My uncle and aunt were in town Friday and Saturday so we got to do the tour guide thing.

Friday we checked out St Lawrence Market then the Distillery District, stopping there for lunch at a Mexican place called El Catrin, which had really bright and bold interior decorating. It was pretty cool and the food was nice too. We then caught the subway up to Queens Park, walked through there to the ROM, checked out the Mesopotamia exhibition (second time for me but meant I got to see a few things I’d missed the first time) and then go back to our place about 5.

In the evening we went for dinner at an Indian restaurant, where Glen joined us straight after work. We ordered food that was meant “for one” or “for two” but really “for one” would have done “for two”. Absolutely stuffed by the end of it. We had to wolf our food down to get to The Second City for 7:30.

The show was the same Glen and I had seen before (their “We Can Be Heroes” show) but it was still funny and it was a great night out.

Saturday we had a leisurely start to the day before going to the Harbourfront Centre for their Day of the Dead festivities. There was an altar outside and for a moment we thought that was all there was. But then we went inside and there were a few stalls selling Mexican food and drink (we had hot chocolates made from cocoa), more altars with bright offerings, and other artistic displays.

We then watched a Mexican dance performance where the women and men had their faces painted to look like skulls. Bright, flowery dresses for the women and smart Mexican suits for the men. We were a bit worried at the start because the compère said there would be a workshop. But luckily there was half an hour of dancing and we left after that before the workshop started.

Afterwards we split up to go to the Bata Shoe Museum. Glen went home to get his ROM membership card from home because I said we got free entry into the Shoe Museum. Turns out that was only on select days so we paid after all.

While he was getting the card, Leon, Alice and I had grilled cheese sandwiches from a little place near the museum. Then we all met up and went into the museum. I saw a few things I hadn’t seen before. Last time I’d missed the Native American shoe gallery but saw it this time. Amazing workmanship. And did you know that muskrat is really, really soft?

Jana and her mother rocked up just as we were finishing but there wasn’t enough time for them to check out the museum. There was an area just in the entrance where they had shoes to try on, lots of strange ones, so we had some fun doing that. Then we all walked back to our place before going to dinner at all-you-can-eat sushi down the road. We ate so much then walked home, saying farewell to Leon and Alice as they were leaving the next day at lunch time.

And an hour or so later, Glen, Jana and I went to Fly Nightclub. Fly was the club Babylon in the US version of Queer as Folk. We’d wanted to go since we arrived but never found the time and a lot of people we’ve spoken to were a bit down on it. But thankfully Jana was in town and keen so we went. Our friend Kevin came too.

It was strange being there as the basic structure looks like the club in the show. And walking up the stairs you realise that they are the metal stairs you see in the show. It’s not as big as it looks in the show but it was big enough. The music was pretty good for most of the night but it got a bit heavy and dull towards the end.

Plenty of eye candy and there were a couple of gogo dances on podiums, including one that looked amazing. Glen went home a little before Jana and I, and we left at 3:30 or so. So glad to have gone out and danced.

Because of the late night, we didn’t get out of bed until 11:30 (bliss!) then had breakfast. There was a marching band and military people marching down our street at about 12 today. Was pretty cool. Tomorrow is Remembrance Day and people have been wearing poppies for weeks.

We’re watching Practical Magic now and vegetating. I’m cooking a roast for Jana and her mum tonight. It’s nice to have visitors.