There's No Place Like .....

Dorothy clicked her ruby red shoe heels together and said three times...

There's no place like....

THE BATA SHOE MUSEUM!

Today mum and I did some exploring in Toronto. It was POURING rain so we had to find something to do indoors. We took the subway to The Bata Shoe Museum to see for ourselves what the tour guide on our sightseeing tour had been talking about.

What a cool place!

If you like shoes (and I mean really, who doesn't like shoes???) this is the place to go!

There was so much to see and to learn about! They have so many shoes in this place from really ancient ones to crazy, colourful ones, from celebrity shoes to a room full of sneakers!!!!

Here are some of the highlights from my visit....

Old shoes

From India

Look at these "heels"!!!!!

 These might look like doll shoes, but they are actually tiny shoes from China. Women used to bind their feet to make them really small. They were called "lotus feet" and the smaller, the better. Their bones would actually become misshapen and I am sure it was very painful. 

RELIGIOUS SHOES!

 The Pope's shoes! He is the only one in the Catholic Church who is allowed to wear red, velvet shoes AND the only one who can wear crosses on his shoes. 

ENVIRONMENTAL SHOES!

This picture is for my sister, Tay. Hindus and Buddhists practice something called AHIMSA which is avoiding causing harm. These shoes called PADUKA are made on platforms like this to reduce the risk of injury to insects and microscopic life by keeping the sole of the shoe off of the ground!  My sister is CRAZY about not causing harm to insects and animals. She always makes us walk around ants and bugs on the sidewalks!!!!! She needs a pair of these shoes!!!!! :D 

 So, my sister and I found a really great use for hair when we did our Share Your Hair Project. We learned that hair can be used to make booms to soak up oil from the water. Who knew you could use hair (and Emu feathers) to make shoes with? 

SKATES!

 

A really, really old pair of skates. I think these are so cool!

DOG BOOTS!

 

We can't forget our four legged friends! They have 4 feet to keep comfortable and fashionable! But who knew that doggie boots were around in the 1950's? I thought trendy dogs were a new thing! Good to know dogs have been looking PAWSITIVELY fashionable for a long time! :D 

FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

 Napoleon Bonaparte's socks! For a really short man, he sure had big feet! :D 

 Marilyn Monroe's red shoes! AWESOME!

Elvis Presley's shoes! Cool! 

And for all of my friends who have Bieber fever (I'm talking to you, Syd!) here are Justin Bieber's purple sneakers! 

 Ballet pointe shoes worn by Dame Margot Fonteyn who was one of the greatest ballerinas of all time. She was actually appointed Prima Ballerina Assoluta of the Royal Ballet by Queen Elizabeth II. 

 The Dalai Lama's sandals. I'm surprised they aren't PADUKA! 

 These are Queen Victoria's shoes. She wore them the year she married Prince Albert. They are REALLY small! She had tiny feet! 

 The shoe museum also has cool windows! I love the colours! I think this would make a good sneaker design! 

AND ON TO THE SNEAKERS! 

Puma made the first computer shoes! These shoes have a chip in the back that track distance and time and speed! They're from the 80's.  

SO MANY COOL SNEAKER DESIGNS!

 I think these were my favourites!

Of course, the best part was trying on some of the funky fashions! I like these leopard print platforms!

And these Elton John style sparkly platforms are SO PERFECT!

After the shoe museum, we stopped to have a real french crepe. Mine was dark chocolate and strawberries! DELICIOUS! This was a fun and educational day!

But of course, the only way to finish off a day at the shoe museum is to go...

SHOE SHOPPING!!!

PLEEEEEEEEEASE MUMMMMMY????????????

Shhhh! I've Got A Secret!

 Behind The Scenes - Adventures Into the Unknown!

Yesterday and today the Pages were very lucky to get a well deserved break from our duties. Last week, Honourable John Gerretson (the Attorney General) put forth a motion to not have the House sit or any committees meet on these two days so that all the MPPs could go to the International Plowing Match. 

Quick Tip:  My MPP, Steve Clark, is the Founding Chairman of the International Plowing Match. 

So, thanks Mr. Clark.... you're kind of the reason we got today off!!!! :D 

Because the House wasn't sitting, we had no Chamber duties so instead, we took Legislative Process class and math and then................

A TOUR!

Not just any tour, because we'd already been on a tour of the Legislature. This tour was an exclusive-Pages-only-no-one-else-is-ever-allowed-to-go-special-super-awesome-mega-tour-of

EVERYWHERE THAT IS SECRET! 

This place is FULL of really cool secrets!

First stop? 

The basement! 

I'm not talking the "Basement" that the Page Quarters is in that people can go to for lunch or to the barber shop or to the nurse, I'm talking the basement, basement. The vault-under-the-earth top-secret-basement. 

(Don't worry, when I was down there, I didn't see any bones so I don't think they banished any past Pages there!) 

The correct term for the basement is actually the vaults. WHY? Not because there is money like in a bank (though that would be kinda cool) but because there were really heavy steel doors that lead into tiny little rooms where in the old days they would store film. Actual rolls of film that you would watch movies on with a projector. Old film. Movies. Pretty cool. 

Why were there vaults to store old movies in in the basement of the Legislature? 

Good question!

The reason is that film is highly flammable and delicate so they wanted to keep it separate and locked up without a lot of oxygen so that if they caught on fire it would be contained. They also needed a safe place to store them.

Even MORE exciting is that right there in the Legislature...... actually, in the offices where Hansard is today, they used to watch the movies and give them ratings (like G for General, PG for Parental Guidance). 

You heard me. They screened old movies in the Hansard offices and then rated them and stored them in the vaults for safekeeping. This is the COOLEST place on EARTH! (Except for maybe Hogwarts, but this is a close second!) 

Our next stop on the tour was on the complete opposite level of the building. The attic. 

The attic is really scary at first, but it was so interesting that after I adjusted to the creepiness, I really wanted to explore! 

It looks like a basement. It's completely huge (the same size as the Chamber because it is directly over top of it) It's dark and it smells musty. On the floor there are rails that look like subway tracks for moving things around in carts on. Just in case you're clumsy, there are wooden walkways so that you don't step on any of the tracks. 

 The attic floor with the tracks

 The attic ceiling

In the attic there was a separate room that had a really big circular window. It looked like this: 

The large, circular window in the attic is so beautiful! I love it!

My favourite part though was a really big metal container that looks like a vat. It sits on top of a big circular grate on the floor. You can open a little tiny hatch door into the vat and you can look through the grate and see the floor of the Chamber! What a neat place to sit and watch the Chamber proceedings, all tucked away in a tiny little vat in the attic. So NEAT!

Here is what the ceiling of the Chamber looks like from in the Chamber

And here is what it looks like when you look through the vat into down into the Chamber from the attic

 You can see the MPP desks!

The vat also looked really cool because it was covered in dust. But better? It was covered in signatures from past Pages who had signed their names in the dust. Very spooky yet artistic. Even better? Dalton McGuinty had signed his name in the dust when he had a tour there. So naturally, I figured if the past premier could do it, so could I! I have now left my mark on the dusty vat in the Legislative Attic. Part of history! :D 

There was an airy part of the attic where there was a wall of windows with no glass. Everything was open and bright. It was a cool contrast to the dark dusty area. 

We returned back down to the main part of the building and checked out some of the artwork on the walls. 

There was a painting of Laura Secord that our guide Julie pointed out to us. I wasn't sure why a painting of Laura Secord was hanging in the Legislature or why it was so important. 

It's a very dark painting. Laura looks very manly and really old. Kind of scary. 

It was originally right outside the chamber doors but everyone wanted it to be moved because they didn't like looking at it. 

They thought something was really weird about the painting so they took it to the Toronto General Hospital. 

Why would you take a weird painting to a hospital, you ask!

To give it an x-ray. 

(NO, this is not a joke!!!!!) 

The x-ray showed that there was indeed another painting underneath the one of Laura Secord! It was of a past premier (George Ross)! A painting over a painting! 

WHY? 

All of the premiers since forever ago have a painting done of them when they finish their job as premier. It's tradition. 

Only Mr. Ross didn't like his portrait. He thought it was awful. 

The thing is, you can't just throw out a painting of yourself. 

So he did the next best thing. 

He ordered someone to paint over it! 

This is why Laura Secord looks so manly in the painting! Because she's been painted OVER a man!

Mr. Ross ended up marrying the person who painted his portrait. 

Who knew that our Legislative Assembly building would hold so many secrets!!!!!!! Not me! I really enjoyed this tour because it gave me an opportunity to see things that not many people have a chance to see, but also because I like a good mystery and really like a good secret too! 

--- PeyThePEYge

Lions, Tigers and PEYges! Oh MY!

Living in Toronto isn't a complete experience without a trip to the ZOO. 

While I don't really like the idea of animals being kept in captivity, I know that zoos are also helpful to teach people about animals and make them interested and care enough to want to help protect them in the wild. I also know that sometimes having captive animals is a way to help a species that might be endangered because the keepers can protect them, breed them and help them reestablish themselves in the wild again. 

The Toronto Zoo is HUUUUGE! There were so many animals to see! 

Elephants!

Hippopotamus

I think my favourite exhibit was the White Lion exhibit. They are such beautiful animals! I got to watch them chewing on marrow bones as a treat! Cool! 

FLAMINGOES!!!!

Did you know that flamingoes are actually white and grey but that they get their AMAZING PINKISHNESS COLOURING from the shellfish they eat? That's right... unlike Lady Gaga, they aren't born this way! And it's easy to tell which one is being selfish with the shellfish because he's the one that is the most PINK! 

The butterfly garden was BEEEAUTIFUL

NOW FOR THE MOST RARE, EXOTIC, SPECIAL, CREATURE IN ALL OF THE ZOO...

THE WILD

UNTAMED

CHIPMUNK!

This is one lucky little rodent! Living in with all of the birds and butterflies means lots of free food and no predators! 

Riding the ZOOMOBILE! This is one stylish way to get around the zoo!

YAKKITY YAK! Don't talk back! Mr. Yak was very cool. We were actually allowed to go into the enclosure with the yaks and the Przwalksi's horses (one of the last wild horse breeds left)! It was a neat experience! 

We visited the new GIANT PANDA exhibit. It was cool to learn about the panda (did you know that because they eat so much bamboo which is REALLY high in fibre that they actually go to the bathroom 40 times a day! 40 TIMES A DAY! These guys are cute, but stinky!) 

Visiting the zoo was a lot of fun and pretty educational too. Now if only I can convince my mum to let me adopt a pygymy marmoset, I'll be happy! :D 

--PeyThePEYge

READ ALL ABOUT IT!

This is BIG news!

Today I got an OFFICIAL 

Toronto Public LIBRARY CARD!

Do you know how exciting this is!?!?!?!?

For those of you who don't know me, I have to admit I do have a bit of an addiction. To BOOKS!

I like to read. Well, that's an understatement........... 

I LOOOOOVE TO READ!

On my birthday (that was just a few short days ago) my mum and daddy gave me 6 big novels for my birthday. I finished the last one on the day I came to Toronto. They were supposed to last me for my whole 5 weeks here! I was SO worried that I wouldn't have anything to read! 

So today my mum took me to the library (which is only a couple of blocks from my apartment) and we got library cards! 

The library here is SO HIGH TECH! It was AMAZING! Once I got my card, I picked out some books (6 more. That should do me about a week!) and I took the books to the check out counter. I scanned my library card using a hand-held scanner and placed all 6 of my books in a pile on a little square section of the counter (that kind of looked like the part on the grocery store check out where the cashier weighs your food) then ALL OF THE NAMES AND AUTHORS OF THE BOOKS I CHOSE POPPED UP ON THE COMPUTER SCREEN! 

What magic have we here!? 

It was SO NEAT! 

I'm so happy to have this card! AAAAND I can't wait to read all of my new books! :D 

My first actual library card from the Toronto Public Library

 Couldn't wait to get home to read. Probably not the safest way to walk through the city!!!!

Gotta go! Books to read! :D 

---PeyThePEYge

Hello City!!!!!

This morning I got to sleep in a little bit. It's amazing how just a few extra minutes can make you feel so much more rested! :D 

Our day started with a walk to Yonge and Wellesley Street where we got on our bus for a tour of the city! 

But this was no ordinary bus! It was a bus that came all the way from England ... so yes, the steering wheel was on the wrong side but even better... it was a DOUBLE DECKER! We all sat in one big clump on the top of course! 

We had a tour guy on the bus named Andy who talked about all of the sites in the city that we drove by. Some of the highlights were: 

1. The CN tower! It was the tallest freestanding building in the world until a few years ago when a tower that is 800 metres high was built in Dubai. There is an edgewalk that they recently added where you get a harness and a special safety suit and you can walk around the outside platform of the CN tower! It sounds scary, but I think I might try it some day! One rule to follow though, I hate to tell you this because you might be very disappointed but... you can't bring your swords on the edgewalk. Sorry, guys. No swords allowed. 

2. Casa Loma. It is a HUGE castle right in the city of Toronto! It was designed by two best friends (aka besties!) who went on a trip to Europe together because they wanted to find ideas to build their special castles. They saw two different types of buildings there and since they were best friends they both thought that they could just convince each other to do what the other wanted to build BUT they couldn't! They couldn't decide! So they compromised and combined both kinds of designs so now Casa Loma has two types of architecture and it's called a franken-castle! :D 

The man who lived in Casa Loma was named Sir Henry. He had a secret passage way behind a fireplace that they named after him. He also was very, very unlucky (or very evil!) . He had a wife, his wife died. He had a son, his son ran away. He married again, his second wife died. So did his third wife. Then, people felt like he was getting to rich and needed to be stopped so they took his company away from him and didn't give him any money for it. He ended up in debt to the bank for millions of dollars. People were deciding what to do with Casa Loma. Some people wanted to tear it down and some people wanted it preserved. They have now turned into a visitor centre. There's a guest book in the castle and the very first person to sign the book was ..... SIR HENRY! 

3. After our quick stop at Casa Loma, we got on a new bus and toured the city some more. We drove through an area that Torontonians affectionately call the Gaybourhood. It's an area where many gay people have settled. I think it's neat that we are now living in a time when people can live pretty freely and are accepted for who they are. 

4. We saw the Church where Elton John was married. 

5. We saw the Hippie district where Gordon Lightfoot used to play music. 

6. We saw Queen's Park. It looks different from the top of a double decker bus!

7. We saw the University of Toronto buildings. Some of them are really pretty!

8. We saw a very cool subway stop in the district where the University residences are and it looks like a house! You go inside the house and go down the stairs to catch the subway! It's really cool! 

9. This one is BIG. BIG BIG BIG BIG! Hello! THERE IS A SHOE MUSEUM HERE!!!!!!! A museum. Full of shoes! FULL. OF. SHOOOOOEEEESSSSS!!!! Do you know how much I like shoes? The shoe museum has 5,000 year old egyptian sandals, chinesse binding shoes, marilyn Monroes' red pumps, Justin Beiber's purple high tops and one of Shaquile O'Neil's size bajillion basketball shoes! My theory about why they only have one of his shoes? The other one wouldn't fit in the case! Shaq has GIANT FEET! I think the Bata Shoe Museum is a must-see while I'm here! Then maybe some shoe shopping...... .:D

Oh, the only ever successful theft there was by two guys who stole an Indian prince's ruby shoes with diamonds on them. They were proud of what they had done so they took pictures of themselves wearing the shoes and took the pictures to a photo printing place to have them printed. The man at the print shop recognized the shoes and called the police! Not the smartest criminals! :D 

10. An archway at a hotel that holds a couch where people can sit. In the winter time, the couch is heated! 

After our bus tour, we went to the Harbourfront to catch a boat tour! We all climbed aboard and toured around the Toronto Islands. 

1. Did you know that you get a $10,000 fine and a night in jail if you jump off a boat into the harbour! 

2. On one of the islands there are two beaches. You have to be really careful about reading the signs when you're there .... one of them says "CLOTHING OPTIONAL" :D Yikes!

3. Another island you aren't allowed to go on because it is a bird sanctuary and a place for anything that migrates to stop and have a break on their long journey south. In the water around the island I saw 28 swans! They were beautiful! There was a sign by the shore that says "make no wake" so that boats won't make waves to disturb the birds. There were also a TON of ducks and geese in the water. 

The boat ride was VERY cold. It wasn't very warm out today!

When we were out on the water, it was hard to believe that we were in Toronto. It was so pretty and full of nature! I liked it!

By the time we got back I was so tired because we had had such an energetic day making new friendships and seeing the city together! It was AWESOME!  Can't wait for next Friday!

---PeyThePEYge