Day 88...Kingston, Ontario

MONDAY, JUNE 25, 2012

     We decided to stay here one more day since the weather was rainy yesterday and we did not have a chance to see anything of Kingston.  Kingston is a city with a population of  approximately 159,500.  Everyone we have dealt with has been very friendly and helpful.  We really like this city.  We waited around until 8:00 a.m. and then went walking around looking for breakfast.  Gary says I will have to cook while we are going through the Canadian canals so he’s going to feed me while we’re here.  We found a bakery called Pan Chancho Bakery on Princess Street.  We bought a huge (The quarter and the loonie are by the bun so you can see how enormous it is.) lemon drizzled cinnamon bun and some cut-up fruit.  Everything looked and smelled wonderful. 

     After we ate breakfast, we walked around town.  We took pictures of the Kingston Town Hall that was built between 1841 and 1845.  In the park between the Town Hall and the water is the Confederation Arch and Fountain that was built in 1967 to symbolize Canada as one nation from sea to sea.  

     Confederation Park stands on former railroad yards, where the K & P Railroad Station was built in 1888 and now houses the Visitor Information Center.  In front of the center is a 3D chalk drawing of Toronto that a well-known chalk artist named Chalkmaster Dave drew on June23rd.  Gary is supposed to stand there and look down over the side of the building (according to the man from the visitor center).  

     The Spirit of Sir John A., a restored steam engine from 1912, is located nearby.  It was all fenced off because they are restoring it again.  Gary found another one nearby. 

      By that time the bank was open.  We changed some US money into Canadian money and made 25 cents on the deal.  The teller was very friendly.  Mama would have enjoyed working with her.  We got loonies ($1.00 coins on the left) to wash clothes and toonies ($2.00 coins on the right) to bring home for the grandkids plus some bills.

     We walked the tree-lined streets enjoying looking all the neat stores' windows.  We also took pictures of Saint George's Cathedral.  It was built in 1826 and enlarged in 1891.

  

 

          Here are a few pictures of Confederation Marina.  The only problem is having to watch your step on the dock and dodge the duck poopie.

     Gary took a picture of Fort Henry over the bulkhead.  It is a living museum of military life in the 1800's.  There is also a Shoal Tower at the marina.  It is one of four towers for cannons that were built between 1843 and 1845 to protect the harbor and entrance to the Rideau Canal system against any hostile vessels.  Gary said the walls of the tower are 12 feet thick.

     More clouds and rain again today, but look at what we saw later.  The rainbow was so huge we couldn't take one picture of the entire rainbow.  We saw the complete arch and even the reflection in the water.  It made almost an entire circle.  These pictures do not do it justice at all.

  

          We went to town and ate at a Mom and Pop restaurant on a little side street.  We had one of the better meals we've had since we left home.  The restaurant was called Right Spot Restaurant.  Penelope and her husband Gus run the place.  She said she's been cooking for 53 years and that she came over from Greece when she was 17 years old.  She and Gus have been married 48 years, they have two sons and one 5 1/2 year old grandson.  She reminded me of Gary's grandma.  She sure could cook.

     We went back a little after dark and took some pictures of some of the places we had taken pictures of during the day.  They must have put the lights in the dock because they knew I need all the help I can get.  The green and red lights on either side of the bathroom door were a cute way to show boaters where to go.