I was all ready to write a pissy and rather bitter post this morning about people who chew gum and cut across lanes when they turn … until I found this link:

http://www.earthhour.org

I read about it and felt all warm and fuzzy and decided to sign up. Take a look and leave a comment if you think this is worthwhile.

It’s also worth noting that I made it back from Toronto in one piece, and I’ll share a few slices of my journey with you now.

The first shot is of the Uxbridge Trans Canada Trail pavilion. I bought a metre of this trail back in 2006 - and while my name still hasn’t appeared in the pavilion, it’s nice to have supported such a good cause. Someday I’d like to hoof part (or all) of this trail …

Next up is the new face of Yonge and Dundas. This is quickly becoming one of those “magical” intersections, and I think it’s really giving Toronto a cosmopolitan, metropolitan look. As much as I miss the dingy old buildings, I do have to say that this part of the city has a new energy I’ve never felt before.

The venerable Eatons Centre (or whatever they call it now) is still a magnificent edifice, and I enjoyed paying homage (and some hard-earned) to Roots and lululemon. I can remember coming here in the early 1980’s when I was just a sprout, and the place still dazzles me with its expanses of glass roof, art, and ever-so-polite hustle and bustle that epotomizes Toronto life.

Last is a shot of my beloved TTC. “Ride the Rocket” in Toronto isn’t just innuendo, and there’s nothing more enjoyable than riding a red streetcar after chowing down on a hot dog from a Toronto street vendor. This particular streetcar kindly took me across Queen Street.

I had the pleasure of feasting with Ginny at Coopers BBQ today. Remarkably, she began our culinary excursion with a gift; a little postcard booklet from the “Sanctuary of Perpetual Adoration and Convent” in Quebec. I have since learned that this booklet dates back to the 1930’s, and I’m just tickled that she thought of me when she saw this at the flea market.

We debated many things, including the merits of Volkswagen automatic transmissions (Mike’s conclusion: they traditionally have weak bands and are poorly lubricated. Ginny’s conclusion: it gets me to the mall), peer pressure to get a newer car (Mike’s conclusion: women who drive older Volkswagens are automatically one degree cooler in my books, so back off), and whether or not to have an “about me” page on your blog (Ginny’s conclusion: do it!).

But the crowning jewel of today’s lunch was when Ginny was lamenting the idea of a car payment. In her own sweet way she admonished the idea; “I wouldn’t be able to go clothes shopping every week!”

On the way out, I uttered a silent prayer to the Volkswagen gods on her behalf.

Before I blog more about Boston, please check out this blog: Bean the Pit.  It’s a lovely story about a lost dog that was recent recovered in my fair city of Durham, North Carolina.

Back to Beantown.  Days 4 and 5 were my “blah” days, and I spent most of them in training and at the local shopping mall (the only real fixture within walking distance).  The weather took a turn for the cold, and the rain from the prior day meant everything was a mix of cold slush, ice and general frigidness.

Of particularly amusing note were the “no pedestrian” signs at most of the driveways leading into the mall.  I’m not sure how a foot pedestrian is supposed to get into the mall; fly, perhaps?  I cheerfully ignored them, dodged the incoming SUV’s and had an otherwise acceptable time.

Of some worthwhile note was my consumption of seafood.  Boston folk sure know how to make good chowders, as I’m sure my waistline will attest to.

Neomonde is a restaurant everyone in Raleigh should visit.  I have long thought that good Mediterranean food is one of life’s greatest joys, and Neomonde does not disappoint.

Neomonde is half bakery and grocery, and half cafe.   The grocery has all manner of things not found at the regular supermarket; roasted nuts, exotic cheeses, breads, olive oils, dried fruits, boxes of Turkish Delights, and countless other temptations.  If there’s any line at the food counter (and there’s almost guaranteed to be one), you’ll be forced to spend a few minutes in the grocery area.  And yes - you’ll come away with an armful of groceries.

The food in the cafe includes falafel, tabouli, shawarma, baba ghanouj, hummus, labneh,  baklava, namoura, and many, many other things.  There’s also the fresh pita bread that has made Neomonde so famous.

Everything I have ever had at Neomonde has been superb.  My favorite is the falafel sandwich; I always buy a “full size” and keep half for dinner.

Please - if you have any sense of international cuisine, give Neomonde a visit.  The absent.canadian promises you won’t be disappointed.

Mitch’s Tavern (2426 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh) is smack-in-the-middle of the North Carolina State University stretch of Hillsborough Street. And the humongous NCSU school ring worn by the guy sitting next to me at the bar says something of the allegiances in these parts. One would not casually wander in with a light blue (or dark blue) jersey.

That said, the decor in Mitch’s isn’t quite as overt as Amedeo’s. If the requirements for a BBQ restaurant must include ceramic pig statues and hunting knives, then it stands to reason that any self-respecting pub should be festooned with antique radio-controlled airplanes hanging from the ceiling, a large painted giraffe statue behind the bar, and ye olde fashioned wall mirrors advertising brands of scotch whiskey. And Mitch’s is certainly up-to-the-task here; one could easily forget that you’re in the South in this place.

Lunch was a hot roast beef sandwich; a remarkably unremarkable culinary creation that was very tasty and moist. The rest of the menu featured all manner of pub fare, and I’d speculate that the selection would easily accommodate a couple looking for a nice meal on a dinner date. Being a teetotaler, the beer selection isn’t all that important to me, but I did notice a case of what appeared to be microbrews. Given the spitting-distance to NCSU, it doesn’t surprise me that they would cater to a beer-savvy crowd.

Mitch’s easily makes it onto my list of unique Raleigh restaurants.