Used the 2d half of my flight to Lima to get up to Toronto to visit a client. Had intended to make it up to the get-together, but 2 wkends in a row job-hunting led me to need some home-time.

AC ATL-YYZ

I had a full F coupon on DL coming from my LIM-ATL-YYZ reservation last month. Since it was international, the 12 month stopover rule applies (!) so had this coupon to use whenever...ended up getting to the airport a little early, and really prefer Air Canada, so walked over there first. The agent was quite friendly and said "so you want to take us instead" and I said "sure--you serve hot food and have video".

Checked in and out to D concourse. Duty free is interesting at ATL--they have it all out at the E-concourse (no cart or anything at AC) so you rarely see anyone doing it at AC. Don't quite know how it works--never have enough time to bother.

Quick flight to YYZ. Choice of hot bfst (same as coach, but more food) or cold bfst. In right on time, Hertz car (unfortunately I'd reserved at T3, but of course arrived at T2, so they had to cancel and reinstate there, but out quickly in a Focus.

Decided to splurge and stayed at the Park Hyatt. What a disappointment. The room was certainly lush and pleasant, but the service seemed--cool and unfriendly. Also, there were irritations like the $25 certificate featured on the Hyatt website for food transformed when I arrived to a $25 when you spent $50 for lunch and dinner--not nearly so useful for a single guy. Grrr.

Wandered around a bit on Friday nite, went through Honest Ed's (a real landmark--kind of a big flea-market type place), stopped at Loblaws (my favorite big supermarket anywhere!), went to Chapters (local version of Barnes and Noble/Borders), etc.

Dinner at Movenpick--interesting twist on a fern-bar.

Sat AM woke up, b'fast at Starbux, walked down to the Bay (they were having a big sale but didn't buy anything), then back to my room. The rate I was on had a late checkout, but by 10:30 my room was cleaned. That reeeeeeally annoys me--I feel like I shouldn't be in there any more (subtly pushing me out...) so in disgust I just went downstairs and checked out. I know, I know, I shouldn't feel bad about dirtying towels/soap, etc, but I just have this paranoia that someone will be assigned the room after me. Am I the only one who feels this way???

Since I was going back to ATL from YYZ, I couldn't use my YUL-YYZ-ATL ticket. After waiting on the phone with AC for 15 mins, got told essentially that I could save that tkt for future use on that routing but it was valueless for a YYZ-ATL routing. (I suspected this to be the case but didn't push it). Anyway, there was an ESaver so I just booked that (but AC makes you have a local address to book a CDN-originating Esaver---irritating.

Wandered around the city for the day--drove out to Oshawa (huge GM complex there) and an interesting auto museum), then to Ikea, then up north almost to Barrie and did a bit of antiquing.

Back to YYZ to see the flight delayed 15 minutes.

Boy are you Canucks lucky having Maple Leaf Lounges available. I had dinner! Only thing missing was the soup everyone touts.

Appetizer: Mixed nuts and Cashews

Accompanying: Absolut and Clamato Bloody Mary

Main Course: Diversity of Canadian Cheeses, served with crackers and graced with crudites

Dessert: Sorbet aux fraises

Neat place.

Wandered through a deserted concourse to get on the plane--in coach this time. A319 supposed to be 80% full from the worksheet on the gate desk, but I was number 39 to board at flight time.

I ask "why the delay" and am told waiting on an inbound from Vancouver (people off a cruise). People trickle on, sweat trickling down their faces. Like typical Americans, they shake their head at the idea of clearing customs/immigration in Canada.

45 mins later (total 1 hr delay) we take off. Right ahead of us was the DL flight, leaving right on time. For some dumb reason, DL operates a mainline and an ASA flight within 15 mins. late in the evening. I wonder why?

Anyway, an hour late arriving. A few people making connections have to sprint for it but just irritation for most of us.

Wish I could have been in YUL with everyone!

JL