Canada Day 11. CN Tower

So, I managed to get to the bus stop in time (although I gave up attempting to drag my suitcase and caught a taxi which isn't ideal..) and started my 6hr drive back to Toronto!

 Luckily the bus actually drove down the road with my hostel so I realised it was actually a bit too far to drag my suitcase (which was the plan) especially as there was a street market/fair going on! So I had to catch a taxi again, which my arms were glad about since they didn't have to lug my stuff but my wallet would have preferred the walk :p

 When I got to the hostel itself (which is student accommodation that's rented out during the summer) they'd made a mistake and put me down for staying the night before - so I'd been charged despite not spending the night there! And all the female dorms were fully booked.

So they asked if I minded staying in a mixed dorm and they'd refund me the extra (which was like $3). But I'd actually just overheard another lady saying they still had a few single rooms full.. So I said I didn't really want a mixed room if possible (I was very polite about it) and they said that was no trouble and upgraded me to a single room all to myself! 

Its weird how having a room all to yourself becomes such a novelty! I unpacked everything and got dressed in the room and just pottered about without worrying about bothering anyone else!

 After embracing the solitude of my own room I set out hunting down the nights activities! And I ended up walking through the street fair which was really nice but completely packed!

 So packed intact that it was kinda annoying - people just didn't move!

 But I eventually got the target in sight!

 I've heard this a few times but there's a phrase that Canada only has two seasons, winter and construction! And that certainly seems to be true the more I see of Canada! 

 After many a detour I eventually found my way to the CN Tower! I'd saved it for my last night in Canada and I was planning to time it with the sunset so I could see the city during the day and evening

 From queuing up to get the ticket to actually getting up the the platform it took an hour… which isn't as bad as it could have been but still - an hour! I also got pulled aside for drug and explosive testing, I don't know why I'm surprised I always, always, get pulled aside! I obviously look suspicious!

Anyway, I think I timed it pretty well! 

 The view was lovely as since the tower is by far the tallest building in Toronto the view over the rooftops is unparalleled. 

 the fact Toronto itself and the surrounding area is so flat also helps to give the impression your looking right to the horizon!

 After spending a little time on the upper observation deck (which is all enclosed with glass windows) I headed down to the glass floor

 because it's just one of those things you have to do before you leave the tower!

 From here i ventured outside to the 'open' section where it very windy!

 I managed to get a photo where it wasn't 'too' windy!

 looking down at the great view (also they let you sit down if you were waiting for the sunset which they don't let you do at the empire state building)

 This was by far the windiest direction but the view was amazing as the sun set and the lights appeared

 I just love how cities look at night!

 And after pottering about at the top for a while I headed back to my room. I cut through the festival and because it was a little quieter (still pretty busy though) I bought myself a 'funnel cake' since I've wanted to try one for a while. It wasn't what I was expecting, and it was massive, and it was also covered in a layer of icing sugar which meant I ended up with dusted with icing sugar all along my front.. definitely a classy look!

I can't believe I'm leaving canada tomorrow! Luckily I still have a little more time since I get most of tomorrow here in Toronto but my time here truly has flown by!

Canada Day 9. Underground City

Today was a lot cloudier today (although not much cooler) but that actually worked out pretty well since I was planning to enter the Underground City! Basically, there are miles and miles of shopping centres and tunnels running underneath Monteal 

Because there is so much snow and it gets so incredibly cold here in winter it's impossible to shop outside, it'd just be too dangerous. So they have 4 or 5 big shopping centres entirely underground and then there's connecting passages from one mall to another.

It's surprising the different shops they have as you really can find just about everything you need!

This one was called Complexe Desjardins and was one of the smallest!

After a lot of window shopping (got to keep an eye on that baggage weight allowance) I headed out down Sainte Catherine to the film festival that's being held. Since the films were all in french though i didn't exactly linger!

As I was heading back to the hostel I passed Plateau Mont Royal and saw there was a big street market going on! So I obviously detoured!

Almost every shop and cafe on the street had their own stall out which was really lovely as there was a definite atmosphere of neighbours doing the fair together

I had to take a photo when I saw this!

Turns out it was Mix Arts festival, which made sense as there was a little bit of everything 

There were also some really good sales with some of the boutiques having  40% off sales (so tempting)

I settled with buying a mango cut into the shape of a flower instead!

Apparently it's on for a few days so I'm definitely going to stop by tomorrow for dinner as the paella and some of the japanese food looked amazing!

Canada Day 8. Plateau Mont-Royal & Parc La Fontaine

After several hours, some serious ingenuity, tweezers, several drawings, and stress my camera is back up and running!!

I started out today was heading to the east of the hostel to Parc La Fontaine. Which was a very quiet and beautiful little park that isn't really visited my tourists all that much and as such gives you a much better idea of what the locals do in their spare time!  

The lakes were a gorgeous blue and the weather was simply beautiful 

There was also a lot of wildlife! Tons of ducks and pigeons, and more squirrels than I've ever seen!

Look at this cutie!

It was a lovely way to start off the day just walking through the trees around the lakes.

After spending a good chunk of the morning at the park I set off to Plateau Mont-Royal which is basically a few streets dedicated to boutiques, restaurants and cafes. 

I'd walked past it the day before but I didn't detour as I wanted to do some other bits and pieces but it's a really lovely area and I completely get why it's a local favourite!

There was some pretty cool and vibrant graffiti artwork on the sides of several buildings in this area too

The streets are incredibly french and the atmosphere is very central european so it was really nice to spend some time here. 

it was just such a pretty area to wander around

I stumbled across a mini park down one road too which wasn't on my map but was a very pleasant surprise as the shade offered some respite from the sunshine!

Several of the cafes had traditional french cuisine and all the menus were in french! It really felt like I wasn't in North America anymore. And I understand why it's considered quite separate to the rest of Canada as theres definitely a lot of pride in their heritage here I think 

When I left the restaurant section I pottered in the local shops, and this bookstore featured an adorable, and quirky, feature! He was say there in the sunshine the whole time I walked up and down the street, and seemed quite happy to soak up the sun and have the occasional passerby stroke him

This shop stood out with its craziness, but the sweets themselves looked really good

even more artwork!

I really liked Plateau Mont Royal as every single shop had something different to offer and, not for the first time, I wish I could have bought everything! I'm definitely going to be stopping by here when I can  - it's just a lovely place to spend an hour or so people watching with a drink, or to stop by for lunch!

Canada Day 3. NIAGARA FALLS

So, today I was fortunate enough to get to see another wonder of the world and it was pretty amazing.

I thought about going on my own but catching the bus and doing a tour were roughly the same so I figured why both worrying about catching the right bus when I can get a tour and have the day planned for me? As it is I'm incredibly glad I booked a tour!

I got picked up from my hotel around 9, and then it was a relatively short drive to the Falls! (about an hour and a half, maybe 2 hours)

The falls were not quite what I was expecting. But then I didn't know what to expect! 

You hear so much about the falls and in person they were pretty amazing!

They fall in a sudden and incredibly dramatic horseshoe ring and create an super dense mist!

The Hornblower (the boat I was to get later) heading towards the falls!

And the Maid of the Mist. It's a shame I couldn't get this iconic boat but its currently only running from the USA side of the river and its only got a month or so to go before its officially retired

After hopping back on the bus, and chatting to the guy sat next to me (Johnny) we were driven down to the base of the falls and we jumped on the Ferry! It felt a little like you were going on a roller coaster, we all got wristbands and had to queue up and go in an elevator. And we all got photos of us taken before we jumped on the boat

Oh, and we got those incredibly beautiful plastic ponchos.. 

The American Falls!

This was pretty much all my camera could manage on the boat! It was crazy! And the americans were all cheering as we road the waves and got DRENCHED!

Everyone said you just got a little wet… A LITTLE wet?!

It was pretty funny seeing everyone's reactions though

I'm incredibly glad I did the boat ride as it was really so much fun! Despite dripping after 

(I was also incredibly glad I wore waterproof mascara…)

Then we had an hour or so to walk around the town that is nestled next to the ferry landing station, and it definitely wasn't what I was expecting!

It was just like a theme park or a mini vegas… it was strange! But it was interesting to see how much tourism has obviously impacted the town!

After grabbing lunch with Johnny (and having to run back to the bus since we were late) we set off again to another sightseeing spot

The weather wasn't too happy though so the bus gave us all more ponchos!

We nicknamed ourselves the poncho tour as we all looked ridiculous

The whirlpool itself was actually surprisingly impressive. I'd heard a few people say they weren't impressed, and obviously after the magnitude and splendour of Niagara Falls they aren't all that, but they're still a nice stop off

After running out and taking some photos of the whirlpool we all ran back to the bus so we could get on to Niagara on the Lake. It's a really cute and quaint town that I'm sure would have been lovely to stroll around in warmer weather. As it was we sort of just did a lap stopping in a few shops for samples (feel margarita and ice cream samples are good no matter the weather!)

Saw a woman rolling cigars!

its funny actually as me and Johnny were talking about the lack of Starbucks and how it was a nice change since they really are everywhere in North America, and how it's nice the town is so big on preserving the local shops etc we turn around and see this! I guess Starbuck really are everywhere

we also stopped by a pub that's supposed to be haunted. They have to keep the union jack flying other wise the ghost gets grumpy apparently.. 

I had to take a photo of this shop!

 Then it was onto Niagara Teaching Winery to try some of the local 'ice wine'. It was actually really interesting to learn about how it's made, they have to wait until the grapes are completely frozen on the vine before picking and then since al the water is frozen they tend to only get a drop or two from each grape. That all means that it takes 10-20 times more grapes to make a bottle of ice wine compared to your usual table wine.

The result is an incredibly sweet and unique wine that was simply delicious!

We got to sample three different wines and I couldn't resist buying a bottle to bring back with me so I could let you try some!