Toronto

When people talk about Canada’s city, no one will neglect Toronto. It is a metropolis, financial hub, culture center, popular tourist attractions center of Canada. This October we have a chance to visit my friend who lives in Oakville Toronto, I take this opportunity to have a close look in this city.

As a newcomer in Canada, the place where we live is in the west part of the great white north. Toronto is in the east coaster. Its appearance is totally different from Canada’s prairie. But wherever we are, we can both feel the beauty of Canada.

There are two concepts when we mention Toronto. First, it is a core area of the city, AKA downtown Toronto, then it is a bigger Toronto, AKA ‘GTA’ -Grand Area Toronto, it includes core area and other areas and cities. During our brief stay here, I have a good memory of both of the small and big version of Toronto.

Toronto is a metropolis, that’s true, especially when you are walking in its downtown. There are skyscrapers, commercial centers, high-quality restaurants as well as overcrowded people, traffic jams. The infrastructures and facilities, public transit of the city are qualified. I am not sure whether Toronto is the only city that has a subway in Canada. If the answer is yes, how lucky Toronto people are. As for public transit, people have city metro, GO train, Canada Via Rail here. When we are talking about food, you can find all kinds of local and other Cusine in downtown, French course or Chinese hotpot, it depends on your choice, people also have so many options for street food or fast food, Vietnamese pho or Thailand dishes, you can have them both in the same street. Maybe the downtown has the same appearance and characteristics of a highly modernized and civilized city in the world as well as Shanghai, Tokyo, Los angels. However it also has its unique attractions of tourist, CN tower, aquarium, Royal Ontario Museum, Old Toronto City Hall and Casa Roma Castle, you can buy Toronto City Pass you can get a discount than buying tickets separately. Meanwhile, the University of Toronto is a special scenery of the downtown city, you can enjoy the sunshine and crisp air when you are roaming in the garden-like campus. Please try to get well with squirrels and unnamed birds, and say what a nice day to yourself. At last, let‘s do not forget Ontario lake, the whole city is set alongside the lake, Toronto is like a child of the lake, and the lake makes Toronto special. Especially, when we are walking alongside the waterfront of Ontario lake, watch the skyline of downtown when dusk is coming and everything silhouetted and became quiet, we would know the beauty of city and lake.

In comparison with downtown, GTA is a different concept. Grand Toronto Area composes of some areas and cities like Toronto. In other words, there are so many downtowns and rural areas in GTA. Mississauga, Hamilton, Markham are big cities in GTA, the are hustling and bustling like Toronto. Oakville and Burlington are serene and beautiful communities. Besides, I also went to Niagara, Kitchener, Waterloo, Saint Catherine, I don’ t know whether they belong to GTA or not. Anyway, the impression I get from GTA is: It is much bigger. The other difference from downtown, my personal view is that people can easily access to beautiful nature when they live in GTA Communities. Many trails, parks are around people’s residence, imagine that you have hiking and a cup of coffee at home in just one hour. If you want to explore far and more, Niagara is close to you in no more than 2-hour driving. Except for Niagara fall, I still remember Lion Heart Valley, White Water Walk, these places are also fascinating and appealing. And even don’t mention another surprise, a hidden German restaurant in Kitchener, pig hock is a local specialty, rib and pigtail are also yummy.

No more words I can say about Toronto because it has so many merits that are waiting to be discovered. Just like a car plate in Ontario: Yours to discover.