Enchanting Toronto

There is more to Canada than skiing and Vancouver. Take Toronto, for example; while perhaps not the most popular destination for Indian travelers, the fact that over 50% of its population has emigrated from elsewhere in the last 30 years still speaks volumes about its charm.

Luckily for me I knew someone who knew someone who lived there, and I had decided to take advantage of this long-distance connection to go and see the birth state of Mike Myers, John Candy and Neil Young. Two of my friends had recently moved there from the UK to study at the University of Toronto and in the short time they had been there they had raved about this vibrant metropolis, its laid back way of life and stunning scenery.

Toronto lies on the northern shore of Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes, so it has the feeling of a coastal city, albeit without that sea salt tang in the air. Barely an hour’s drive from the US border it is an easy option to add onto a trip to America, plus a good base from which to explore the vast wilderness that is Canada.  On landing at Pearson International Airport the unparalleled public transport system will deliver you practically to the door of any hotel you are staying in. From the classic Fairmont Royal York Hotel, built in the 1920s, to the psychedelic backpackers hostel on Queen St, there’s plenty of accommodation to suit the limits of your pocket.

As a budget traveller I almost always judge a city, to a certain degree, by the ease and cost of its transport network. Toronto’s is second to none, with an integrated grid of subways, streetcars and buses that span the entire city. For $30 you can buy a weekly pass at any subway station, allowing you onto any form of public transport for seven days. Although these passes run specifically from Monday to Sunday it would be worth investing in one whichever day of the week you arrive. I found that it was a godsend, allowing me to hop from one side of the city to another without scrabbling around for change.

However good and invaluable the public transport system is, the only way you can really get a feel for a city and its people is by walking around. How else can you stumble across hidden local bars, (like the Green Room tucked away behind the main theatre), meet the people who live and work there or discover an enchanting place to dine?