As you may remember in 2008 we left for Canada, British Columbia, we enjoyed so much that trip and this country is so great that we decided, after a year and a couple of months to return.
This time we saw the east coast region.
So, backpackers and suitcase in hand once again, we have been waiting 9 hours to fly with Alitalia and also this time between a nap, a few snacks and a movie here we arrive at destination: Toronto !!!!!!
Toronto (the largest city in Canada) is the capital of the 'Ontario, the second largest province of the whole country, whose climate is tempered by the beautiful shores of the Great Lakes. These masses' water that have a significant influence on the climate as well as offering a wonderful landscape. The majority of the population resides in the southern province where climatic conditions are more hospitable.
At first I must tell you that Toronto is a dynamic, vibrant, and evolving city.
The center is not really big, and sure enough, there are many different ethnic groups that form real neighborhoods.
You can visit on foot to watch the markets, the paths that run along the beaches and numerous skyscrapers.
We had already booked from home, and always with our Lonely Planet, just exit the airport we took a taxi that took us directly in front of the Global Guest House.
Very picturesque and colorful, from the outside, cozy, with a metro station and bus station just a few steps in front of the lovely homes.
The owners are very nice and certainly will help you whatever you need.
The first day tired from the trip we decided to walk to downtown shops and to have an 'idea of what to see the next day, perhaps in front of a good cup of coffee.
Walking through the streets of Toronto will be easy to meet university buildings, really beautiful and not built in so recent times, they come really want to study there.
Museum truly unexpected was the Bata shoes museum, very famous, while not having had the opportunity to visit let me give you some information about it.
Therefore, it is a museum designed by the 'architect Moriyama, he tried to make it look like a shoe box, located on Bloor Street, also known as the fashion street.
It offers 10,000 shoes from all over the world and collected by Sonja Bata, a member of the family that founded the Canadian company.
You can see shoes worn by famous personalities of world history, French sockets of the nineteenth century used to crush chestnuts and the boots used by indigenous peoples.
And with a little luck, at the third floor you can be observed through a glass, the editors who restore their shoes.
-Tel. 416 979 7799
-327 Bloor St W
Adult-\ 5-14 years \ Students \ Elderly\ families
respectively 6 \ 2 \ 4 \ 4 \ 12 $
-Free entrance from 17.00 on Thursday
-10.00 To 17.00 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 10.00 to 20.00 on Thursdays, from 12.00 to 17.00 on Sundays;
St George subway.
Will often around the city these little squirrels and feathered friends!
The interior color of the Global Guesthouse, just inside the door. In our case we were at the ground floor so we had no problems with the bags and scales, but for the future considered that 'there is no elevator. They are really beautiful paintings on the walls at the entry, unfortunately I have not photographed.
If you decide to visit Toronto, there are some "must" that you can not miss, including Lake Ontario . Both with the sun both without does not matter, because it is a majestic expanse of water, which reflected colors really special.
On the banks of the lake are waiting for us a coffee shop, part of a chain, "Second Cup", where we made some really great breakfast. Upon entering you feel a little bit at home already, maybe in the living room and you want to open and read a good book, or take photographs, plans for your future, or in my case it was there that I started to draw. Were years I did not this great desire to draw; something that would have accompained me for the rest of my trip.
So, with a good cup of hot coffee and one of their savory dishes, we had a breakfast of inspiration before we venture into our second day in Ontario!
To give a general framework must be said that many monuments and places of 'interest the city can be found at the' Hrbourfront at the bottom of Yonge St., a renovated area at the southern end of downtown. There are many art galleries, sports stadiums, water parks, monuments and gardens and just a short distance from the coast to the Toronto Islands.
Dal lago potrete vedere numerosi cigni ma anche anatroccoli che si godono la quiete della mattinata un pò uggiosa.
From the lake you will see many swans but also ducks who enjoy the quiet of the morning a bit dreary.
In this city all sports are much loved and you can try to practice them, including even windsurfing.
On The Beaches you can hire the 'equipment, for all the details you can contact the Toronto Windsurfing Club (www.torontowindsurfingclub.com).
Also you can rent sailboats, kayak and canoes, to speak with the instructors, ask to take some lessons at such centers's Harbourfront Centre and Boating' s Harbourfront
Canoe & Kayak Centre.
Before swimming in the lake, it would be prudent to call Toronto's Beach Water Quality Hotline service, for a problem that is presented sometimes to the pollution of waters of the lake.
Tel 416 392 7161.
Walking, we decided to head towards Kensington Mrket, located west of Campus' University of Toronto, employs some streets west of Spadina Ave between College St and Dundas St West.
This is the fun and colorful multi-ethnic heart of Toronto, influenced by immigrants from Italy, Portugal, Ukraine, Hungary, Latin America, China, Korea, Vietnam, India, Thailand and Malaysia, there is a market here and every day new people are attracted, so join bohemians, punks and anarchists.
Right next to Kensington Market, you can easily get to Little Italy and Queen West.
Trovato per caso un locale per pranzo, come rinunciare a tanta bontà??
Found by chance a place for lunch, as a waiver of such good food?
Ecco una delle zone centrali del campus dell'università di Toronto! E' stata fondata nel 1827, denominata anche UT, è l'ateneo più grande del Canada con quasi 40000 studenti in corso e altre 10000 persone facenti parte del personale docente o di servizio. Impossibile non apprezzarla passeggiando tra i cortili intorno al campus di St George; ad ovest del campus poi si trova l' Annex, il quartiere dove abitano molti studenti e professori, zona ricca di pub, negozi, ristoranti particolari e alternativi.
Is one of the central campus of the University of Toronto! It was founded in 1827, also known as UT, is Canada's largest university with almost 40,000 students and over 10,000 other individuals in the teaching staff or service. Impossible not to appreciate walking through the courtyards around the campus of St George, in the west part of the campus then there is the Annex, a neighborhood where live many students and professors, an area full of pubs, shops, restaurants and special alternative.
For information about admissions and the university in general please visit the following sites:
The subway at Spadina Road just behind the Global Guest House (You can see a little bit of roof).
Parliamo un pò del pernottamento, entrambe le volte che siamo passate dalla città, ossia all'andata e al ritorno del nostro viaggio in Canada nel 2009, abbiamo alloggiato qui alla Global GuestHouse.
Let's talk a little bit of the night, both times we passed by the city, we stayed here at the Global GuestHouse.
The building is old, the Victorian period, brick, the rooms are quite large with TV and are quickly occupied.
You can use an ordinary telephone, access to the kitchen, the pantry for the use of coffee, tea and sugar.
We took a room with private bathroom and telephone. It's an essentail but picturesque and I was struck by the kindness of the owners.
The phone number is 416 923 4004, located on 9 Spadina Rd, 10 seconds from the subway and bus station Spadina, offers single and double rooms with shared bathroom by paying 52 to $ 62, while the singles and doubles with private bath are 62 to $ 72.You can find more information on the site
http://globalguesthousetoronto.com/
Wandering between shops and streets we found this nice bar!
As I previously mentioned Second Cup would often accompanied us on this trip! : D
The days passed quickly and seemed to increase as the places worth visiting.
The St Lawrence Market (Old York) has been, around for a couple of centuries, the meeting center of the whole neighborhood, the building dates back the 1845, it is easily reached by tram number 504.
Downstairs you will find vendors of all kinds especially food, while upstairs there is the Market Gallery, the exhibition center in Toronto where they organized exhibitions of various kinds, from paintings to photography and much more (Tel. 416-392-7604, Free admission from 10:00 to 16:00 Wednesday to Friday, 9:00 to 16:00 Saturday 12:00 16:00 Sunday).
As I was saying, it is a covered market where the predominant specialty food fabulous, but not only ..
Excellent fruit, port handkerchiefs, fantastic brightly colored flowers, all kinds of pasta and rice, fresh vegetables, ready meals and really good, as well as delicious wine.
We thought we'd just come for a walk around the city that every moment that passed made me fall in love only more of this wonderful place.
So we are talking about the Canadian National Tower, the 'world's tallest building, just 553 meters! Reference point for all who pass by here and symbol of the city.
You might ask, what function does it have? Its main function is to communicate radio and TV signals, at the top but there are several interesting attractions.
Here you can see inside the tower where the shop, can not deny, I bought a souvenir.
There will be surely a bit of a row but the view from the tower is a must, and started to realize where the floor since the elevator has glass inserts to see how quickly climbs ... does a little impression at first but is really exciting!
The glass elevator took us to the top in a few seconds, we were already emotional but would not end there. In fact the top of the tower there is a whole part of the floor made entirely of glass, where it is customary to take pictures and I'm sitting over there and even though many were doing in those photos a bit of emotion I had, certainly do it again !
When the weather as beautiful as that day (lucky us!) you will see up to 160 km and at night you can admire the illuminated city.
Obviously, more is less cloudy and hazy you can have a good visibility.
This last picture of our feet on the glass floor of the tower ... it is nice, isn't it?! : D
Vi è anche un ristorante all'interno della torre ma non ho avuto l'occasione di mangiarci.There is also a restaurant inside the tower but I have not had the opportunity to eat there.
Exposed in the shop in the tower.
A bit of information to be able to visit the Tower:
-Tel. 4168686937
- 301 Front St W
- The main terrace, adults \ 4, 12 years \ old respectively 19 \ 14 \ $ 17 Canadian
- The terrace SkypPod need for an additional $ 5 Canadian.
-From 10.00 to 22.00, with an extension of time in the summer.
ROM. Saying talking about this amazing museum is almost simplistic, it deals with a huge range of subjects, all very interesting even for non-fans.
ROM stands for "Royal Ontario Museum."
Its spectacular collections grow up to 5 levels, if I remember correctly, dedicated to the natural sciences, the ancient civilizations such as Egypt, and art exhibitions.
You can use a parking lot at number 9 Bedford Road. They will also be lots of features that will fall in love with science and history of the children but also adults. One of those museums absolutely suitable for all ages.
Here is an Egyptian mummy !!!!!!!!!!!
-Tel. 4165865549;
-100 Queen's Park;
Adult-\ 5-14 years \ Students \ respectively elderly
15 \ 10 \ 12 \ 12 Canadian dollars;
Friday 16:30 to 21:30-free admission, with a surcharge for special exhibitions;
- 10.00 to 18.00 Monday to Thursday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. 9:30 p.m. on Friday, 11.00 to 18.00 on Sundays;
- Museum subway.
Where to attack the bike? Here are some nice solutions in every shape, in front of the museum.
Before leaving, you're going to eat at Fresh! A local really busy, famous for having the freshest ingredients, a rich menu of peculiar salads and tasty, "Free Tibet" rice, smoothies, drinks, milkshakes, excellent cakes. All the meals are very good I've had the opportunity to taste, so the only advice I can give you is to open the menu, ask the waitress, and enjoy your meal. If there was a row of little worth the wait.
You can also take advantage of take-away.
One of the Fresh is located at 336 Queen St W, prices vary from 4 to $ 8, please call 416-599-4442.
The opening hours from 8.30 to 18.30 Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 18.30 on Saturdays and Sundays from 10.30 to 18.30.
To get there you can also take the tram 501 or 510.
- L'ufficio dell'Ontario Tourism fornisce cartine della provincia gratis molto comode per le vari escursini nei dintorni. ( Tel. 416-314-0944, 800-668-2746, in francese 416-314-0956, 800-268-3736; www.ontariotravel.net, Eaton Centre, 220 Yonge St; orari d'apertura dalle 10.00 alle 21.00 dal lunedì alvanerdì, il sabato dalle 9.30 alle 19, la domenica dalle 12.00 alle 17.00). Si tratta di un ufficio turistico con personale molto competente.
- Per effettuare cambi con la moneta straniera potete andare in diverse banche lungo Yonge St: l'American Express, Money Mart (applica tassi un pò elevati e provvigioni onerose, ma è aperto tutto il giorno) e Thomas Cook Bloor-Yorkville.
- Per le emergenze: - La Polizia ( Tel. 416- 808- 2222, per i casi non urgenti - Polizia, Vigili del fuoco e Ambulanza (Tel. 911)
- Toronto ha molte librerie indipendenti tra cui Chapters Books & Magazines, 110 Bloor St W; e Pages Books & Magazines in Queen St W.
- Sconsigliabile è girare, sopratutto per le donne che potrebbero esser importunate, nella zona situata a est di Yonge St poichè nota per la prostituzione fino ad un paio di anni fa; sarebbe sconsiglio anche passeggiare nel tratto meridionale di Jarvis St, tra Cartlon St e Queen St, in particolare nella zona intorno agli Allen Gardens. Inoltre gli scontri tra i motociclisti, famosi in Quebec, si sono estesi anche all' Ontario. Se vedeste gruppi di motociclisti lungo la statale cercate di retsare un po a distanza.
- Il freddo è un problema soprttutto in gennaio, le temperature raggiungono facilmente diversi gradi sotto lo zero soprattutto con l'aiuto del vento che la fa abbassare ulteriormente.
The Ontario Tourism office provides free maps of the province really convenient for several excursions. (Tel. 416-314-0944, 800-668-2746, in French, 416-314-0956, 800-268-3736; www.ontariotravel.net, Eaton Centre, 220 Yonge St, opening hours from 10.00 to 21.00 Monday to Friday, Saturday from 9.30 to 19, Sundays from 12.00 to 17.00). It is a tourist office with very competent staff.
To make changes to the foreign currency you can go to different banks along Yonge St. The American Express, Money Mart (apply a little higher rates and fees are burdensome, but it is open all day) and Thomas Cook Bloor-Yorkville.
For emergencies: - The Police (Tel. 416-808 - 2222, for non-urgent cases - Police, Fire and Ambulance (tel. 911)
Toronto has a lot of independent bookstores including Chapters Books & Magazines, 110 Bloor St W, and Pages Books & Magazines on Queen St W.
Is not advisable to turn alone, especially for women who could be bothered, the area lying east of Yonge St as well known for prostitution until a couple of years ago, also would not recommend walking in the southern section of Jarvis Street, between Queen St and Cartlon St, in particular the area around Allen Gardens. In addition, the clashes among motorcyclists, known in Quebec, it is also extended to 'Ontario. If you saw groups of motorcyclists along the highway, try to rets a bit far.
The cold is a problem especially in January, temperatures can easily reach several degrees below zero also with the help of the wind that brings down further.
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