July 20, 2015: Cousins Road Trip to Niagara & Toronto: Day 4

Cousins at Toronto Blue Jays game at Roger's Centre

Tanya's Daily Scoop
CURRENTLY TRAVELING IN: TORONTO

A Difference of Opinions...

Here I am in Toronto again! 
And this time with the kids, cousins, and the "in law" (inside joke) lmao!

Can you believe that this is my 15th trip of the year?!?! Totally cool!

Check out the orange lane lines!

We made our way from Niagara Falls yesterday and to our "lovely" AirBnB rental in Toronto...more on this below as well as a doozy in Elisa's column!

We were in quite a bit of a hurry to drop off our luggage and then get to the ball game. 
We were heading to the Toronto Blue Jay vs Tampa Bay Rays game at the Rogers Centre and this would be my 23rd stadium (only 7 more to go!!) Yay! 
Read about my MLB Road Trip HERE

Little did I know that Selfie Sticks were NOT permitted into the stadium and mine was luckily not tossed in the trash, but rather I was given ticket to pick up my "weapon" at the end of the game...more on this to come.

The view from the stadium was quite striking, as the giant CN tower stood practically on top of us!

Singing Take me out to the Ball game!

The game had it's share of hits, and it's share of misses, as the only scores were a result of 2 homers hit by the home team... 
In the end the Blue Jays won with a score of 4-0. 

Once the game had ended, we had made our way to the team store, as I had 2 things on my agenda...
1. Buying a Baseball (I buy one from each stadium that I visit).
2. Stamping my super awesome MLB Passport (I luv this thing).

Once all of the fun stuff was said and done, we trekked back to Gate 14 to retrieve my selfie stick and were faced with a wall of security guards. 
Explaining to use that all we had to exit another gate! 

I explained the situation and we were then escorted to another exit where we had the wait of the century for the them to locate my handy dandy selfie stick!

After all of that good fun, we were planning on heading to the Harbour for a nice stroll, but it had just started to rain and we opted to do something inside and chose to visit the CN Tower (which was on our list anyhow). 

So after a few pictures, we headed to the ticket booth and found out that the wait time was over an hour! Ugh 
Thankfully the cashier had share this bit of information with us and we made the decision not to wait and to try again another day!

The rest of our afternoon was spent having ice cream - both vegan and non vegan, and then heading back to this rental... 

While I always choose to stay at Hotels and Resorts, my dear cousin introduced me to these home rental sites...
I was/am definitely and always iffy about such places to stay. 
But we seemed to have decent (not great) luck in New Mexico, and the place I found at Yellowstone was listed on the site, but actually a "normal" condo resort - so it worked out GREAT...

We also even stayed at one in Vienna, and that one was also pretty decent (of course without amenities and a smelly entrance way filled with garbage cans - ewww). 


And now we are here...
And while I agree that the exterior of this joint is totally non-welcoming and totally ICK, and that the pictures that sold this place on AirBnB were SO MUCH NICER. 

I'm choosing not to complain about the small things that I would typically complain about in a hotel.
Why??? 
Because I am not in a hotel, and if I were staying at a friend's place and they had an off beat "home" I wouldn't be complaining. 

The kids all love staying together under one roof, and we are in a safe neighborhood (actually directly across from a Buddhist Temple) and honestly if the kids are happy then usually I am happy too!

Dinner at "home" last night.

PLUS if we were to spend the same amount we spent on this rental in a hotel - based on the prices in the city, during the high season to travel - we'd be staying in a "real" DUMP along side druggies and prostitutes! 
So you really do get what you pay for!!!

I'm still a fan of Hotels and Resorts all the way - I just know that when life gives me lemons I make lemonade!!!

As far as today goes, we are heading to Centre Island (one of Toronto's Islands) and going to Far Enough Farm. 
We'll probably also do some fun biking on Surreys and then try again at the CN Tower and more...

Come back tomorrow for the full SCOOP on all that happens today!

Have a great Monday and keep on smiling,
-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
CURRENTLY TRAVELING IN: TORONTO

Toronto Blue Jays Vs Rays

HAPPY MONDAY FROM TORONTO!!
Here's to a great week ahead!!

I have a few thing to report to you today.  One gives me great pleasure; the other gives me aggravation!

Let's start with the good news...
Had an amazingly fun time at the Toronto Blue Jays game yesterday!!!  Thanks Tanya for having the idea to re-arrange our trip in order to see a game!!!

The game was awesome! Full of excitement and some great baseball moments, namely two home runs by the home team! In the end, the Blue Jays were victorious over the Tampa Bay Rays!

This was the first professional baseball game for Gianna and Kelsey, which was pretty exctiting.  Tanya explained the game of baseball to Gianna, which was great, but, as we were leaving and I asked her if she enjoyed it, Gianna told me she thought it was “boring.”  Kelsey, on the other hand, said she had a good time!!  

For Tanya, this game was exciting because she had never been to Rogers Centre and as any of you who follow Tanya’s blog know, she is a mega baseball fan who travels the country to see games in every and all stadiums.  One more for my bestie cuz to check off!

On our way to the Blue Jays Game

Selfie time

I had a fantastic time.  It’s been a long time since I was at a professional game.  Last game I attended was a Mets game at Shea Stadium!!! I’ve yet to even step foot in the new CitiField.  

In any case, Tanya and I both have a long history with baseball.  

I spent a great deal of my youth around this sport - first with my high school boyfriend who’s Dad managed the Mets (then moved on to the Yankees and now with the Dodgers) and then later on during my college years, with our  cousin Vinny (yes, Tanya and I have a cousin Vinny) who was assistant equipment manager for the Mets.

Tanya's love for the game, has brought her to most baseball stadium throughout the U.S. and now Canada!

Long story short - we are a baseball family.  So, based on Kelsey’s reaction, she may follow in her mom and older cousin’s footsteps in loving the sport.

It was definitely hot in the stadium, but, for the most part, we were NOT in the sun - thank goodness it was a pretty overcast day.

Now, for the Aggravating News...
We decided to do a rental property for our stay in Toronto.  

On past trips, Tanya and I had done so well with the choices we made with other rentals and figured we'd accomplish our usual goals:  
a) save some money; b) have a kitchen in order to eat in rather than having to go out all the time; and, c) stay all together under one roof.

Well, folks, luck often runs out at some point.  And this vacation rental was when our good fortune ran out with rentals!

We were allowed to drop off our bags, prior to check in, so we did not have to keep them in the car while at the Blue Jay's game.

As soon as we pulled up to this place, which looked like something out of the Addams Family I knew it was a real lemon.  Upon further investigation inside, I decided to "up" my opinion of the property to that of being a DUMP!

There's no question that this here cousin is the "princess" of the duo and prefers the "good things" in life like first class air tickets, fine restaurants and white glove service.

front of our Vacation Rental

bathroom right in the middle of the bedroom - no privacy

This was the mirror in one of the bathrooms

But, really folks, this place had no toilet paper, ragged towels, no soap, no batteries in the remote control for one of the tv's, shortage of blankets (beyond the ones that looked like you'd get better ones in a Motel 6 short stay property), no hand towels or wash cloths, a bathroom literally in the middle of one of the bedrooms, with no door for the toilet area or tub AND no shower curtain, unfinished and exposed wall sockets, a bedroom door handle that keeps falling off and a parking spot for two cars, that only fit 2 Playskool Cozy Coupes!!

I could go on, but I'll refrain - I think you get the point. As Tanya says, we paid minimal for this place and as I like to say, "ya get what ya pay for."

Fortunately, the owner rectified the soap and towels. 

Anyway, let me move on .... it has been an experience that has caused me and my travelin' cousin to argue and debate the merits of this dive. She thinks I'm a BABY and I think she is being too lenient.

Check out Tanya's "counterpoint" in her blog.  
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Getting back to yesterday...we had a fun 90 minute drive from Niagara to Toronto, caravanning. 

I was counting down the miles to Toronto and was so excited when the skyline came into view - especially, the CN Tower!!

Kelsey cozy watching a movie during the ride

Toronto Skyline from the highway

After the game, we decided to go up the CN Tower, since it was adjacent to the stadium - but upon arriving at the ticket booth, we found out it was over an hour wait to get on the elevator.

The representative was extremely helpful and patient and advised us that we might be better off coming early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the mid-day (1-6) crowds of tour groups.

So, we opted to do just that and we'll be returning tonight to not only get a birds eye view of the city, but we'll catch it all at sunset.  Should be lovely.

This morning we are headed over to Centre Island, where we'll be making a visit to Far Enough Farm. 

Centre Island is Toronto’s island getaway, which is nestled between Ward's Island and Hanlan's Point.

It is also home to the Centreville Amusement Park, which, I'm hoping the kids will enjoy.

Well, folks, on with our day.  See ya back here tomorrow!!

-E
xoxo