Fran’s For Breakfast
My husband and I began the day with breakfast at Fran’s. (The logo above from their website.) The first Fran’s opened in 1940. The restaurant is a Toronto institution. I hadn’t been there since the 80’s. It’s an all-day breakfast, meatloaf-on-the-menu type of place. The prices are still very reasonable; and the eggs benedict, the Canadian with peameal bacon for my husband, and the Blackstone with smoked salmon for me, were delicious. The location was only a block north of our hotel so we were able to eat and get back in time for JT to pick us up to head out on our next adventure.
The Scarborough Bluffs
The Scarborough Bluffs is another place we had never explored in all our time living and visiting the area in the past. We are so glad we decided to go this time.
Toronto sits on the shores of Lake Ontario, which like all the Great Lakes is huge. Think inland sea. The bluffs, which overlook the lake, are located on the east side of the Municipality of Toronto in the district of Scarborough. The Bluffs include eleven public parks along a 15 km stretch. We chose to visit two of these parks.
Bluffer’s Park
There are scenes in this park that make you feel like you are in an Indiana Jones movie. It is such a fabulous place to explore.
This particular park is at the bottom of the Bluffs. There is a beach and trails. It was breezy, and the waves were sometimes as large as some of the ocean beaches in Nova Scotia.
Taking in the Bluffs from various angles was addicting so, needless to say, I took a lot of photos. Here are some of them:
Rosetta McClain Gardens
The second park we visited was at the top of the Bluffs but was known more for its horticultural value than its location overlooking Lake Ontario. Rosetta McClain was given the land by her father in approximately 1905. Her husband, Robert Watson McClain, and brother, Joseph McDonald, developed the gardens with many of their property improvements still in place today. Upon Rosetta’s death in 1940, her husband donated the property to the city of Toronto in her memory. (Source: Toronto Parks and Recreation). The ruins of the old house is still on the property and is now incorporated into the gardens.
So you probably already know that I don’t go to a park full of gardens without taking lots of pictures. What would I ever do if we were still using film. Think of all the things I would forget because I couldn’t take so many pics. Here are some more of them:
Dinner At Mezes On The Danforth
Danforth Ave is approximately nine km long and runs east-west starting as a continuation of Bloor St. It is a multicultural heaven for those who like to try different foods. We had decided to stop in Greek town for dinner and were not disappointed.
Mezes is a lovely Greek restaurant that we decided on spontaneously while walking the street and peeking in windows. It is a beautiful setting to enjoy a fabulous meal served by employees who know how to treat their patrons. Plus the prices are very affordable. Here are our meals: JT’s, my husband’s and mine, all accompanied by a tasty and refreshing Greek salads and delicious warm bread.
And if you enjoy a nice washroom, like I do, the ones at Mezes were clean with quality fixtures and products. You have to love a restaurant that appreciates their patrons enough to provide upper-class toilet tissue.
When we were finished, JT dropped us off close to our hotel and we walked the rest of the way before going inside and putting our feet up. It was another lovely day filled with things that we enjoy doing together.
Thank you for reading.
Photos: Jenn Stone except where indicated
Recent posts:
Still Bitchy After 60 Blog 
Another great day in Toronto. I haven’t been to your iconic restaurant nor Scarborough Bluffs, I’ll mention both to my friend who lives there, since she’s the only reason I go to TO. Did the garden give you any ideas for your garden? Maggie
LikeLiked by 3 people
I was very impressed with the Bluffs. I don’t know what the other parks are like. I believe Bluffers park is probably the most photographed one.
I absolutely loved the old foundation incorporated in the garden but would need a lot more backyard to pull that off. Not to mention the remnants of an old house.
LikeLike
I was born on the Danforth as it was called then and then later moved to Scarborough when it was very rural. Our subd was surrounded by farms. I just came back from Markem and my cousin said I wouldn’t want to see the area now as it is awful. Enjoy
LikeLiked by 2 people
Toronto and all the surrounding areas have changed a lot. A great deal of it isn’t pretty. I moved back to Nova Scotia. 27 years ago, and I don’t miss living there at all, but there are places in all the area that are little gems and well worth visiting.
LikeLike
Greek food is my absolute favourite food – seconded by Chinese… I’m managing to get Richard into Greek food but he won’t try Chinese for some reason!
Both parks look great but I think I’d find the below-the-bluffs one the most fascinating – I’d spend all day studying the rock for routes up it. Do they get climbers or isn’t climbing allowed there?
LikeLiked by 3 people
Both Greek and Asian food are high on my list of yummy.
Sorry, no climbing on the bluffs. They want to preserve them. Lots of history there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh well – I can understand that – I think they’re right not to have climbing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds as if you had a terrific day and your photos are gorgeous. I haven’t visited Scarborough Bluffs in a long time but it’s quite impressive. Cheers.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The bluffs are quite impressive. We had no idea what to expect and we were blown away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like that you took photos of the bluffs from different angles and distances. It’s interesting to see the same thing from a different perspective.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It was interesting to see how they changed as we walked. Especially when the trees were in front. I really enjoyed the experience.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you soaked up every moment. And that Kleftiko at Mezes? I’m hungry just thinking about it. Thanks for sharing your adventure.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It really was a very good day and meal. Thanks for reading, commenting and subscribing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful photos of nature and food.
I’m smiling about: And if you enjoy a nice washroom, like I do, the ones at Mezes were clean with quality fixtures and products. You have to love a restaurant that appreciates their patrons enough to provide upper-class toilet tissue. My dad was a physician and this is how he assessed restaurants. The food was secondary to the cleanliness.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ally, I am so glad someone actually mentioned the washroom sentence. I thought it was kind of noteworthy. I wouldn’t go as far as washrooms before food in a restaurant like your dad, but there are some pretty awful washrooms out there and I have used them when necessary. Maybe that’s why this one was so impressive. The tissue at Mezes was so luxurious, that I wanted to steal some just to show people, but I didn’t.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My partner and his family grew up just a few minutes from the Bluffs, and when my kids came along, we sometimes went there with the dogs! Beautiful pictures!
LikeLiked by 3 people
It is a beautiful place. Also a great place to bring kids and dogs.
LikeLiked by 2 people