I SURE DO LOVE MR TIM HORTON - I want to personally thank thee kind sir for your invaluable contributions to Canada. Your glazed donuts do make for an irresistibly naughty breakfast and those Timbits are loved by all, to itty, Timbitty pieces. The gingerbread donut, is another hole in one for Timmy H; who has me hooked on innumerable tasty pastries.
Nothing took my fancy at all after having a gander from end to end of St Lawrences Market in the Old Town; I came away empty handed. Though I was shanghaied by a Scotsman for dosh; the old chap (who now has made Toronto his home) implored me for money as he hadn't eaten for 2 days. After I gave him a few dollar bills, he sat beside me for the next 20 minutes and proceeded to make me nervous with talk of the war on the world. I became a tad anxious in his presence so made my excuses and 'escaped' as soon as it was polite to.
Street cars are the coolest. Of course, me being me, I often got on one in the opposite direction to get to where I should have been heading. This day was no exception and it was quite the struggle to pinpoint the beach I had set my sights on. To become closer to my target, it was necessary to seek in depth orientation at several establishments. Before submitting, I'd walked as far towards it as I could before my map ended and the streets were no longer appearing on it.
Cherry Beach Park streams out to the colossal Lake Ontario. It is rocky, unpolished and not nearly as pretty as other beaches of the globe but I felt at peace here. I whiled away some time just scoping out the kitesurfers and shivering. The temperature had dipped to a temperate 7 degrees but it was the wind chill that was biting. Inhaling my lungs full of fresh air breathed new life into me.
Following that, I granted the CN Tower with my attendance. It was the world's tallest, free standing structure at 1815 ft and 5" and is classified as one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. It also happens to be the tallest lightning rod on earth b-t-dubs.. at least it was until 2010.. this coveted title has now been claimed by Dubai's Burj Khalifa. Thus, I went up safe in the knowledge it is just 4th/5th/6th/7th in the might-be-struck-by-lightning stakes and it didn't suck.
DAMN RIGHT, WOW! - As sunset beckoned, I procured a place to watch with wonder. I can't have been the only person having trouble believing their eyes at the shining, shimmering, splendid sights below. Yes, those are lyrics from Aladdin, you're welcome!
I'm not in the habit of doing anything anything I consider remotely risky (unless biscuits are involved!) so I must have had a moment of INSANITY to lay on the glass floor. Don't worry, my loves as there is NO earthly way humans can be hurt in doing so.. at least not badly... *if* the glass is secure and doesn't crack hurtling you 342 metres directly down to certain death. The thermal glass floor is 64mm thick and load tests are performed annually to ensure safety. It can impressively withstand the weight of 35x moose as the glass is 5x stronger than the requirement for commercial flooring.
A BEVERAGE WITH A VIEW AND A HALF - And what an awfully fancy one it was for a hot choc with a dollop of whipped cream, at Horizons. It mightn't have been under the stars or arm in arm with the guy of my dreams but my solitary happiness in these moments, doesn't depend on a man. It was a great hot chocolate!
One of the best aspects of travel is enjoying the compelling stories shared by the other hostellers. Shout outs for these go out to Judi, Nick and Sophie.
Friends, I'm not even ashamed to say that I was back on the hot chocolate only the following morning, paying a visit to Soma Chocolate Maker. Their Spicy Mayan artisan cacoa was a mug of magic. Every flavourful sip of melty, ancient Mayan elixir is seventh heaven and that's due to the distillation of chilli pepper, orange peel, ginger, cinnamon, Madagascan vanilla and SOMA's secret spices. The kick will set your taste buds ablaze intimately and inimitably, plus the decorative foamy heart atop gives it that final, special something. SOMA is the perfect venue for any cause of celebration. It is impossible for me to be objective about calorie consumption when it is everything I now hold sacred.
BELLY BUSTERS = BAD - BB is an UNSATISFYING Subways imposter!!!!! Mine had hair in it and was sprinkled with pepper instead of including the bell peppers I'd requested. They have a way of ruining what could have been a superbly, lip-smacking sarny! Dodge this bullet.
Sophie and I perused the free 'library' under the underpass at Lower Simcoe and Front Streets. It was started by a happy, homeless man; what a NOVEL idea! I captured the Canadian flag, to take away as a souvenir of my stay.
The ferry which ships tourists across to the cluster of Toronto Islands will only set you back $7.50 for a return. Remember the operating hours are reduced in the winter months (beginning October 13th) Just a short trip of 10-15 minutes and it's cool to stand up on the outer deck and watch as you dart closer or further away to/from the isles. Centre, Ward, Snake etc. started life as sand dunes which constantly shifted and that mixed with eroded stone to create what is seen today.
I'M AT ONE WITH TORONTO - Wandered Ward Island knowing that any attractions to speak of were closed down; we were alright with that having come purely for the night's skyline. Mostly, it looked as though we were the only ones amidst the community of 150 or so residences on this island. There were other signs of civilisation: frisbee golf course, fire station, school children and cute homes but it looked to be so remote. It was searching for an open public toilet which was like finding a needle in a wildernessy haystack.
Someday, we'll laugh about the rain but it hecka bucketed down upon us. All we found in the way of shelter was a tiny bus shelter to block some of the insane rain; we were already drenched by this point. I should not have been enjoying the downpour but somehow I did. Anyways, it was the provider of an energising respite from the urban provincial capital of Ontario.
Following that, I granted the CN Tower with my attendance. It was the world's tallest, free standing structure at 1815 ft and 5" and is classified as one of the 7 wonders of the modern world. It also happens to be the tallest lightning rod on earth b-t-dubs.. at least it was until 2010.. this coveted title has now been claimed by Dubai's Burj Khalifa. Thus, I went up safe in the knowledge it is just 4th/5th/6th/7th in the might-be-struck-by-lightning stakes and it didn't suck.
I'm not in the habit of doing anything anything I consider remotely risky (unless biscuits are involved!) so I must have had a moment of INSANITY to lay on the glass floor. Don't worry, my loves as there is NO earthly way humans can be hurt in doing so.. at least not badly... *if* the glass is secure and doesn't crack hurtling you 342 metres directly down to certain death. The thermal glass floor is 64mm thick and load tests are performed annually to ensure safety. It can impressively withstand the weight of 35x moose as the glass is 5x stronger than the requirement for commercial flooring.
A BEVERAGE WITH A VIEW AND A HALF - And what an awfully fancy one it was for a hot choc with a dollop of whipped cream, at Horizons. It mightn't have been under the stars or arm in arm with the guy of my dreams but my solitary happiness in these moments, doesn't depend on a man. It was a great hot chocolate!
Friends, I'm not even ashamed to say that I was back on the hot chocolate only the following morning, paying a visit to Soma Chocolate Maker. Their Spicy Mayan artisan cacoa was a mug of magic. Every flavourful sip of melty, ancient Mayan elixir is seventh heaven and that's due to the distillation of chilli pepper, orange peel, ginger, cinnamon, Madagascan vanilla and SOMA's secret spices. The kick will set your taste buds ablaze intimately and inimitably, plus the decorative foamy heart atop gives it that final, special something. SOMA is the perfect venue for any cause of celebration. It is impossible for me to be objective about calorie consumption when it is everything I now hold sacred.
BELLY BUSTERS = BAD - BB is an UNSATISFYING Subways imposter!!!!! Mine had hair in it and was sprinkled with pepper instead of including the bell peppers I'd requested. They have a way of ruining what could have been a superbly, lip-smacking sarny! Dodge this bullet.
The ferry which ships tourists across to the cluster of Toronto Islands will only set you back $7.50 for a return. Remember the operating hours are reduced in the winter months (beginning October 13th) Just a short trip of 10-15 minutes and it's cool to stand up on the outer deck and watch as you dart closer or further away to/from the isles. Centre, Ward, Snake etc. started life as sand dunes which constantly shifted and that mixed with eroded stone to create what is seen today.
I'M AT ONE WITH TORONTO - Wandered Ward Island knowing that any attractions to speak of were closed down; we were alright with that having come purely for the night's skyline. Mostly, it looked as though we were the only ones amidst the community of 150 or so residences on this island. There were other signs of civilisation: frisbee golf course, fire station, school children and cute homes but it looked to be so remote. It was searching for an open public toilet which was like finding a needle in a wildernessy haystack.
There's always something so romantic about seeing the horizon and the glow stick that is the CN Tower, from afar. Toronto's panorama is worthy of postcards. It glowed. It twinkled. It took our breath away. Clocking the backdrop of down town at dusk from one of the vantage spots on the coast during a clear eve deserves a standing ovation. My moronic picture-taking resulted in blurries sans a tri pod but clicking away repeatedly, as I did.. eventually I got the knack and captured some stonkers!
The honktonk was not busy in the least but was a rootin' tootin' good time all the same. Being of a non-alcoholic persuasion, I drank my way through a lime slushie in a bucket bigger than my head which got me magnificently, mythologically hyper. The sing song and sugar was the perfect ending to an excellent day! Now I'm just crossing all crossable body bits that I'll not have a serious 1/3 of my life crisis in my 30th year. That.. and wishing it might be the term of Rianne's reign where I find the man who wants to wed me :D
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