Toronto, A Great City For Living

Love New York, but think it costs too much? Solution!!!! Go to Toronto instead!

Toronto is a Great city and a most affordable alternative to NY, the natives are friendlier and speak English. Add in great food, great sights, great places for fun, vibrant nightlife, and its very own version of Times Square complete with throngs of people, and that adds up to a great vacation.

And, Toronto has something else that you might need in these difficult times;  something that you might not be able to find in New York, Detroit, Cleveland or a host of other US cities, JOBS. Jobs that can pay for your lifestyle and the vacation too. The city is booming and construction is going on everywhere. As the financial capital of Canada, the downtown area is dominated by large skyscrapers and high rise apartment buildings in the style of many Asian cities.

People are upbeat and in a great mood, and, unlike New Yorkers, people are actually happy to see you and even happier to share their great country with you. Canadians, always friendly, are now especially so now since we are having tough times. Don’t ask me why they are willing to treat us so nice since we have never been that great as neighbors. Just nice people I guess. Anyway, take great advantage of a great country and a great people, visit Canada and Toronto. I like it so much that I would actually move there if it weren’t so cold much of the year, and Cal “Don’t Do Cold”.

What did I like most? Well, believe it or not, it was the food at a museum. Yes a museum; The Royal Ontario Museum to be exact. Take a look at these pictures and you will see what I mean.

I expected mediocre cafeteria food as in "Smithsonian", but nothing to write home about.  To my surprise,  I was served a gastronomic delight. Food beautifully presented on great china, very interesting silverware, and tastes that was out of this world.  Besides all this the museum was world class. The food is actually 10 times better than it looks. Everything was perfect and so well balanced; the appetizer, unusual and delicious, the entrees, so good they make you want to “smack your best chef”, the drink, exotic and delicious, and the dessert, out of this world.  When you see that this meal was a capstone after a visit to one of the greatest museums in the world, you have a travel experience that is first class.

I especially enjoyed the mineral and gem presentation.  Although smaller than the Smithsonian’s collection, Toronto has a better presentation and is much more educational.  It was stunningly presented and unique in the manner of presentation.  The stones could be magnified by a unique apparatus so the stones could be examined in fascinating detail.  The ladies were utterly delighted and were “over the top” for the jewels.  Guys take note.

The museum also has permanent galleries of dinosaurs, ancient Egypt, Canada’s First Peoples, gems & minerals, alongside world-class dining, shopping and breathtaking architecture. The museum offers special programs and events, educational activities and inspiring facilities for private functions.
ADDRESS: 100 Queen's Park, Toronto
PHONE: 416-586-8000
WEBSITE: http://www.rom.on.ca

The primary reason for my visit to Toronto was CARIBANA.  Carabina is the largest festival of Caribbean culture on the North American continent with a million people attending in 2011.  It must be seen to be believed.  The most significant event is a parade lasting four to six hours with thousands of participants in some of the most elaborate costumes imaginable; all dancing to elaborate choreography and throbbing, sexually charged music.  The atmosphere is festive with good food abounding.  After the parade, there are thousands of parties all over Toronto in hotels, night spots, and in private homes.   The best way to experience Carabina is to be there.  Second best is the pictures of the beautiful costumes and beautiful people.  Only Rio’s Carnival is a rival to Toronto’s Carabana. 

WEBSITE: http://www.caribanatoronto.com

I wished to spend more time in the museum and at Caribana, but, we had to see SHOES.  Yes, shoes, hundreds of shoes, shoes from Asia, shoes from the 1920’s, shoes from china, shoes from everywhere;   13,000 shoes and related artifacts that span 4,500 years of history in four impressive galleries.  A true ladies delight!  Just look at the faces of my companions and you will see what I mean.  An added bonus was a full exhibit on the clothing and art of the roaring twenties.  Ladies, you Got to go.  The Bata Shoe Museum is an internationally-acclaimed institution and architectural treasure.

ADDRESS: 327 Bloor Street West, Toronto
PHONE: 416-979-7799
WEBSITE: http://www.batashoemuseum.ca

Chinatown
Spadina Avenue is Toronto's famous Chinatown hosting one of the largest community of Chinese people in Canada.

Toronto is a city of neighborhoods; hundreds of them.  According to Wikipedia, 240 to be exact http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_neighbourhoods_in_Toronto.  Every few miles or so, architecture changes, streets are slightly different, but always appealingly so.  They have five Chinatowns for goodness sake.  I visited several, but that review will have to wait for another article. 

Other compelling sights and attractions in Toronto are listed below.

Steam Whistle Brewery
The Roundhouse


ADDRESS: 255 Bremner Blvd. Toronto, Ontario M5V 3M9 
Canada
PHONE: 416-362-2337

Toronto Beach
Yes, Toronto has a beach.  Who would have thought it.  I did not get a chance to visit, but I understand it is a great beach and a lot closer than Miami.

Toronto Island Park
Park consisting of four main islands and containing trails, beaches and children's amusement rides.
Toronto Beach directions

Hockey Hall of Fame
The Hockey Hall of Fame will appeal to hockey fans and sports enthusiast in general.  is fun for everyone. It is located inside Brookfield Place at 30 Yonge St.   There are interactive exhibits, life size statues, a nd a replica dressing room as well as gift shop and theatres.

CN Tower
CN is the world’s tallest tower.  Visitors can see all of Toronto and the surrounding area and, on a clear day, Niagara Falls as they eat a great meal.  A new attraction has recently been added that allows intrepid visitors to hang out over the side of rotunda.  Recently nominated one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

Casa Loma
Is Toronto’s Majestic Castle that has soaring battlements, secret passageways, and an underground tunnel.   Good for a great afternoon. 

Chatting in front of St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market
An architectural gem, a Victorian building, surrounded by other historically significant architectural beauties, in an area thriving with shops, restaurants, flea markets, and visual attractions.  Food is great and an almost limitless variety.  A must see sample of vibrant Toronto life.

Ontario Science Center
Offers interactive and multi-media exhibits with live demonstrations and exhibits on topics that include sports, space, the environment and the information highway.  One of the unique features of Canadian Museums and exhibits are the hands on features for kids.  The Weston Family Innovation Centre is no exception.  It has 50 open-ended experiences that allow children to create and innovate. 
ADDRESS: 770 Don Mills Rd., Toronto
PHONE: 416-696-1000
WEBSITE: http://www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca

For the past 130 years, the 18-day Canadian National Exhibition, which runs from mid-August until Labour Day weekend, has traditionally signified the end of summer to two million visitors from across Canada and throughout the world. The "Ex", as it is better known, is the largest annual exhibition of its kind anywhere.  Situated on the shores of Lake Ontario, the Ex is a 350-acre carnival of entertainment, rides, buildings, sports and agriculture. It is also the site of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair held each November.

Old City Hall
Built in 1899 in the Romanesque Revival style, features a clock tower.  It is architecture to revive the spirit. 

Distillery Historic District
The Distillery District is a restored village of Victorian Industrial buildings, now filled with art galleries, jewelry shops, eateries, fashion clothing shops, and all kinds of interesting art work.  It is home to live theatres and brick-lined streets. It’s all completely closed to traffic and well worth a visit.

Come to Toronto, you will be glad you did.

Toronto waterfront featuring CN Tower