Travel Blog: Toronto
My visit to Toronto has been a long time coming. The last time I ventured over to 'the 6' was over four years ago.
While I didn’t spot Drake or The Weeknd, I did however have a lot of family time. Even though I was struck down with a relentless cough, I still braved the elements and got to admire some of what Toronto had to offer.
Touring Toronto
Wandering around the Distillery District was high on my list after seeing so many incredible photos on Instagram. A particular art installation, Love Locks, caught my eye. It was reminiscent of the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris, where people secure a padlock with the name of their loved ones. The difference with this was the free-standing structure where you can add padlocks without city officials dismantling and removing romantic declarations.
I'd never done anything of the sort before and decided to dedicate my padlock to Toronto. My sister pointed out maybe a sibling one would have also been cool (whoops!). While there, I ticked off another bucket list item - visiting an aquarium. I’d never been keen on aquariums but this experience just leaves you with a different appreciation for marine life. Everything’s so calm and soothing. The residents include crabs who were more than happy to pose for me, and charming lobsters who were equally as inquisitive as I was.
Food overload
Before this holiday, I never knew what Hakka cuisine was. Synonymous with Hakka communities in parts of Taiwan and other south-east Asian countries, I enjoyed my first Hakka meal. The one Canadian staple I was dying to try however was the glorious poutine. Let me tell you, it didn't disappoint me. In fact, I'll openly admit it here: I LOVE POUTINES. The twinkle in my eye in the picture below says everything. The UK's chips, cheese and gravy don't hold a torch to this beauty. Poutines are the real deal and there's no shortage of places that serve these bad boys.
My range of images may be limited for this travel blog but truly the purpose of this holiday wasn't to wander and explore as I did in New York. It was very much a family affair; spending time with my nieces and nephews, catching up with friends and doing a spot of shopping. I did catch glimmers of Toronto that roused my curiosity about what other splendours Canada might hold. If you know me well, I won't leave that stone unexplored for too long... poutine in tow of course!