Trans Canada, Eh: Toronto and back to the US

The final stay on our incredible Trans Canada journey was in Canada’s largest city. Toronto sits along the shores of Lake Ontario and is home to 2.8 million people. This was our second visit, as I had joined Frank when he came here in the late ’90s for a transportation conference. He has always considered Toronto a “transportation junkie’s dream.” The size, efficiency and breadth of its network — street cars, buses, subways and bike lanes — continues to impress. We utilized it to explore some new places and to revisit others.

Our airbnb was in a downtown high-rise. The wall of windows overlooked a sea of other apartment buildings, office towers and the iconic CN tower — magnificent views, day and night.

All was ideal with the exception of our second night. At 2:30 in the morning, we were awakened by the blaring of the fire alarm! The shaky voice of the building concierge came through the intercom, “The alarm system indicates a situation in the F stairwell. If your alarm is sounding slowly, remain where you are. If your alarm is sounding quickly, proceed to the exits. Don’t use the elevators. The Toronto fire department is responding.” Frank and I looked at each other wondering if our alarm was sounding slow or fast — it was kind of medium(?!). She repeated the message three times as the alarm continued to blast. We readied ourselves to go down and just before we walked out the door, the Fire Marshall came on and issued the all clear. (It turned out to be someone smoking in the stairwell!)

The rest of the trip was less eventful but still very interesting. Toronto is Canada’s top tourism destination. There’s a lot to do, no shortage of good restaurants and the shopping is second to none (be it vintage, boutique or department stores).

Like Montreal, Toronto is vibrant and multi-cultural. The two cities, however, have a very different vibe. Toronto is, obviously, much bigger, but it’s also more business-centered — and the locals all speak English. Montreal feels very European, while Toronto seems like a big American city — albeit one with modern and efficient mass transit(!). After our two-month journey across this amazing country, the city made for an ideal transition as we headed back across the border.

 

 

View from our airbnb

View from our airbnb, including the CN Tower

Daytime view from airbnb

At just over 1,815 feet, the CN Tower held the record as the tallest building, tower and freestanding structure for over three decades. It remains the tallest in the Western Hemisphere.

St Lawrence Market

St Lawrence Market

St Lawrence Market

A Toronto specialty, peameal bacon is a type of bacon made from lean boneless pork loin rolled in cornmeal.

St Lawrence Market

St Lawrence Market

Historic Distillery District

Distillery District

Distillery District – does anything here remind you of Wisconsin?

Kensington Market

Kensington Market

Kensington Market

Grafitti Alley

Grafitti Alley

Graffiti Alley

Grafitti artist

St Michael the Archangel Cathedral Basilica

The junior choir sang like angels at our Sunday Mass.

Toronto Old City Hall

Many buildings in Downtown Toronto are connected via elevated, at-grade walkways,

and tunnels. The network is known as the PATH.

Toronto has an extensive integrated transportation system of subways, trams and buses.

On weekends, one pass allows a couple or family of four to ride all day for the price of an individual weekday pass.

The city is also bike friendly.

Many major streets have dedicated and separated bike lanes.

Eaton Centre

The malls were decorated for the holidays inside and . . .

out. The feeling of Christmas made me happy we would soon be seeing friends and family.

Our final stop in Canada – Niagara Falls — before we headed over the border and back to the States. Our amazing two-month, 3000-mile Trans Canada road trip is now in our rear view mirror!