1. Eat local food (good local restaurants if not unique fare)
2. Drink local coffee
3. Read books/ buy books
4. Walk around (everywhere)
5. Visit historical places and buildings (Castles? Are there any castles?)
6. Museums
7. Outdoor activities (canoe, bike, hike, etc... but not rock climbing, no thanks!)
8. Relax
9. Watch people, look at how they dress
10. Drink local alcoholic beverages
Monday, June 7, 2010
Comments on Toronto, June 5
1. One of the first things to do today is get some fruit or fruit juice. Keep wasting my free breakfast on three carbs and a coffee (four free items included in room rates).
2. Today I think I'll move slowly.
3. I should stay out of the sun - I've been getting sunburned. Is that a good enough excuse to see a movie? (I tried the Hockey Hall of Fame but it's not $10, it's FIFTEEN!!)
4. I love raspberries, maybe more than any other fruit. But ask me again in peach season.
5. St. Lawrence Market is fun, and pretty cheap for two meals on vacation. (That's cheese, smoked lake trout, bread and raspberries. Yummmm)
6. I couldn't help myself - I bought two books.
7. I love Prince of Persia. I might buy it.
8. Today was nice, relaxing. I wanted to stay out of the sun and didn't want to pay for the Hockey Hall of Fame (see above) so I read, had coffee, and watched Prince of Persia instead. In the afternoon. By myself, again.
9. I'm tired of the touristy thing, and the walking thing, and am looking forward to being home, making money and planning my future.
10. Did I mention I love Prince of Persia?
2. Today I think I'll move slowly.
3. I should stay out of the sun - I've been getting sunburned. Is that a good enough excuse to see a movie? (I tried the Hockey Hall of Fame but it's not $10, it's FIFTEEN!!)
4. I love raspberries, maybe more than any other fruit. But ask me again in peach season.
5. St. Lawrence Market is fun, and pretty cheap for two meals on vacation. (That's cheese, smoked lake trout, bread and raspberries. Yummmm)
6. I couldn't help myself - I bought two books.
7. I love Prince of Persia. I might buy it.
8. Today was nice, relaxing. I wanted to stay out of the sun and didn't want to pay for the Hockey Hall of Fame (see above) so I read, had coffee, and watched Prince of Persia instead. In the afternoon. By myself, again.
9. I'm tired of the touristy thing, and the walking thing, and am looking forward to being home, making money and planning my future.
10. Did I mention I love Prince of Persia?
Thoughts from Toronto
3 June 2010:
I love being in Toronto, vacationing by myself. Sure, it gets lonely sometimes, especially at dinner and in the evenings, when I (usually) have nothing to do. But I can visit the sites and places I want to, I can nap after lunch if I'm so inclined, and I can eat whatever for meals, including cheese with bread and apples at the hostel, or a slice of pizza by a fountain.
Vacation is always nice, because there are no immediate responsibilities. Except for catching the plane home, which I have struggled with before. It's not all idyllic for me this time, because I'm going to go home without a place to live in August, and I have other worries, but I have at least accomplished some things, and I know I like the city!! That's something.
I enjoy watching movies by myself, but it's even better to have someone to make faces and roll eyes at, and snort/giggle/gasp with.
Today I walked around the Annex, my preferred neighborhood for living, and a bit of Little Italy (which needs more exploring, I don't think I got to the heart of it) before my poor feet gave out. Then I came home, lunched, and napped. Ahh... Now I'm at the theater (my journal has that spelled - automatically - as theatre), waiting for Robin Hood to begin. With one other lady, also (so far) by herself.
I've just gotten back from the washroom and am now -- OH LOOK! It's starting!!
"Coming attractions are next. There is still time to visit the concession stand for refreshments." i.e. Spend your money here! Quick!!
That movie is So. Good.
I love being in Toronto, vacationing by myself. Sure, it gets lonely sometimes, especially at dinner and in the evenings, when I (usually) have nothing to do. But I can visit the sites and places I want to, I can nap after lunch if I'm so inclined, and I can eat whatever for meals, including cheese with bread and apples at the hostel, or a slice of pizza by a fountain.
Vacation is always nice, because there are no immediate responsibilities. Except for catching the plane home, which I have struggled with before. It's not all idyllic for me this time, because I'm going to go home without a place to live in August, and I have other worries, but I have at least accomplished some things, and I know I like the city!! That's something.
I enjoy watching movies by myself, but it's even better to have someone to make faces and roll eyes at, and snort/giggle/gasp with.
Today I walked around the Annex, my preferred neighborhood for living, and a bit of Little Italy (which needs more exploring, I don't think I got to the heart of it) before my poor feet gave out. Then I came home, lunched, and napped. Ahh... Now I'm at the theater (my journal has that spelled - automatically - as theatre), waiting for Robin Hood to begin. With one other lady, also (so far) by herself.
I've just gotten back from the washroom and am now -- OH LOOK! It's starting!!
"Coming attractions are next. There is still time to visit the concession stand for refreshments." i.e. Spend your money here! Quick!!
That movie is So. Good.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Toronto List #2
1. Souvenir: Fake straw fedora, $10. Was I supposed to haggle.... ??
2. Longest Conversation: Stopped by two very chatty Save the Children employees in Kensington Market. Will never stop to listen to them again.
3. Love: The streetcars. So easy and so much fun to ride!
4. Hate: The rain. Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Very glad I have my raincoat and sneakers.
5. Coffee Shop: The Green Grind, in Little Italy. Sustainable brews. Stopped in for a $2 double Americano, sat in a chair I want, was given part of the NYT by a fellow customer, and whiled away half an hour with the paper.
6. Worst Hot Chocolate: Coffee Zone, an emergency evening purchase that I regret.
7. Neatest Address: 859 1/2 Bathurst St.
8. Overheard on the Subway: "Toronto has two seasons: Winter, and Construction."
9. Latest and Greatest Book (and great for traveling and rainy evenings): Dracula, by Bram Stoker. No, it is NOT your typical stuffy classic. Instead, it's very well-written, very VERY suspenseful - and by that I mean, the author gives the reader tidbits of information that come into play later on, weaving the plot together... Did I mention it's creepy? It even gave me a bad dream. Delicious. And Riveting, in a page-turning way.
10. House-Hunting Status: Drawing a blank. I've decided this will be a vacation, as opposed to strictly house-hunting, which is pretty difficult when listings for August and September aren't up yet.
2. Longest Conversation: Stopped by two very chatty Save the Children employees in Kensington Market. Will never stop to listen to them again.
3. Love: The streetcars. So easy and so much fun to ride!
4. Hate: The rain. Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Very glad I have my raincoat and sneakers.
5. Coffee Shop: The Green Grind, in Little Italy. Sustainable brews. Stopped in for a $2 double Americano, sat in a chair I want, was given part of the NYT by a fellow customer, and whiled away half an hour with the paper.
6. Worst Hot Chocolate: Coffee Zone, an emergency evening purchase that I regret.
7. Neatest Address: 859 1/2 Bathurst St.
8. Overheard on the Subway: "Toronto has two seasons: Winter, and Construction."
9. Latest and Greatest Book (and great for traveling and rainy evenings): Dracula, by Bram Stoker. No, it is NOT your typical stuffy classic. Instead, it's very well-written, very VERY suspenseful - and by that I mean, the author gives the reader tidbits of information that come into play later on, weaving the plot together... Did I mention it's creepy? It even gave me a bad dream. Delicious. And Riveting, in a page-turning way.
10. House-Hunting Status: Drawing a blank. I've decided this will be a vacation, as opposed to strictly house-hunting, which is pretty difficult when listings for August and September aren't up yet.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
First Impressions of Toronto
A somewhat-chronological List:
1. Walking upwards of five hours cannot be called a "cure" for restlessness, as it comes with its own sensations of discomfort. Yet: I am not restless anymore, in fact I'm quite tired. Yesterday's resolution: Today I will take public transportation EVERYWHERE. I can't wait to try the streetcars!
2. I have not improved my eatery-locating skills in strange cities. Help! If you know any good cheap places to eat in Toronto, please comment.
3. Starbucks coffee should taste more like Second Cup Coffee. I have yet to try coffee and donuts at Tim Horton's. But I have plans to.
4. I like the Subway because it's easy to ride (buy a token, take it anywhere), it's roomy, and (so far) not crowded.
5. I don't like the Subway because it still costs $3 to go one stop, which would be heaven on poor abused feet, if I didn't feel the price was ridiculous.
6. I appear to be far enough south that summers are still uncomfortablywarm hot.
7. Bloor St, although the site of many designer boutiques, juxtaposes those sleek trendy storefronts with ugly construction equipment.
8. The neighborhood I'm staying in is only slightly seedy.
9. People do speak a bit funny here, but it's not glaringly obvious.
10. Finally, the university campus is beautiful and I'm quite looking forward to studying here. Although I can't imagine I'll be so hard-up for a snack that I'd ever eat out of one of those hot dog stands that sit on St. George's waiting for starving studying students to get desperate.
11. I forgot to mention: I have a superb sense of direction when it comes to walking around cities. I successfully navigated shortcuts twice yesterday, and today located the correct cardinal direction to walk in when I couldn't immediately find the street I needed.
1. Walking upwards of five hours cannot be called a "cure" for restlessness, as it comes with its own sensations of discomfort. Yet: I am not restless anymore, in fact I'm quite tired. Yesterday's resolution: Today I will take public transportation EVERYWHERE. I can't wait to try the streetcars!
2. I have not improved my eatery-locating skills in strange cities. Help! If you know any good cheap places to eat in Toronto, please comment.
3. Starbucks coffee should taste more like Second Cup Coffee. I have yet to try coffee and donuts at Tim Horton's. But I have plans to.
4. I like the Subway because it's easy to ride (buy a token, take it anywhere), it's roomy, and (so far) not crowded.
5. I don't like the Subway because it still costs $3 to go one stop, which would be heaven on poor abused feet, if I didn't feel the price was ridiculous.
6. I appear to be far enough south that summers are still uncomfortably
7. Bloor St, although the site of many designer boutiques, juxtaposes those sleek trendy storefronts with ugly construction equipment.
8. The neighborhood I'm staying in is only slightly seedy.
9. People do speak a bit funny here, but it's not glaringly obvious.
10. Finally, the university campus is beautiful and I'm quite looking forward to studying here. Although I can't imagine I'll be so hard-up for a snack that I'd ever eat out of one of those hot dog stands that sit on St. George's waiting for starving studying students to get desperate.
11. I forgot to mention: I have a superb sense of direction when it comes to walking around cities. I successfully navigated shortcuts twice yesterday, and today located the correct cardinal direction to walk in when I couldn't immediately find the street I needed.
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