The arrival at the Union Station in Toronto on Thursday evening is a tad challenging as I have to navigate my way out of that maze. Eventually, I see the outside world and lo, there is the famous Tower. Last time I was in Toronto, the weather was so bad that the tower was stuck in the clouds and I never even got a glimpse of it.
The next challenge is to find a taxi to take me to my hotel which is, of course, not one of the big expensive ones recommended by Rotary. One keen cab driver approaches me but when I tell him the name of my hotel, he says he doesn't know it and walks off. By golly, I've never met such a rude individual.
Not to worry, the taxis are plentiful and I find one that gets me to my hotel. Although my heart sinks when I see the place. It is very basic indeed. Steps to get to reception to start with, and more steps to get to my room. At least the man carries my luggage up for me.
Friday, June 22nd, 2018
This morning, I have to go out and find some kind of breakfast and then see about getting some cash as I have totally run out of it. Luckily, there is an ATM at the nearest subway station which is less than 10 minutes' walk from the hotel.
According to the map, I have to get out at Union Station and find my way to the Convention Center. Unfoturnately, there is a fair bit of building work going on at the Station and our Convention spreads over 3 huge buildings, i.e. Metro Toronto North and South as well as Air Canada Center.
I walk and walk and walk .......and eventually find the hall in the North Building where I can collect my badge and all the paraphernalia.
Fortified by some well deserved lunch, I walk again, this time to find the South Building where I meet Mr Rotary Moose.
My friend Françine is attending some Youth Exchange Sessions in the South Building. Since she won't be able to stay on for the rest of the Convention, this is my only chance to catch up with her.
As I wander around, sneaking into various sessions to see if I can spot her, I suddenly bump into another friend - Madhumitu - whom I only ever get to see at Conventions.
At last, Françine makes contact and I can catch up with her for a good long chat before she has to leave to go home.
During our conversation, she also gives me some very helpful hints, i.e. to get off the subway at another station and walk straight down the road without having to get lost in the maze that is Union Station and where to find reasonably priced Mexican food.
Saturday, June 23rd, 2018
Today is the opening of the House of Friendship. That's where all the stands for Rotary programs, fellowships and action groups are, as well as information booths and vendors of all sorts of goods. It's where one comes to learn more about Rotary, to meet old friends and new people, to network and to hang out and enjoy.
Today, I meet up with Bo and John who are both involved with Disaster Aid Australia.
Next, I find Una from our club who has set up and is manning the stand for Food Plant Solutions.
I take over from her for a spell to give her a chance to go and get some lunch before I go in search of
the Rotary Global History Fellowship where I catch up with my old friend Steve who has a job up his sleeve for me.
Just as I'm about to leave to go back to the hotel I receive a message that Joan from Prince Edward Island has just arrived in town, so I go to her hotel to catch up with her over a coffee.
Tonight, I'm going to Jazz at Ripley's Aquarium. This involves more walking and standing in queues.
In the aquarium, I find the band is playing downstairs so it can be heard from everywhere.
There is a bar where I buy an expensive glass of wine. Now and then somebody with a tray of finger food comes by and you get to have a nibble. Luckily, I wasn't sure whether the event would involve food, so I took the precaution of having something beforehand.
Then everybody just wanders right through the aquarium which is very beautiful indeed.
That was a rather delightful experience. But now I still have to walk to the subway station and at the other end back to the hotel.
Phew. What a day!
Sunday, June 24th, 2018
Today is the official opening of the Convention. Since I am in the late sitting for the ceremony this afternoon, I am in no hurry to go anywhere just yet. I make the most of my time to work on my blog.
As I am moving around in the crappy, cramped room full of clunky old furniture, I manage to badly stub my little toe on an armchair leg. Just what I needed.
It is a little bit cooler today and has been raining a bit on and off, so I put on my solid shoes to keep the poor toe close to its neighbour. That'll do the trick for now.
Today is also the day of the Pride Parade in this area. When I walk to the subway station, the roads are already blocked off. Looks like I'm just able to beat the crowds.
The opening ceremony as well as all the plenary sessions take place in the Air Canada Center, a huge stadium. Security is tight. It's like going through an airport.
I get there quite early and go upstairs for a front row seat on the balcony. There are big screens in all directions so everybody gets a good view of the stage.
Her Royal Highness Princess Anne is here to speak to us. Her presence is the absolute highlight for me.
Another favourite part of the opening for me is always the flag ceremony where the flags of all the countries with Rotary Clubs are presented one by one. It always feels as if the whole world is joining hands.
The musical entertainment includes the biggest string instrument I've ever seen. The man is set up down in the arena and the strings are going all the way up to the balcony. He stands in the middle of his contraption, looking like a spider in his web and, with pretty solid looking gloves on his hands, massages the strings. It produces the most incredible sound.
......and angels come floating down to the heavenly sound of that music.
As I am walking back to the hotel afterwards, the barriers are only just being picked up from the road.
Monday, June 25th, 2018
Interesting and uplifting Plenary Session at the Air Canada Center. Rotaract celebrates its 50th anniversary.
The afternoon is spent in the House of Friendship where I begin by visiting the Sesqui Dome. Oh my!
I've never had such a good time in a 'tent'.
The top of the dome is a screen for a 360 degree movie with scenes from all over Canada. It totally blows me away!
Here is the link where you can find it and watch it too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtZQpLzW2bs&feature=player_embedded
Afterwards, I go and see Una at the Food Plant Solutions stand again. We have a visitor. Denise has been my Facebook friend for some time. Now, I get to meet her in person.
Tuesday, June 26th, 2018
Today, I rush back to the House of Friendship after the Plenary Session because the Rotarians on Social Networks Fellowship are having a get together.
Only a small handful of us turn up, Joan and I both being founder members.
I can't stay very long as I want to go and take Una's place for a spell so she can go and visit the Sesqui Dome. She comes back equally impressed.
Since the weather is beautiful and clear, I decide to visit the Tower. Too bad everybody else had the same thought. The queues are very long and getting up there involves an awful lot of standing around. This is particularly painful for me with my broken little toe. Strapping it to its neighbour helps quite a lot, but standing on it is not very helpful.
Still, I get to the main viewing platform where I have a 360 degree view. There is another platform higher up, but since that would involve queuing up for another lift, I give it a miss. I still have to queue up for the lift down as well as walk to the subway station.
Floors: 150
Construction started: February 6, 1973
Wednesday, June 27th, 2018
It's all go this morning because I have to pack up and get my luggage to the Convention Center to be put in storage. A taxi gets me there safely and well in time before the plenary session starts.
Today's plenary session is a bit late starting, but is very much worth waiting for in the end.
President Ian Risley is having a chat with former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. Such an inspirational lady.
Then, the last speaker everyone has been waiting for, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Now, I have to run off to the break out session of the Rotary Global History Fellowship to hear about the very beginning of Paul Harris and Rotary.
Many stands in the House of Friendship have packed up or are in the process of doing so. I go round saying my goodbyes and then enjoy the Sesqui Dome once more while I wait for the Closing Ceremony to begin.
The Ceremony is a bit of a disappointment and when towards the end, a rock band takes the stage, I get out, along with many other people.
I make my way over to the bag storage, get my luggage out and begin the long walk to the railway station to catch the train to the airport.
A very kind female Rotarian takes the big suitcase off my hands and leads the way. She has been staying in a hotel at the airport and therefore knows her way around.
After a scant half hour on the train and a shuttle bus ride, I arrive at the hotel I'd booked for tonight because I have an early flight out tomorrow.
Tomorrow will begin the next chapter.
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