We walked the neighborhood so I could take local snapshots along Dundas, and then we had breakfast at Country Style Bistro Deli on the corner of Kingston and Queen St. E. I had another cinnamon bun and Baby Hog had a bagel. We also bought lunch, as we were heading for Centre Island for the day, a popular attraction that figures in the Toronto Islands and caters to both young and old. We took the streetcar and bus down to Queens Quay W. in Harbour Front and boarded a ferry that took us to Centre Island itself. Upon arrival we were greeted by seagulls and beautiful greenery on all sides. The island was lush and inviting, and people milled about in all directions.
After eating our lunch under a tree in what we considered a nice picnic spot, we headed for Centerville Amusement Park, where kiddie rides awaiting us in droves. Baby Hog was able to go on at least six rides without an accompanying adult, and the rest we joined her on. It was a day full of thrills and we got to see and experience most of Centerville, but very little of Centre Island itself, much less Toronto Islands on a whole. Mama Hog insisted we come back at another time to complete our tour of Centre Island and redo Centerville once Baby Hog is older.
After a day of fun, we made our way back to Upper Beaches and dined at Casa di Giogio again (this time actually eating at the restaurant, as Mama Hog had ordered out the last time). I had Fettuccini Alfredo with a Manhattan (they ran out of Margarita mix), and I followed up the drink with a summer rosé wine from California. The girls had penne and we all tore down a small plain pizza. The service, thanks to a very friendly and chatty Bulgarian waitress whose name none of us caught, was excellent, and we highly recommend the place and the food. Eat outside if you can, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Upper Beaches, with streetcars flying by and locals chatting each other up as they pass your table (it’s truly a wonderful experience).
This was our last night in the big city of Toronto, and so we went back to Craven Cove with New York on our minds. We started our trip with a bang (Niagara Falls) and ended it on the same note (Centre Island), and in between we managed to make the best of our trip. Canada is a wonderful place to visit, and Toronto had lots of thrills, but we are now looking to experience other cities and provinces this country has to offer, such as Montreal and Vancouver, and maybe even Nova Scotia or Newfoundland. Who knows? But until then, we’ll be stateside. Happy travels,
