I just adore an airport view…

Toronto has among the most changeable weather in the world. Although the forecast before we left called for 39 degrees and partly cloudy, by the time we finished lunch it was snowing heavily. I dropped Hunnybear off and made my way back to the airport and checked in to the Sheraton Gateway. I had reserved a Click-It Weekend special for the ridiculously low price of $89 Canadian ($1.62 US). I parked right in front of the hotel with huge wet snowflakes sweeping down and around me. No bellman or doorman was in sight (smart guys) so I left the car right in front and carried my bags up the escalator to the lobby.

There were actually two agents manning the SPG desk! I strolled up, got a nice greeting, and was given a room on the Club Level with an airport view as I requested. The non-Heavenly king bed had feather pillows and the room had an OfficeJet in it that could be used as a fax or printer. Club Level is great because there is no charge for local calls unless they exceed 60 minutes, in which case they start cutting off your fingers one segment at a time. Boy did it look crappy outside. I noticed the Canadian Airlines jets with the Air Canada maple leaf painted over the tail design. A knock at the door was a bellman with the vaunted Platinum amenity: a white gift bag with a granola bar, Pringles, a bag of trail mix oddly labeled “Youth Mix,” bottled water, and a container of Clorets.

After a brief nap I checked out the Club Lounge with it cocktails and hors d’ouvres from five to seven. The spread was pretty nice: fried shrimp, little triangular pastry things, and canapés. It didn’t compare to the Ritz-Carlton, but not bad for the price. Dinner was at the secret place with Jonathan and Lippy. I had the Queen’s filet medium rare and it was marvelous as usual, served with round fries and fried onions. With a round of drinks the tab came to $48 Canadian ($1.62 US) per person before tip. We drove back to Jonathan’s place and made an effort to have a conversation as we all nodded off from jet lag.

When we returned to the room the second bathrobe I had requested had been delivered and the ice bucket had been filled as part of the turn-down service. I checked my fan mail briefly before we headed off to dreamland.