Real drama was after the theater

LAST Saturday, my wife and I decided to go out for the evening in Toronto, for Valentine’s Day.

First, we went to the Distillery district for dinner (parking on the street, $2.50; dinner, $192). Then we went to Berkeley Street Theatre for a performance of “Letters From Lehrer” ($102).

When we got there, we decided to park at a private lot across the street. However, there was no attendant, and the parking machine didn’t take credit cards or bills, only coins. We’d used up our coins at the Distillery district, so we decided to take a chance and leave the car there without a valid ticket.

When we came out our car had been towed, as had, apparently, a few others. We shared a cab ($10) to the lot to pick up our car, which cost $80 in towing fees, $20 for “storage” and $7 GST.

We still have to pay an additional $30 city of Toronto parking ticket.

So, total cost of the evening: $443.50, of which $147 was for not having a valid $2.50 parking ticket. All legal. Do you think we went home happy?

Your readers have been warned.

DEREK VAN DASSEN

Markham, Ontario, Canada