Every year (except when I’m eight-month pregnant like last year…), we take a short trip during the Labour Day long weekend. Two years ago, we were in Toronto and visited Barry, Balm Beach and the Georgian Bay. The year before, we were in rural Ontario and visited the Townships of Head, Clara and Maria, Rapides-des-Joachims, Pembroke, Deux-Rivières and Matawa and Deep River.
This year, we decided it was time for Mark to visit Toronto—the last time we went for the Rolling Stones concert, he had stayed home with his 爷爷 and 奶奶 (grand-parents).
We hit the road before everyone else on Friday and only slowed down around Belleville, where an SUV had somehow flipped over (Twitter proved pretty useful when stuck in the traffic!) After a quick bite in Belleville, we made it to Toronto in the afternoon, early enough to explore our favourite neighbourhoods.
First, we stopped at Saint Andrew playground, to unleash the dragon who had slept in the car seat for most of the trip. Then we headed to Chinatown, next door, where we had a feast in a small restaurant—baozi, jiaozi, spicy eggplants and beef noodles. I really wish we could find authentic Northern Chinese food in Ottawa! I’m not a big fan of Cantonese dishes or Canadian-Chinese cuisine (i.e. meat coated in sugary sauce).
We hung out around Yonge Street and Mark crawled all around Dundas Square—we got funny looks but don’t worry, I did wash his hands and feet afterwards! The Eaton Centre was packed and I wasn’t in the mood for shopping—we have the exact same stores in Ottawa, anyway.
We also spent time in quirky Kensington Market. It was late and most of the shops were closed but for once, I got the chance to get good pictures of all the art on the walls.
Toronto doesn’t change that much (except for the seemingly endless number of overpriced half-finished condo projects scatted around the freeway) but it’s always a pleasure to revisit familiar neighbourhoods. I’m not sure why but I find Toronto pretty relaxing. People are different than in Ottawa and each area has its own flavour—as visitors, we just head wherever we want depending on the mood and avoid the headache associated with living in a big city!
Everytime I go to Toronto, I end up going to the Chinatown and nowhere else. My mom always ask me to pick up some dry prawns. Then I drag my husband to a chinese restaurant where he’s the only causian there. In the Chinatown, old Chinese folks can probably get by without saying a word in English. In Toronto we can eat (Chinese food) for a lot cheaper than Ottawa. I wish I could speak some cantonese, so I wouldn’t pay GST. lol
I can’t blame you, I love Toronto’s Chinatown. Awesome food there! I do find most people seem to be speaking Mandarin rather than Cantonese though. Maybe it’s just because I go to Northern China restaurants!
Haha I can just picture all the Canadians giving you funny looks, letting Mark crawl all over the place. We totally do that. So much judgment hahaha.
Love Kensington Market… what a neat area!
Kensington Market is awesome! Have you been there? As a foodie you would probably like it!
Yeah, Dundas Square is not usually where babies crawl around… 🙂
Love your photo’s Zhu. I need to get to Kensington market, we haven’t made it there yet. I just popped over to read about your trip to Mattawa, we were there last week, what a beautiful place!
Oh cool! I have great memories of Mattawa 🙂
Oh I miss Toronto. Every time I visited (to hang out with Priyank), I would make it a point to pass by Chinatown in Spadina Avenue to get some jiaozi. Unfortunately, Berlin does not have a Chinatown so I am still searching for good jiaozi here.
I also think of you and your Buffalo diary when I’m in Niagara Falls as well 🙂
Très jolies tes photos! 🙂 J’aime bien entre autre le rack à vélos écrit Kensington! 🙂
Ce sont des quartiers très sympas pour les photographes 🙂
Gorgeous pictures!
Meanwhile, I went the other way on the 401 to spend the weekend in Montreal!
Oh cool! Did you like it? It’s a great way to get a shot of French culture 😉
Aww Mark is so cute! Eyes on the road, buddy lol ! I can’t wait to see the CN Tower in person.
It’s awesome place to visit… let me know if you can walk on the glass floor 😉
oh wow! I live in GTA but I haven’t been to these places. Great photos! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I know it’s hard to take the time off but you should check out these places when you get the chance!