After getting into Toronto at 6:30am, I was unable to check-in until 3:00, so I wandered around Toronto and visited: Kensington (which has open street markets, smells like fish and has garbage piles in the street), Chinatown, saw Much Music (and the CBC):
Down to the CN Tower:
Beer!
The harbour:
And the Eaton Centre before I stopped at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Which was really good. They had original Picassos, Monets, etc as well as rooms that were set up with different themes/installations. The 'Killing Machine' was especially good, and there was also a room that simulated a thunderstorm in Japan (rain pouring down the windows, thunder, lightning, a light breeze, power outage, etc).
Then I took the train to Niagara Falls (from Union Station):
The boat tour was less of a 'Maid of the Mist' and more of a 'Maid of the Shower'. But it was really good. There's a whirpool further downstream, but it's under a bridge to the US with trees blocking the view.
The view of downtown Toronto from Toronto Island Park:
Some random observations:
There appeared to be prostitutes out at 7am
Subways smelled like pee
Nothing seems to open until 10
Tim Horton's are more prevalent than Starbucks in Seattle
People jay walk like crazy, even in front of cops
They have massive bookstores, and they're packed
Lake Ontario water is brown and not pleasant looking. When I went to Toronto Island Park there was a sign on the beach requesting that you call a phone number to ensure that the e.coli levels weren't too high.
They have basketball courts outside like they have in the movies
Their old buildings are brick and Victorian looking. Covered in ivy and very quaint
There were lots of swans
There were groups of people who dressed in completely white outfits
The homeless are very friendly
Food there was somewhat disappointing. Who puts pineapple in pho? Their chicken tikka tasted like stew.
Bakeries were delicious
