{Arriving at Hyatt Regency Toronto on King}

Another lovely, sunny day for driving the stretch from Port Huron, Michigan into Canada to Toronto.

This time I had booked at the Hyatt Regency Toronto on King , on 370 King Street West in Toronto, Canada that is. 

In November of 2011, we were in Toronto for the last time, for a two-day wedding.

Happy sight to see the 1,815' (553 m) tall CN Tower again!

A bit to the left of the sign, which reads Kipling Ave., you can see the CN Tower showing up! 
By the way, Kipling is my favorite Belgian Luggage light weight.
I only have a messenger bag from Kipling ...

Yay, the CN Tower comes more in sight; that means destination almost reached!

Such a free companion certificate from Delta is great but it does not let you fly out from Canada!

So I had to drive back to Detroit, to point F after reaching today's point E in Toronto!

Round trip was 1093.54 miles ...

Or about 1759.88 kilometers in 20 hours!

Due to heavy traffic jam on June 2nd, when we arrived in Detroit, Michigan and had to go all the way to point B.

Later I learned that also on June 2nd, Dutch King and Queen head to Michigan  the Dutch Royals had landed in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

That explained the traffic problem!

Even King Willem-Alexander says, 'If you ain't Dutch ...'   In his first speech in Michigan, King Willem-Alexander said his country is appreciative of its connection to a state that is six times its size and holds the biggest population of people with Dutch heritage in the U.S.

Turning off King Street West onto Widmer St for entering the parking garage ...

Above you see the sign Hyatt; we arrived!

Quite a large hotel!

The above two photos we made next day, while walking... just getting home before the rain.

My blue Mazda2 rental car did a great job! Funny for being in Canada with a Florida license tag.

Small car but we only traveled carry on.

Hyatt's Grand Bed with pillow top, down pillows and down duvet, just like at home; feels good!
And guess what ?!
At the Reception husband Pieter got asked about his accent; yes, still after 32 years.
He said that he was Dutch by birth, American by choice.
To which he got the following reply:
'Ah, the Dutch King and Queen were staying here a week ago!'

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands
Yep, on May 31, this photo got published on the Royals' FB Page
Very fittingly for them to stay at Hyatt Regency Toronto on King!

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of The Netherlands  and she truly is a Queen of Fashion!

Husband Pieter is treating me, his driver, to a cup of tea!

Laptop out and using the free WiFi Internet with fast speed.

Very efficient bathroom.

Shower

First thing I did was get those shoes off! 

My Escada jeans and top did have some stretch, they were quite comfy.

BIG surprise for having such a great view of the CN Tower!

From our room on the 10th floor ...

Lovely blue sky.

Let's go from 10th floor to the top on the 20th!

That is even more impressive, now looking down onto the building across the street.

We are at the top level as you can see to the left.

Lovely view here.

Metro Toronto population is above six million!

A truly majestic CN Tower ...

Downstairs, in The King Street Social Kitchen, Hyatt's main restaurant, we enjoy a quiet dinner.

Pieter just ordered a starter of Grilled Calamari.
 Rouille, cherry peppers and salted preserved lemon.

My choice was from the Mains ...

Country Harvest
Roasted root vegetables, garam masala scented puy lentils, balsamic grilled tomatoes, red pepper sauce, parsley E.V.O.O (Extra Virgin Olive Oil).
Another perfect day!

Breakfast for next morning I had Belgian Waffles with fresh berries.

Even With One Cape Gooseberry or Physalis peruviana.
Tomorrow we continue ...

Related links:
{Port Huron, MI - Meeting with Blogger Friend I Admire} | previous post by me
{Livonia, Michigan - Meeting with a Friend Blogger I Admire} | previous post by me
{Our Grand Hotel Mackinac Island Michigan Afternoon Tea} | previous post by me
{Mackinac Island Flora} | previous post by me
{Mackinac Island Carriage Tours} | previous post by me
{Patriotic & Romantic Mackinac Island, Michigan} | previous post by me
{Shepler's Mackinac Island, Michigan Ferry} | previous post by me
{505 S Huron Avenue, Mackinaw City, Michigan} | previous post by me
{Delta Annual Companion Certificate Flight to Detroit, Michigan} | previous post by me

{Port Huron, MI - Meeting with Blogger Friend I Admire}

Since We were that close to Canada on our travels to Michigan, we decided to meet with dear Blogger Friend Laura Busko  Also an excellent photographer and multi talented in creating beautiful Sewing, Cross Stitch and Crafts. Check out her blog: Casita By The Lake

Photo made by husband Pieter... Laura is a very sweet lady!
From Livonia, Michigan the drive would only be one hour and 15 minutes, but it turned out I had to take a little longer as it was pouring down, due to a thunderstorm. I arrived a bit exhausted because it was still in heavy traffic but we got safe to our Quality Inn & Suites in Port Huron. This is just on the border with Canada.

This is where we stayed at the Quality Inn & Suites in Port Huron, Michigan on the Canadian border.
I did my booking through Trivago.com and that is the best deal.

June 5, in heavy rain ... but we got there safe!

It was not much of a journey but from Detroit / Livonia till Port Huron in heavy traffic + heavy rain.
Also Toronto is marked yellow because that's where we will be heading towards after meeting with the lovely Laura and her husband.

Livonia is where we stayed at the Hyatt Place Detroit / Livonia  and it should be only one hour and 16 minutes but it took me longer, due to the weather.

This photo has-been taken by Laura's husband Don.
Hard to Imagine that sweet Laura lost her Mom when she was only 6, being the youngest in her family.
She is such a graceful and multi-talented lady, one I sure do admire tremendously.
So happy for having met, over lunch just before we left for Toronto.

Laura and her husband did travel from Canada to meet us in Port Huron.
The blue dot is where our hotel was and the line through the water is the Border Between the USA and Canada.

After lunch we left for Canada, crossing the water via the Blue Water Bridge

Blue Water Bridge  ← click it

Our not so spectacular photo of the Blue Water Bridge ...

On our way to Canada and on to Toronto ... See you there!

Related links:
{Livonia, Michigan - Meeting with a Friend Blogger I Admire} | previous post by me
{Our Grand Hotel Mackinac Island Michigan Afternoon Tea} | previous post by me
{Mackinac Island Flora} | previous post by me
{Mackinac Island Carriage Tours} | previous post by me
{Patriotic & Romantic Mackinac Island, Michigan} | previous post by me
{Shepler's Mackinac Island, Michigan Ferry} | previous post by me
{505 S Huron Avenue, Mackinaw City, Michigan} | previous post by me
{Delta Annual Companion Certificate Flight to Detroit, Michigan}  | previous post by me

{Livonia, Michigan - Meeting with a Blogger Friend I Admire}

After our wonderful Mackinac Island tour, complete with Afternoon Tea at the Grand Hotel, it was back to Mackinaw, City and next day after breakfast I hit the road again for driving some 4 hours south to the Detroit area. We were staying at the Hyatt Place Detroit/Livonia for one night before continuing to the border of Canada next day. Just enough time for meeting with a sweet Blogger Friend that I Admire: Deborah from The Beautiful Matters. Over the years we have shared so many mutual interests and our love for tea on Blogger. It was about time for meeting in the flesh and sip a real cup of tea together!

Here we are; happy together!
Sweet Deborah did write about it even before I could put my act together: Tea and cookies with a blogger friend

Yes, before going on this trip, husband Pieter mentioned that our home smelled like a bakery as I'd baked about 10 lbs of Amaretti Cookies from Almond Meal with Coconut Palm Sugar to make them as healthy as possible.
Deborah sure deserved her two bags of these home baked cookies as she is one of the bravest women I know. A very touching post written by her was this one: In memory of my son and it is only weeks ago that her eldest son would have been 31 years old.
Hard to believe that this beautiful and brave lady had 10 children of which 3 are alive.
A true role model with a strong Faith.

We both had a white iPhone...
Both let our hair color be natural...
Both of us LOVE pearls: Deborah's post about it→ Looking for pearls
Both of us LOVE hand writing: Deborah's post→ Thank you notes

Both of us LOVE vintage handkerchiefs: Deborah's post→ Vintage handkerchiefs

Both of us feel alike: Deborah's post →  Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking - you can check out my comment on that.

Sipping Tea Together, feeling blessed!

 Living both a content life is very much like Deborah wrote: Blessings in the mundane

Words of wisdom...

Closing with Deborah's words:→ Ode to friendship

I certainly feel blessed knowing this fine lady!

Pieter speaks also very fondly of her and that makes me double happy.

If you not already have discovered this gem in Blogland, click on those pink hyperlinks for getting to know her great qualities.

Hope you enjoyed our tea time!

Related links:
{Our Grand Hotel Mackinac Island Michigan Afternoon Tea} | previous post by me
{Mackinac Island Flora} | previous post by me
{Mackinac Island Carriage Tours} | previous post by me
{Patriotic & Romantic Mackinac Island, Michigan} | previous post by me
{Shepler's Mackinac Island, Michigan Ferry} | previous post by me
{505 S Huron Avenue, Mackinaw City, Michigan} | previous post by me
{Delta Annual Companion Certificate Flight to Detroit, Michigan} | previous post by me