The Griswolds take Canada

Day 2 - August 23, 2013

Breakfast at the hotel was so-so. Thane had three boxes of Apple Jacks. Nastassja had her usual almost nothing. Emily of course had three sausage patties. And Becky had the Special K in memory of yesterday's breeze through of Battle Creek. I of course had Michigan's most famous oatmeal. 

After loading of the van, we walked across the street to Canada's most treasured Tim Horton's. Nastassja was outraged that the selection was half of what we get at Dunkin Donuts. I told her that when I was a child, we only had three choices when it came to donuts, and to get those donuts we had to walk up hill to the donut shop both ways, in a raging blizzard, without shoes.

Today was the day of tours. First, we did the Henry Ford Museum. I was quite impressed - I liked the museum better than the Smithsonian. There were many highlights. I especially liked the trains and multitude of cars.  The original Prius - which hardly looked like our 2012 Prius. Charles Kuralt's motor home - in which he lived his double life. And the limo that John F. Kennedy was assassinated in.

Oddly, there was no Ford Pinto on display.

However, the highlights of the museum were the bus in which Rosa Parks sparked the Civil Rights movement and the incredible cheesy metal Dymaxion House.

Oliver Stone may be lurking in the background.

What good is a train if you can't lie down in front of it? 

This was the "duck and cover" classroom exhibit for when the Soviets attacked after Americans were first softened up with the most monstrously conceived and dangerous communist plot of fluoridation.

Good old Charles Kuralt's motor home. I wonder how many women he "befriended" here?


After finishing the museum around noon, we headed to downtown Dearborn for some middle eastern food at the Amani Restaurant. We were hoping to get the kids to try out different foods. Unfortunately, only Thane was game - as he sampled the hommus, falafel, and feta cheese salad. I thought the food was great.

We next toured the Arab-American Museum, which was a great little museum which described many contributions that Arab-Americans have made here in the States.

Thane and I strolled through the supermarket behind the museum. It was a fascinating experience as I felt like I was in a supermarket in the middle east. Everything from the way people dressed to the food that was sold. 

 Finally, we headed to a large mosque. Friday prayers had just ended so many people were streaming out. The gals covered their hair and we had a wonderful tour from a woman at the mosque. She was really taken with Emily.  She also gave us bread that they make right there and tried to find calendars for us.

I'm not sure what the practice of giving calendars out to guest is all about in the Arab world. This is the second time that has happened to me as a hotel proprietor in Morocco once gave us a calendar as we were leaving. All and all, I think it was a great cultural experience for the children.

The gals and our tour guide. 

Finally, we made the long slog to the suburbs of Toronto. Prior to traveling, we had gathered the kids birth certificates, signed consent statements from the other parents, and the divorce decrees to show we had legal custody of the kids. When we reached passport control after crossing the Ambassador Bridge, the passport control officer only wanted to see Becky and my passports, made us open the kids door for 10 seconds, asked us our professions, where we were going, and when was the last time we had traveled to Canada. He then sent us on our way. Oh, and he was surly. Which from my experience is a required trait to be a passport control officer.

Entering the land of maple syrup and funny bacon from the Ambassador Bridge.