arrived in Toronto late Friday night, and came home at 10 AM on Monday morning.  i was there for a conference, but managed to get in one major activity.

the extracurricular activity was the Toronto Zoo, where they not only have baby Giant Pandas, but also baby white lion cubs, baby polar bears and a baby rhino.  sadly we weren’t able to see the lion cubs or rhino, but we did see the pandas and polar bear.  SO adorable.  need i say more?

some good meals were had including dinners at Little India and the Keg Steakhouse and dessert at the Milk Bar.  yum.  i may have to order some of those cookies online, they were delicious. and they had a crack pie.  i didn’t try that, but maybe next time.

one thing to note about flying out of Toronto (maybe all of Canada?) is the whole customs/luggage process.  it wasn’t very user friendly.   unlike SFO, you can’t check your luggage at the airline counter to go international.  you need to tag your luggage at the counter, then take your luggage through customs, then send it through screening, and then it goes on the conveyor belt to the plane. it’s not like the process is terrible, or that odd, but there are no signs telling you what to do. it’s a little frustrating.

the customs agents are less than pleasant as well.  i know they have to be serious, but come on now, i just want to leave your country, stop with all of the questions.  maybe they’re being extra nasty so that we don’t all want to flee there after the November election.

one good thing about the whole set-up…….no customs clearance in SF. deplane, grab luggage, and go. done.