It's hard to believe I've been in Canada for 11 days already. It's been fun but now it's time to move on to the USA. And in only a couple of days it will be the halfway point of the entire holiday. 

I slept really well last night. The bed in the apartment was really comfortable. Since check out time was 11:00 I decided to leave packing and cleaning up until the morning. 

I was awake early and snuck out onto the freezing balcony to snap the start of the morning traffic.

My flight to Washington, D.C. was originally for 7:30 pm. Yesterday I thought I'd see if I could change it to an earlier flight. I went through Expedia, the site I'd used to book the flight but the costs would have been more than double the original cost of the ticket! So I resigned myself to a day at the airport. The apartment block didn't have luggage storage facilities so spending time in town wasn't really an option.

Anyway, this morning I decided to check-in online and as part of the check-in process on the airline's site I was given the option of changing my flight for only $75. Yes! Managed to get a 4:30 pm flight which is much more convenient and gets me to Washington at a much better time.

So I'm sitting in the airport waiting to leave after navigating my way through the check-in kiosk, bag drop, customs and security. The process was sufficiently different to be a little daunting. But I got here. Phew!

I awoke with a bit more energy this morning after the first solid sleep in a few days. I had intended to take my time this morning but the weather looked a little ominous so I decided to get up and take advantage of the light while it lasted. Of course, I needn't have bothered as the weather improved as the day progressed.

When I stepped onto the balcony to take an early morning photo I noticed thousands of people streaming along one of the roadways. I was later to discover it was a marathon. Unfortunately that meant that a lot of the city was blocked off to traffic and I suspect many things were closed as a result. 

I wasn't sure what I felt like doing so I set off first in search of autumn colours. There are parks along the foreshore and I felt certain I'd see something there. I came across these bushes I noticed on the approach to Toronto. I'm not sure if they're this colour all the year, but they're very striking.

And I did manage to find a few red trees also.

These chairs were dotted in a small park; functional and sculptural at the same time.

From there I basically decided to do a loop of the city. I came to a park by the design collage. The architecture got my attention first. Then this little fella did.

I soon realised there were squirrels running all over the park. This one stopped to face me each time I pointed my camera; almost as if he was posing.

The architecture that had grabbed my attention was this building. I'd noticed it from the CN Tower. 

In one small way, Toronto reminds me of Berlin, because it seems like every time you turn around you get a glimpse of the tower.

Toronto has streetcars. On one street the stops featured different metal artwork on poles.

I wandered around in a generally clockwise direction. Towards the east of the city, as the glass skyscrapers began to come to an end I noticed rows of older buildings wedged in between the modern.

And this solitary establishment that had somehow survived the demolition of its peers.

On another street I came across this curious fascade. I assume the buildings that necessitated the blocking up of the windows are no more, but it looked odd all the same.

As I was taking some photos of another building an old gentleman spoke to me. He was interested to know why I was taking photos. He was an amateur photographer too and showed me his more compact but still serious camera. We got to talking and walked a few blocks together. He's had major problems with the health system in Canada and didn't paint a very positive picture of they way he felt the old or disabled were being treated. We parted ways at what looked like a shelter.

Slightly dismayed by that sobering chat I continued my walking. I noticed this building with an ingenious fascade that was more than just painted. The trees are lovely but it's a pity they obscure this little masterpiece.

Before long I was back among the glass towers. While I was taking a picture of one with golden glass and steel a bird swooped past. Total fluke, but I really like it.

Looking up I was surrounded.

Then down the end of the street I noticed a tower from another era. I think it is the old town hall.

At the start of the day I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. And at a couple of times I seriously thought of just returning to the apartment to veg out. For some reason nothing was exciting me today (hence the post title). But as I looked through my pictures and put these words together I realise I had quite a decent day - despite myself!

By the end of the afternoon most of the cloud had dispersed so I decided to get another shot across the harbour to Toronto Islands. I had considered taking a ferry over there but ran out of time. 

Tomorrow I leave Canada and head to Washington DC. I have a late flight but will see if I can change it to an earlier one at the airport.

The Canadian arrived into Toronto's Union Station around 10:00 which was only half hour later than scheduled. According to some people on the train, that was really good going. The station is undergoing some major works but the main hall is still very grand. It reminds me of Adelaide station.

My map indicated that the apartment wasn't far from the station so I decided to try and walk. I had to make a few guesses, but I got there without too much trouble. The apartment faces Toronto Harbour and Lake Ontario. This is home for the next two nights.

I suppose I can put up with this view?

I only had one activity planned for Toronto. I was going to wing the rest. The one activity was the CN Tower; I'd purchased a ticket before leaving Australia. I decided to do that while the weather was OK.

My ticket gave me access to the sky pod and observation deck. I decided to do sky pod first. It's the smaller ring at the top of this picture; 447m high. Although it was spectacular, the window design meant there was a lot of condensation which occasionally obscured the view.

It was a long way down!

Although this picture doesn't do it justice, you could see autumn colours dotted across the entire city and surrounds.

I could see the apartment building I'm staying in. It's the one in the centre.

Next I went down to the observation deck. It may have been lower, but it was better suited to viewing and photography.

There is a section with a glass floor. I'm not a fan of heights and I wasn't going to walk on it. But the only way to get a decent picture down was to venture out. Those are my feet!

And that was all I could manage today. 4 nights of only partial sleep on the train has taken its toll and I'm exhausted. I decided to get supplies and have an early night in. Hopefully I can recharge my batteries for tomorrow. I'm not sure what the plan is yet, but I'm looking forward to taking my time about it. I have a heap of washing to do too!