The day started at 3:30 am, picked up by a cab at 4, arrive at Edmonton International Airport. When there, I had my first 21st century pre-boarding experience; checked in online the day before, electronic boarding pass on my smartphone.
Security was even 21st century, as I was compelled to either submit to a full body search or "the scanner". Being of a somewhat modest persuasion, I chose the latter. I stepped into a booth that looked like those "grab for cash" things at car dealerships, raised my hands over my head and clasped them, which in restrospect seemed a little like one of those victory poses boxers used to do, a bit ironic considering the circumstances. Turns out the initial alarm was caused by the two tiny keys for the lock on my suitcase that I had tossed in my pants pocket, and that my shoes had metal reinforcements. Fortunately, I was not considered to be a threat to the flying public, and was released.
The flight to Toronto is long enough to watch two movies, so I saw Orson Welles' MacBeth (the one with the squarish crown that makes him look like he has an inverted occasional table on his head).
The flight was otherwise uneventful. I always dread turbulence, mainly because of a bad experience with it on a couple of occasions, so I know what the worst of it can be and always expect it to happen. I think, though that aircraft design and turbulence detection have advanced quite a bit since the days of "the unpleasantness".
Parts of Pearson International look like the set of Logan's Run. I didn't take a picture, but those who have seen bot h will know what I'm talking about.
The room is as advertised, the pictures didn't lie; what you can't put in an ad, though, is smell. When I was first let into the hallway leading to my room, there was a strong odor of a feline accident, but that seems to have dissipated, or perhaps been overcome by the smell of Axe wafting in from another room where the young male guests were preparing for a night on the town.
I spent the remainder of the day wandering about the neighbourhood. The first order of business was lunch, and having only had a turkey sandwith and coffee before the flight, I was pretty ravenous by then. I wandered about until something struck my fancy, in this case, sushi.
I wandered some more, trying to decide if I wanted to still try and make it to some art galleries or museums, but decided I was too tired to make the effort. Some local theatre was considered but abandoned, as there was nothing playing that interested me.
So, I went to Captain America in 3d. So much for culture.
Taken as a whole, not a bad day, considering all I was planning to do was travel today. Tomorrow, it's all day at either the AGO or ROM. This is your humble correspondent, reporting from somewhat comfortable squalor, signing off.
