I take the most expensive option up the CN Tower--and it doesn’t even include an elevator ride up. Twice yearly, the CN Tower opens its stairs for fundraising purposes. At my last climb in 2005, the CN Tower was the tallest freestanding structure in the world. This record was eclipsed recently by the Burj Kalifa in Dubai. I take the 1776 steps to the top, hoping to beat my time from 5 years ago, but alas, that was not to be. A good sign that my body is getting older is that even with my best effort, I added 5 minutes to my previous time, finishing the climb at 32 minutes and 21 seconds.
I gaze down to view the nearby skyscrapers, dwarfed by my current height. I dare to walk across the glass floor, peering vertiginously down 342 metres (1120 feet) to the ground below.
The International Festival of Authors, one of the largest festivals of its kind, is going on nearby at Harbourfront Centre. This year’s lineup includes Farley Mowat, the author of one of my favourite childhood stories, Owls in the Family, and the quintessentially Canadian Never Cry Wolf. He seldom appears in public so I took this rare opportunity to hear him. For a recluse, he is quite the entertainer.
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