Just in case anyone is reading these in chronological order, I said a few posts (and several months) ago that we were going to Toronto.  So that I may tie up that plot point let me say this - we went to Toronto in May.

It was fantastic.

Coming from the middlest of the middle of the middle of the U.S., where most folks just aren't open to other folks that "ain't from around here", Toronto's incredible ethnic diversity was like waking up from a coma.  Suddenly people (the majority of them brown) were speaking all these different languages, and eating all these different foods, and just carrying on with their business because of course it is all very normal.   They have no idea.

See this shop - totally normal in Toronto, but inconceivable in Nashville.  Take a closer look.  All the delicious Cha Xiu, and roast duck, and cuttlefish, and on and on.  This was why we went there.  One of the reasons, anyway.  The others included Dim Sum, and Bubble Tea, and Curry.  Oh, and being around people who have different points of view and who actually think about them.  Just stuff like that.

We also went to Niagara Falls.  That was spectacular.  Of course we took the Maid o' the Mist.  And despite a susceptibility to seasickness, Marissa really enjoyed it:

Trust me, she did.  Isn't she cute?