Well I'm the luckiest girl in Ontario!

DAYS 6 AND 7: 

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. 

VERY BERRY GOOD - Cherry Street Restaurant was a cute find; where I sloppily chowed my laughing gear around my cherry BLT and fries, for my first taste of Canadian bacon. I'm not normally a pig eater (only a piggy of an eater!) so oddly, I was seriously impressed to identify this as the perfect, toasted and cheese-less sandwich for me. 

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. 

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! 

HAUL YOUR BEHINDS TO THE ROCK N HORSE SALOON, Y'ALL - After suppering at The Loose Moose then showering and changing into warm, dry clothes Sophie and I went to hear the country music karaoke, with no intention of singing ourselves. This was my last hurrah as a 29 year old woman before I have to try and stay out of trouble in my dirty thirties. Naturally Rascal Flatts, Zac Brown band and Blake Shelton were sung; all of whom I do not just love LOVE, I adore. They're my peeps! Country music is barely popular at all in the UK which is sad for me as I DO NOT UNDERSTAND why we can't all just love it??

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

The adventure of a lifetime

DAY 5 

AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A FABULOUS TIME - I befriended Nick, who was staying at my Backpackers Inn the instant I heard a fellow Brit :) Our tour guide Sabi was the most legendary of all tour guides I've ever entailed and what made it all the more special was that he spent his 44th birthday, with a group of 45 or so of us. Not only did he know Toronto inside out but he obviously had a passion for his job as he provided us with trivia and amusing anecdotes all the way there and back!

First on the agenda (unbeknownst to me) was a tasting at the Canadian Food and Wine Institute; where Prince Charles, his royal self has guzzled the spoils of the grapes! Being a non-drinker, I joined the under age youngsters in drinking my heart out with grape juice; while the others swigged and swirled their ice wine samples. As a matter of fact, approx three quarters of this dessert wine comes from Ontario and because of the technique used to freeze the bunches on the vine, it produces an obscenely sweet flavour. 

With 40 acreage of vineyards outside, creating the picture perfect backdrop it would be unconscionable not to pose for a couple of shots. How lucky I was to bask in this unseasonably warm and gorgeous day! The only entity which got me soused was not wine from the vine but lapping up the autumnal sun. What an inspired choice I made to change this trip to the alternative date, for this (most likely) once in a lifetime trip. 

SO MUCH FOR A FOOL PLAYING IT COOL - The overconfidence in my voice was betrayed by my trembling fingers and my thunderous heartbeat, the minute I first laid eyes on those beautiful, old things. Paranoid what ifs swooshed tsunami-style through my mind so in order to step foot on ship, I had to delete these disturbing Titanic drownings images! I was however, overjoyed to see Niagara up close and personal while sporting my very fetching red poncho, which I geekily decided should be kept for memento purposes. 

Wow! Was my word exactly for the rainbows I beheld through the mist. On a sunny day seeing The Falls, you are practically promised the delivery of a perfect, multi-coloured arc across the waters. The brilliance of the universe never fails to blow me away. 

There is nothing more awesome than cruising along Niagara. These memories of a ridiculously, beautiful day will stay in my heart always; as corn on the cob corny as that may sound. Aboard the Hornblower**, adrenaline pumped through my body and coursed through my veins. It is not Canadian bias that their side is far superior to the American side.. sorry, New York State. It is non-disputable that nothing can compete and I'll never be convinced otherwise. 

** The Maid of Mist stops running slightly earlier in the season due to the lower water levels. 

  

THIS IS WHY I'M THE STUPIDEST ... Midway through taking an epic selfie, the force of the falls blew my poncho over my face. I swoop, swoop, swooped around deck like an unbalanced nutjob, from port to starboard (or whatever the correct nautical terminology may be) to take it all in from every angle and to get as many photos as possible. Let me tell ya, my Canon camera took a shower right under the jets and I had a momentary panic that it had busted as it's not waterproof. It must be reasonably decent for a cheapo cos miraculously it powered on and endureth still. Humorously, lots of the images came out with my face distorted cartoonishly; a torrent of water droplets saturated the lens, at the exact moment I clicked the button to capture a Kodak moment. 

NON-STOP EXCITEMENT - In the midst of the mist, I was in awe of the QUEEN of waterfalls and the universe at large. The ferocity in which approx 2,271,247 litres of water per second fell over the brink, fascinated me. I smiled and shrieked (good shrieks, not bad shrieks) the entire boat ride :D Being blasted all over your body by the icy spray is an unparalleled, unforgettable rush. I was comically inaccurate with my calculations of exactly how sodden we would get; merely supposing it would be no more than a bit of a splash!! 

CRAZY COMES WITH A CONSEQUENCE, Y'ALL - Daredevil thrill seekers lost their lives through every foolish fault of their own. 16 attempted to plummet over the top of Niagara in a BARREL, of all things and insanely several somehow managed to survive! I highly doubt David Blaine could pull that rabbit out of his hat but far stupider has been done. 

Nick and myself, had a quick peak around the tackily, touristic town during our free time on the tour and grabbed a bite to eat. It wasn't long enough to get a true feel for the zany strip but we followed up on Sabi's recommendation to view The Falls from above, at Sheraton on the Falls (neglecting the pricey buffet lunch). There isn't a better sight than overlooking this quintessential, birds eye view of American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and The Horseshoe Falls. 

A sort of zen surrounds the Whirlpool Rapids, which were formed an estimated 4200 years ago at the downstream gorge. To put it's greatest depth of 125ft into perspective - it is more than 25 of me, stacked one on top of the other. You wouldn't catch me swimming in its turbulent swirls or catching one of the aero cars which transport riders across the Great Gorge. The wild wonders of these raging rapids are enthralling but in an antique cable car dangling 1770 metres above the vortex? Nuh uh, I am deathly afraid of drowning!

NIAGARA ON THE LAKE - I lurrrrrrrrved North America's prettiest town and the quaint quality it has about it. On our rest stop I roamed Queen Street and it's positively winsome surroundings and it was a very nice time! My lips still long for the chocolate pecan butter tart which was too tempting of an offer to pass up. (Gosh dang, I wish I could remember which bakery I bought it at..) 

I can't tell you how my heart brimmed with joy during my voyage to the Falls. The day was everything I desired and more besides. Yes, you've seen it in the movies but that will simply not suffice. Put Niagara on your list of places to go before you die (if you've not already) it will amaze! xx