A few years ago, our premier gave us a new statutory holiday. The third Monday of every February is Family Day, when most employees get the day off.
DOTH and I decided to make the most of a long weekend and do something many Torontonians may not enjoy, preferring to get out of the city -- we took a tour of downtown Toronto.
We rented a lovely room in the Harbourfront Radisson for 3 nights:
Not a very good photo, but in the centre of the room is the entertainment unit with the TV on top that can be turned toward the bed, or towards the living area of the room. The fireplace underneath heats both sides of the room.
We were on the 6th floor with a lovely view of both downtown, and Lake Ontario:
The 'small' building with peaked roof is the Royal York Hotel, which was the tallest building in the British Empire when I first came to Toronto from England in the early '60s.
"The Royal York was a state-of-the-art hotel upon completion in 1929, with ten elevators, a radio in each of its 1,048 rooms, and a private shower or bath in each room. Other features included a large Concert Hall fitted with an impressive Casavant Frères pipe organ. With five manuals and 107 stops, it was the largest pipe organ in Canada. The telephone switchboard was 66 feet long and required 35 operators. The hotel was enlarged in 1959 with the addition of the east wing to a total of 1,600 rooms and was the largest hotel in the Commonwealth for many years.
"As guests enter the main lobby, they are greeted with nothing but grandeur. The high vaulted ceilings, the warm colour palette of deep reds and golds and the ornate ornamentation all add to this effect. The once fully carpeted lobby has been replaced with a light coloured mosaic tiled floor, but early 20th century styled carpets are still found throughout the building. Big armchairs and couches allow travelers to take in the atmosphere of the lobby while others wait patiently for friends to arrive beside the old railway clock, which is centrally located within the hotel lobby area. The railway clock rises in the middle of a large spiral staircase from the avenue level of the Hotel. The lobby of the Royal York Hotel shimmers with light from large crystal chandeliers and is over looked by the mezzanine level.
"The hotel has been the residence of choice for Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Canadian Royal Family when in Toronto. The Queen usually has an entire floor reserved for her and her party, occupying the Royal Suite herself."
The view of the lake was magnificent:
It was partially frozen, in our below zero temperatures, and the boat in the top, middle of the photo is an ice-breaker. You can see a skating rink dead-centre of the photo:
Lots of brave souls enjoying it.
We took the "hopper bus" (hop on and off at most major tourist spots for one flat fee) to the St. Lawrence Market; bought some fruit, freshly-baked bread and cheeses for lunches and enjoyed our first lunch while we were there - a Mustacios veal sandwich with eggplant, mmm, yummy - and so big we have to share one!
Chinatown was quite the experience, with DOTH feeling quite at home, since she has visited China a couple of times and is on her way again this summer:
The CN Tower from Chinatown.
We shopped in some of the Chinese malls and had a yummy Chinese cream-filled bun for dessert. Really, though, once you have been in one mall, you have virtually seen them all!
We took a tour of the CN Tower - probably the first time in almost 40 years -- since DOTH was little. The tower hasn't changed but the view certainly has:
A couple of interesting buildings....
This one was weird...the building is blue, and it looks like a fire escape on the outside, but it only covers three floors!
This was taken from the very top of the tower....Union Station, and all the railway lines, to the right of the photo.
We went to the Distillery District -- no longer a distillery, I hasten to add!
"The Distillery District is an internationally acclaimed village of brick-lined streets and dozens of vibrantly restored Victorian Industrial buildings. It’s one of Ontario’s hottest tourist attractions and home to live theatres, galleries, fashion, design and jewelry boutiques, unique cafes and award-winning restaurants. It’s all completely closed to traffic and just a few minutes walk from downtown Toronto. "
They have some unique shopping experiences there, useful if you are looking for that perfect gift for someone who has everything!
We also took the hopper bus to Casa Loma, but didn't take the time to get out and take the tour.
We had a lovely Chinese dinner in a restaurant overlooking Lake Ontario, on the Queens Quay. Lemon Chicken with shrimp and lobster rice -- delicious!
And when we weren't out touring around, there was plenty to see from the windows of our room...
including this:
The poor girl must have been frozen by the time they were finished - truly a day she will never forget!
And we had a weekend we will remember for some time to come...there is always lots to see in Toronto; a place well worth visiting!
(Posting this from California, where it's not hot but certainly a mite warmer!)
(Posting this from California, where it's not hot but certainly a mite warmer!)
Great photos, Kaybee. No wonder it took you so long to post it all. That blue building with the outside staircase certainly is weird. Maybe if the weather warms up again soon, we'll be able to send you home with a little bit of a tan!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a nice weekend. Lots to see, perhaps we can get around some of these next time. Where was the wedding couple, on a roof?
ReplyDeleteI am not counting on that tan, ChrisJ, but some higher temps would be appreciated!
ReplyDeleteActually, Snafu, that was one of the reasons I wanted to do that weekend away, to hunt down some good spots to take you and your better half- especially since i had not explored downtown for quite some time.
The wedding couple were on The Toronto Wave Deck. Part of the refurbishing of the Toronto waterfront, it cost the earth and who knows what it is really for? Well, this couple made good use of it anyway. It is actually right across from the front doors of the hotel where we stayed. You can google it if you are interested in more info and photos. There are actually two of them on the waterfront; this is the smaller of the two.
It looks as though you had a great time; some really interesting views, there. Odd about that staircase though ... x
ReplyDeleteI finally hunted down the identity of that blue building, Elizabeth, and I should have guessed. It is the back of the Art Gallery of Ontario. You can read more about it here: http://rippleeffects.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/art-gallery-of-ontario/
ReplyDeleteIt's worth reading as it give a bit of the history and has some indoor photos. Interesting that it is in Chinatown and we saw the front of it when we were there - only getting to see the back from way high up on the CN Tower! Might be something worth exploring when you are here, Snafu?