Enjoying Greece, beer or cricket.. decisions decisions
It was a tough call last year. About September/October time, turning down the guaranteed Edgbaston tickets that regular purchase offers when you go every year to the test... my mate 'not anonymous' has been with me the past couple of years, and even he is going next week... i was thinking 'no, dont need the tickets, i'll be in Canada'. Actually i didnt know where i'd be, but it was a step towards making it happen. Today, for the first time, i sort of wondered whether i might have liked to have been with 20,000 barmy army followers watching Harmison bowl Clarke, or Freddie hit his 4th six.
Instead, i've got 30 degrees, that feels like 30 (rather than 40!) and is beautiful. And the 'taste of the Danforth', which is a parade through the Danforth Avenue of Toronto, where the Greek district is. Caribana last week was the biggest financially, generating $300m of overall city revenues for the tourist industry and hotels. This one though... 1 million people walking through the road over 2 afternoons and evenings - and all the souvlaki you can think of eating!
The Greeks are making a killing too. Ever wondered what happens to the leftover 'souvenirs' after Euro 2004, Euro 96, the olympics, whatever? Well. there are Greek shops here making a killing because the entire area are selling football shirts commemorating Euro 2004, and (hey while you're at it) selling Athens 2004 stuff, and even Eurovision 2005 posters! Did you know that Greece had won the Eurovision?! You do now! The shops are heaving. I may well join the party. They have a rather fetching shirt with 'football is my game' written on it, and hey, its in royal blue. That'll do nicely! $20 well wasted.
This is like the Harborne carnival for anyone who has been there. But a brilliantly larger scale version. Free concerts provided on the Scotia Bank stage, and the kids can play hockey for free in the Maple leafs tent, as well as hone their basketball skills with the Raptors, their baseball skills with the Bluejays and their quarterback skills with the Argonauts. Its free, and all the 5 year olds are taking part. You definitely wouldnt get such open generosity from Blues and Villa at the Harborne carnival.
If the carnival doesnt take your fancy, or even if it does, you have until midnight both nights to enjoy it. Even in the non humid nights, midnight temperatures are about 15, so it'll be pleasant.
And meanwhile, on the other side of town at Fort York, there is the Toronto Festival of Beer. 200 beers over 2 days and 20,000 visitors. Ok, so its not the Peterborough beerfest (still the largest in the UK?) but it'll provide some entertainment! Weirdly, shuts at 8 every night. But they are much more refined here when out on the town. I was out for 4 hours last night and only drank 4 Stellas - (yes i know thats 2 more than i can usually manage, but thats another matter!). I was out for 5 hours on Thursday night and only drank 4 beers too (can you see a pattern here?!). Maybe i'll be a pint an hour man when i get back. Hmmm. Maybe.
Socially, Friday was a quiet day in the office until midday when someone wandered past and saw cricket on my computer screen. "does Saeed Anwar still play?" came this Canadian accent. 'How on earth do you know him?' "oh, he broke the 1 day world record for a batsman...' It turns out Suzanne had spent time in India, where she had learned to appreciate the game. We continued our chat for 2 hours and when she left, a Jamaican lent over and said quietly.. ' So, you like cricket do you?!' Happy days!
I met up with a few people at 8 for a couple of beers, before the same Suzanne arrived at 10 to meet up with a couple of people who were there. After 90 minutes or so (a convenient number) she asked - "you never told me if you like soccer or not? My favourite players of all time were Pele, Paolo Rossi and Maradona"
With football and cricket fans about, i could well get used to living here....
Instead, i've got 30 degrees, that feels like 30 (rather than 40!) and is beautiful. And the 'taste of the Danforth', which is a parade through the Danforth Avenue of Toronto, where the Greek district is. Caribana last week was the biggest financially, generating $300m of overall city revenues for the tourist industry and hotels. This one though... 1 million people walking through the road over 2 afternoons and evenings - and all the souvlaki you can think of eating!
The Greeks are making a killing too. Ever wondered what happens to the leftover 'souvenirs' after Euro 2004, Euro 96, the olympics, whatever? Well. there are Greek shops here making a killing because the entire area are selling football shirts commemorating Euro 2004, and (hey while you're at it) selling Athens 2004 stuff, and even Eurovision 2005 posters! Did you know that Greece had won the Eurovision?! You do now! The shops are heaving. I may well join the party. They have a rather fetching shirt with 'football is my game' written on it, and hey, its in royal blue. That'll do nicely! $20 well wasted.
This is like the Harborne carnival for anyone who has been there. But a brilliantly larger scale version. Free concerts provided on the Scotia Bank stage, and the kids can play hockey for free in the Maple leafs tent, as well as hone their basketball skills with the Raptors, their baseball skills with the Bluejays and their quarterback skills with the Argonauts. Its free, and all the 5 year olds are taking part. You definitely wouldnt get such open generosity from Blues and Villa at the Harborne carnival.
If the carnival doesnt take your fancy, or even if it does, you have until midnight both nights to enjoy it. Even in the non humid nights, midnight temperatures are about 15, so it'll be pleasant.
And meanwhile, on the other side of town at Fort York, there is the Toronto Festival of Beer. 200 beers over 2 days and 20,000 visitors. Ok, so its not the Peterborough beerfest (still the largest in the UK?) but it'll provide some entertainment! Weirdly, shuts at 8 every night. But they are much more refined here when out on the town. I was out for 4 hours last night and only drank 4 Stellas - (yes i know thats 2 more than i can usually manage, but thats another matter!). I was out for 5 hours on Thursday night and only drank 4 beers too (can you see a pattern here?!). Maybe i'll be a pint an hour man when i get back. Hmmm. Maybe.
Socially, Friday was a quiet day in the office until midday when someone wandered past and saw cricket on my computer screen. "does Saeed Anwar still play?" came this Canadian accent. 'How on earth do you know him?' "oh, he broke the 1 day world record for a batsman...' It turns out Suzanne had spent time in India, where she had learned to appreciate the game. We continued our chat for 2 hours and when she left, a Jamaican lent over and said quietly.. ' So, you like cricket do you?!' Happy days!
I met up with a few people at 8 for a couple of beers, before the same Suzanne arrived at 10 to meet up with a couple of people who were there. After 90 minutes or so (a convenient number) she asked - "you never told me if you like soccer or not? My favourite players of all time were Pele, Paolo Rossi and Maradona"
With football and cricket fans about, i could well get used to living here....
posted by CBC at 5:54 pm
3 Comments:
I'm happy for your happy days! But i do hope that getting used to living there doesn't necessarily mean you're going to buy a Greek football shirt commemorating Euro 2004... That would be too much!!
I hate cricket and am dismayed that a country like Canada is not free from it (although obviously happy that this subject kept you from an afternoon's work).
Let me help you with words there, Mr Not Anonymous. It's not a chip on my shoulder, it's good sense alone! Everyone knows that...
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