Is it true what they say? Does everybody HATE Toronto?

So... I just had my interview for the JET program today, and let's just say I'm looking into plan B (I'm not ready to talk about how it went yet....) Moving along... I decided to explore Toronto, a city I always envisioned hating. However, there were things I actually liked! Here's my list of likes and dislikes.

Likes:

- There are many many many.... MANY coffee shops to choose from

- The transit system is easier to use than Charlottetown (seriously!)

- City Grill makes a good Portebello Mushroom pannini!

- There are more stores .:. More Competition.. .:. Many more BLOWOUT SALES! (I got man-made suede boots from Le Chateau for $20!)

- The sidewalks didn't have 5 inches of slush on them (boourns Ch'town)

Dislikes:

- A ran into a foreigner who made a comment about the weather. I giggled. He started to follow me and insisted he bring me to the Eaton Centre. He asked a lot of questions. As far as he is concerned, My name is Darcy and I'm a Salsa dance instructor from Iowa. I am in town for a week as my cousin is on his deathbed. I am on my way to shop away the pain. I ditched him at Second Cup, even though he insisted on buying me a coffee (phew!)

- After that, I grew stone cold and wouldn't look at anyone. Toronto is a soul-killer.

- I'm pretty sure you could spend your entire life indoors without ever having to go outside. As long as you're attached to Eaton Mall or a Subway system, there is no need to ever see sunlight.

- I got so distracted by the big city, I left behind my coffee in stores... twice.

- I may have gotten cancer from the smog and cellular phone radiation

- 10 year old children all have cell phones. I overheard on the subway that one kid was bullying another kid through TEXTING! I find that absurd

- My waiter didn't flirt with me.. not even a little.

- There are no benches on the sidewalks (or at least on Yonge st)... and though Charlottetown mostly doesn't either, I half expected it in Toronto. This became very important as I was walking around in styletos (bad idea Katie... I don't care who you're trying to impress)

Okay, so I might've been a little bias going into this, but I think between children getting picked on by text messaging and my new foreign friend that almost took me home with him, I have to say I will never live in Toronto. It's great to shop in, as long as you stay indoors out of the smog. Which isn't a problem for most people. Sorry Toronto and Torontonians, but my vote is still...

Toronto, boo.

If we never get scared, how do know we're alive?

So, call it a case of the winter blues. I guess it was a lot of things, but yesterday, I JUST NEEDED TO GET OUT. So I did. I went for an epic walk.

My roommate Steph had told me once about this cool park she found behind Superstore, down on North River Road. So I thought I'd set out to find it. I bundled up, since it just began to snow, and set out for an intended 30 min walk. It was about 10pm.

So I walked down Belvadere, knowing all I had to do was walk straight, but decided to take a cool little road. It turned out I just walked around the block, so it was no big deal. I stumbled upon my goal: Queen Elizabeth Park

I should have taken a further away picture of the gazebo, it was so beautifully lit up. I was so excited though that I ran across the field in 3 feet of snow to this glorious little hut. Once I got there I took a few pictures of my surroundings. I would have taken more, but my fingers were about to freeze off:

I sat there by the waterfront for about 10 mins, freezing with the cold wet wind, contemplating what I should do next. It had only taken me about 20 mins to get there, and I still didn't feel like going home. So I decided I would follow different roads back to make things more interesting. That it did....

First I found a skidoo trail that led me behind people's houses. Between setting off automatic lights and barking dogs, I'm thrilled and excited I didn't get arrested.

After wandering small streets for a bit, I finally came across one I recognized: North River Road. Only I didn't know which side of the road I was coming out on... do I turn left or right? To the left, I saw one traffic light and a house I thought I recognized. To the right I saw many traffic lights, which to me seemed like closer to the city. I was feeling left, but thinking right. I went with my mind. I should have gone with my instinct. (Note to friends, go with your instinct, always).

"North River Road"

After walking for 20 mins I realized I was slightly lost...... Hope?

Nope. I refused to turn around though, something was bound to look familar. And then it did... Colonel Gray High School. I was almost downtown, soaked to my knees in melting snow and fingers barely hanging on.

I had no idea where I would come out on on University, but I guessed my best bet was to find something familiar. So up Kirkwood I went... and came across some interesting things...


1) We have a private Christian High School in Charlottetown, who knew?

2) An alien abduction on a weird street. (This seriously freaked me out, I was about to call a cab at this point... but I realized the point of the walk was to be scared, so I trudged on)

<-- This is a sign that says "Trafalgar"

This is a child's mitten -->

And then... finally... M&M meats saved my balls! (You will never hear me say that again)

All in all, it was an adventure, exactly what I anticipated. I arrived home at 12:28am, so it only took me 2.5 hours. Possibly the most exercise I've had all month. Here's a map for you to follow my wild and crazy adventure. The Red in on my way there, and the Blue is for on the way back.

Note 1: Red -- I was still warm. Blue -- I was close to hypothermia

Note 2: These are only my best guessed at the roads I took... where I really went only the aliens will know.

The problem with snow is...

I miss the beach, and thus the sun.

I miss sitting at Baba's when the day is done,

Sipping a glass of red wine, non-devine

I miss the constant flow of caffeine

through my veins, as if routine.

Waiting tables, hearing fables

I miss spitting out sunflower seeds

and rolling around in the dandelion weeds

Waiting for the moon to bloom

I miss riding my bike

And going for hikes

Winter's mundane -- I'm going insane

But what would I miss otherwise?