York
A cannon firing demonstration at Fort York
Bugle, drum and jacket from a bygone era
I had to get a photo of my mother with her namesake, the HMS Nancy
One of the cannons that defended the fort
The dining room in the officers' barracks is appointed pretty nicely
The officers certainly could not complain about their sleeping arrangements. Although that bearskin rug might scare me in the middle of the night!
Fort York still sits downtown Toronto
Inside the stone magazine. Not much black powder being stored in here anymore.
In the Times Square of Toronto, Yonge & Dundas Square
This is Tribu. We stayed and watched him perform in Yonge & Dundas Square for quite a while and later bought his album.
This is Tribu. We stayed and watched him perform in Yonge & Dundas Square for quite a while and later bought his album.
As night falls on Yonge & Dundas Square, the lights seem to just get brighter
As night falls, it continues to get more crowded in Yonge & Dundas Square.
The clocktower on Old City Hall Falls lights up as darkness falls
The clocktower on Old City Hall Falls lights up as darkness falls
The clocktower on Old City Hall Falls lights up as darkness falls
The iconic Toronto sign in Nathan Phillips Square is joined by a first nations medicine wheel
The Toronto sign and city hall at night
Toronto City Hall by night