Toronto, Ontario was my first real stop of my month long rail journey in 2002. I had never been to Toronto before this. I enjoyed the city very much and I look forward to going back sometime in the future. There's lots to see and do in the heart of the city. And all of it can be done without a car. And much of it can be done without going outside. Toronto has an underground world; a series of tunnels from the train station through the business district up almost as far as city hall with "side streets". There are stores and food courts and banks and even a post office. There may be more that I didn't find while wandering about. I admit that I got lost more than once. When this happened and I would break down and ask for help (real men don't ask for directions) all the merchants I talked with were very accommodating. I have only one warning to visitors. Stay away at 5 PM. People are flowing out of the buildings and form a tidal wave heading for the train station.
On the Observation Deck of the CN Tower there is a glass floor which allows you to look straight down to the ground
1122 feet below.
Here is a shot of the floor and a few shots of the view when looking down thru the glass.
The last two shots show the old Canadian National Railroad John Street roundhouse across
the street from the tower as seen from the observation deck and at ground level.
I stayed at the
Royal York Hotel.
It was built by the Canadian Pacific Railroad in the late 1920's across the street from the train station.
It is a grand and very regal hotel. I felt very out of place staying here, being a Holiday Inn type of guy.
First is the hotel from the ground.
Next a view of Union Station (the green roofed building at the right)
and the hotel (the second green roof from the right) as seen from the CN tower,
Here are photos of the Toronto skyline as seen from the base of the CN Tower, the Toronto City Hall, an unidentified building near the Royal York Hotel, the Air Canada Centre, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team, and a snowman that's not scared by warm weather.
©2002,2006 John Simakauskas |
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