I visited Toronto for the first time recently (sadly, not for a flight simulator) and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.
I’ve flown Pearson International Airport many times but never stepped out until I arrived a day early last month for my Ethiopian Airlines trip to Bangkok. The UP Pearson Express took me swiftly to the Park Hyatt Toronto and I was immediately impressed by the Yorkville neighborhood.
I think we all tend to form preconceptions of cities. Take my hometown of Los Angeles, for example. Mention LA to many non-Angelenos and you hear the same thing: horrible traffic, spread out, smog, etc…
But LA’s a lot more than horrible traffic. It is a rich, vibrant, diverse city that I am proud to call home. It’s a beautiful place to live.
In terms of Toronto, I sort of figured it would be the way people view Frankfurt or Brussels. A very sterile, boring, but livable city. I learned, or at least came to believe after two years there, that Frankfurt was far from boring. Perhaps I should have known better about Toronto.
Toronto is not a boring city. It has a little something for everyone.
You know me–I wanted Mexican food so I went out to the Distillery District with a couple Award Expert clients/friends.
Before dinner, we had a drink at Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill. What a classy place with a nice spin on cocktails.
Then dinner at El Catrin, with amazing ambiance and great food.
CONCLUSION
I was impressed by Toronto’s architecture, food, architecture, Chinatown, and its efficient public transport. I look forward to returning…I’m sure there is a lot I missed.
I’m glad to hear you enjoyed my city. Fyi, the Distillery District is the oldest and largest collection of Victorian buildings in North America. But you missed so much! (in no particular order): the Beaches, Greektown, the Annex, the ROM, the AGO, High Park, the Leafs, the Raptors, a steak at Jacobs, the Aga Khan museum, a ferry ride to Centre Island, a side trip to the McMichael Gallery, etc. etc. Americans do complain, however, that its expensive up here.
Even with the favorable exchange rate?
It was indeed a bit pricer than I thought–both for dinner and the hotel.
But thanks for your suggestions. I’ll be back I’m sure.
Next time you are in Toronto try to take a visit to the Toronto Islands. The view of the Toronto skyline is great from there! Toronto has so many great restaurants with cuisine from all over the world. The best Greek food I have had has been at restaurants in Toronto, though I have not been to Greece before. Beware though for the traffic. While not as bad as LA, traffic here can get really bad at times. Driving on the 401/400/404 during rush hour can be terrible. Actually the stretch of the 401 that runs through Toronto is the busiest highway in North America with about 500,000 cars driving it a day!
Great suggestion. Thanks!
For readers not familiar with Toronto, the UP Express runs from YYZ to the Union Station transit hub from where you’d have taken a cab/Uber (though unlikely the subway) up to the Park Hyatt up on Bloor/Avenue Road, about 3-miles north. It would be a quick walk to the IC, Delta or Fairmont from its terminus though.