The 416 Escape
Looking For A Way
Right after coming back from Winnipeg, Feng and I drove to Toronto to… yeah, to escape Ottawa for a little while.
I had landed in Toronto quite a few time since it’s Ontario’s big hub. The city was my first stop in Canada when we came from Brazil in 2002 and I went numerous time since then. However, I never really had the chance to explore it since I mostly went there during winter time. Oh, and I was broke, too. So I was looking forward to exploring the big city.
We started off from the hostel and walked down Yonge Street, Toronto’s busiest district. I felt so good to see people — not that I’m saying Ottawa is dull. It’s just… quieter. Toronto has a really big Chinatown unlike Ottawa’s which is fairly small and quiet. I hadn’t seen big billboards downtown like that since China.
 In Chinatown |
 Yonge Street |
The hostel had a really nice rooftop from where we could see Toronto’s skyline (and smoke cigarettes while trying to hold the camera still for the night pictures) :
 Toronto Skyline |
 Toronto Skyline By Night |
We visited the CN Tower and took the elevator up to the last floor. Lucky me, I don’t have vertigo… There’s a glass floor on top of the tower and walking on it is the weirdest thing : a view of 1,122′ straight down can be extremely scary. I mean, the glass is only 2.5 inches but I knew it wouldn’t break. Yet, it’s disturbing… although I got used to it after a few attempt.
 CN Tower |
 Walking On Glass Floor |
 On Top Of The Tower |
 Seating On Glass Floor |
We took the ferry to Toronto Island, 20 minutes away from the city. It’s a complete different atmosphere : so quiet, so green, no cars and an okay beach by Canadian standards (yes, I grew up on the Atlantic side of France and we used to have nice beaches before the oil slick).
 Toronto Island |
 Toronto Skyline |
 Toronto Island |
 Toronto From The Island |
I love Toronto. The busy streets, the skyline, the diversity, the water nearby (okay, there’s the Ottawa river here… but it’s not quite the same), the buzz. I’m sick of Ottawa, I just want to go traveling again. Gotta get through the summer.
Related articles:
- A Sunday In Toronto
- Winnipeg Adventures In Friendly Manitoba
- Kensington Market
- Tourists in Toronto
- Toronto By Night
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Nice Pics!! I think it is time for me to go on a vacation also!! haha
I know what you mean about the glass floor. There is this club in Las Vegas, where the patio is up on the top floor of the hotel and it over hangs the building. There is this piece of glass floor where you can look down and see the street below. It is kind of scary but cool at the same time! haha Take care!
Oh I’m so jealous! Looks like you’re traveling lots again! Toronto looks so nice! So cool!
Those are great pictures. I love Toronto and miss it so much — I went from small town Ontario to going to school smack in the middle of downtown Toronto, and now I’m back home after graduating. I miss little things, like fancy lattes and ethnic diversity and even the noise of the subway.
Spyder : I don’t know Quebec that well actually, just the big cities. I know Ontario much more, and bit of Manitoba. Quebec has really nice landscapes, loved it when I first came to Canada !
Michael : Yeah, Canada is a great place. I need to see more of the USA too though, cause it’s always a hub for me. I’ve been to many cities and crossed the USA by bus, but never really had the chance to stop to visit.
Aidan L : We did have a great time ! I don’t like heights that much, but most people seems okay in the CN Tower. You feel protected I guess.
John : I guess the grass is always greener on the other side. I wouldn’t go to France for holidays, but I’m a spoiled French girl after all !
Shan : we left from Sydney, stopped in Melbourne and Adelaide, and then straight to Perth non-stop. Long ride… Oh, we did stop in Cook, Nullarbor. Four people in the city !