Exploring Guelph Part 10 -- Final Edition

1. Stroll The Arboretum trails and gardens (#7 from the Guelph Tour Guide 2017).

     At last, in May, we got to the University of Guelph's Arboretum. Too bad we didn't go early and more often.

Bev at the entrance of the educational centre

Strange art piece add to the grounds

Beautiful colour against the blue sky

Lots of signage for educational purposes

What lives in there?

I love the shape of trees.
I wish that I could paint trees.
I guess one day I will have to take lessons.

The walking path is lined with dandelions.
Outside of the path there are no flowers.

Al on the dandelion path.

Bark of a tree. See the layers.

Trees with a different bark

     What a beautiful area! Although it was spring and not all the leaves and flowers were in bloom, it was still beautiful. Wait until the summer. I'll bet that even in the winter it is just as beautiful. Nice walk through the gardens and wooded areas.

2. Check out Heritage Hall and learn about the Guelph Black Heritage Society (#21 from the Guelph Tour Guide 2017)

     In February 2018, we attended an evening hosted by the Guelph Black Heritage Society in honour of Black History Month. It was a tribute to Viola Desmond who was a black rights activist who was jailed for defiantly sitting in the "whites only" section of a Nova Scotia film house and is the first Canadian woman to be featured on the country's 10 bill. It was a lovely evening, very educational and entertaining.

Program for the evening

Viola Desmond on the Canadian $10 bill

First a historian spoke about the history of
black people in the Guelph area.

The Flex We Talent Theatre Company presented "The Viola Desmond Story"
Very interesting! Great performance!

The evening ended with a musical session by Andrew Craig.
He sang some beautiful songs.

     To learn more about the Guelph Black Historical Society click here

3. Watch an authentic Tandoori oven in action at Spice Roots (#38 from the Guelph Tour Guide 2017)
     We had lunch at the Spice Roots and saw the tandoori oven. This oven is unique. The direct heat of the charcoal fire is reflected by the ceramic walls of the tandoor intensifying the heat and creating a cooking environment that easily reaches 600 degrees F. Marinated meats are lowered into the oven on long metal skewers and cooked in this smoky and extremely hot pit until they are grilled.

Here a cook is standing in front of the tandoori oven.
You can watch through a window the making of tandoori

The lunch was served buffet style. This is just a sample of
what was offered. Delicious!

4. Dine at the Vienna Restaurant - a staple in Guelph of over 100 years (#48 from the Guelph Tour Guide 2017)

5. Deemed a 'timeless classic in Guelph, Rocky's 12 inch hot dogs are not to be missed. (#132 from the Guelph Tour Guide 2017)

     I generally don't eat hot dogs but we wanted to experience the timeless classic at Rocky's. For the one time we were going to be there we enjoyed the 12 inch hot dog sitting outdoors (because there was no where else to go) on a nice sunny day. As hot dogs go it was okay, nothing really special but I am sure that some people have fond memories of going to Rocky's in times past. We all have those places. For me, in the 1970s, it was Apache Burger on Dundas Street in Etobicoke, Toronto. They had the best burgers and guess what? -- they are still there!

The interior is classic

Rocky's is very small but there were many people there.
By the time we left there was a lineup.

The 12 inch hotdogs just waiting to be eaten

     So that is it. We completed 51 items from the 2017 edition of the Guelph Tour Guide. We missed some of the items due to the timing of the event (since we were only in Guelph from November 1 to May 23) and to the fact that we were just not interested in some of them. Cost to participate in the items was also a factor. I think that we did pretty good. One thing, I have learned from travelling  and touring various places is that we have to take advantage of the activities in our communities. While in Newfoundland, one person asked me how I found out about the things that we did as we toured around. Apparently we saw more of their province or town than they have and they have lived there all their life! Well, with research through the internet, local papers and guides you can find a lot of things to do and with little or no cost. Pick a day of the week or month and find an activity to do that you have never done before. Do it with friends or family! You will enjoy it!

To see the 2018 Guelph Tour Guide click here