Today, (Canada Day) I took the plunge and ventured into Toronto, Ontario. Why not celebrate our country’s birthday while exploring its biggest city. However, there needed to be some alterations due to my lack of big-city driving attitude. I grew up on two lane roads. I was not about to venture out into the concrete jungle where I would be easy prey. So, I played it safe and took the train (GO Train) into the heartbeat of the city and started exploring from Union Station. I made it! I was in the centre of Toronto. Wahoooo!
Montreal Canadians Dressing Room
The highlight of the day was the Hockey Hall of Fame. I saved it for last on my list of things to do today because I wanted to spend some quality time with the history of the sport I love.
Never in my lifetime would I have thought I would get the opportunity to visit the home of Stanley. Let alone get a picture with the famous hockey trophy (Main BLOG Photo). So it was a big moment for me. Also in the same room were the other trophies too, which gave me goose bumps, like the Maurice Rocket, Vezina & Lady Byng Trophies. And to my surprise the original Stanley Cup was also on display.
Down the hall was the “Lucky Loonie” of the 2006 Winter Olympics. I touched it (well almost.. as it was in a protective plastic). I took my time reading all the names on the Wall of Fame. In another area of the hall they had a replica of the old Montreal Canadians Dressing Room. Well I had to get a picture of me sitting between Guy Lafleur and Ken Dryden jerseys.
Tall Ships in Toronto
I started my day outdoors walking the entire Waterfront Trail on the harbour. It was a busy place on this Canada Day. People were everywhere. As far as I could see there was a sea of red and white. There was a ton going on.
The big draw were the Tall Ships. Yes, they were in town too. However, I have been there and done that, being from the west coast. But I do understand the attraction as they are beautiful vessels. Further down the path the outdoor market was thriving. People were swarming like bees on honey.
All along the waterfront were patios with colorful umbrellas, one after another. And it seemed that every time I turned around there was another ice cream cart. Too bad I do not do ice cream.
The waters off the coast were busy also with sailboats, yachts, kayaks, tour boats and ferries herding people back and forth from Toronto Island.
From the waterfront I traveled inland into the big city. I felt so small and insignificant very quickly. In front of me, behind me and beside me were glass, brick, steel and stone skyscraper buildings. None were small, all were very big and tall. It did not help that I started my downtown adventure walking into the financial district. It was home to big buildings. Too bad they are mostly funded by greed.
Showing Love for Canada in Toronto
I ended up walking most of the day, up one street and back down the other. It was the only way to see things as you could never see the next street over because of the tall buildings. It was like being trapped in a box and I could not see out – only up.
I explored Young, Bay, University, Queen, King, Church, Dundas, Spadina Streets and more. I visited with the CN Tower, the Old Maple Leaf Gardens, Stock Exchange, Queens Park, Rogers Centre, Air Canada Centre. Mackenzie House, China Town, Little Italy and more.
By the end of the day my feet were throbbing – and I was in hiking boots. How do these people walk around town in flip flops, on hard concrete, and not have sore feet. Or do their feet really hurt and it is it just a cool thing where I was slow on the uptake and missed the memo.
I enjoyed my day in Toronto. It was a different day than what I am use to – being that I am more attracted to wilderness green more than I am attracted to concrete grey. But I can understand the attraction of living in Toronto. It is an exciting city. It has lots to do and the entertainment venues are many.
One venue which blew me away was the CN Tower. I was not blown away by the tower but more by the price – they were asking $30 dollars to be whisked to the top of a concrete pillar and that was after a 1.5 hour wait. I politely said no thank you as I felt I would be setting myself up for disappointment big time. I am a very lucky person as I have climbed, hiked many mountains and cliffs that are 10 times taller than the CN Tower for free which looked over valleys, mountain ranges, lakes and glaciers.