Now the fourth most populated city in North America, edging ahead of Chicago, Illinois. However, when it comes to metro population, Toronto is nearly three million souls behind Chicago and a mere 150,000 ahead of Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas.
Living in a small town northwest of Toronto, going to the big city for even just a day can seem like a mini vacation. Toronto and Niagara Falls have become our ‘Old Faithful’ alteratives when time and money get in the way of travelling to far off and exotic locales.
The interesting thing about Toronto is that we go there for solitude and to get away from people. I first realized this when visiting Manhattan. When you’re in a big city, you might as well be invisible. There are so many people that have no connection with any of the people around them that everyone withdraws to a place within. In a small town of less than 30,000, you are always going to run into someone who knows you. You’re always in character. You can’t simply let the chains fall and just be.
There is a difference between Toronto and New York City. Toronto is big and impersonal. Rarely will someone go out of their way to help a complete stranger. New York is different. There is an ‘all for one and one for all’ aura. I didn’t start visiting Manhattan until 2002. Maybe that comraderie and concern for fellow human beings wasn’t there before the cities existence was threatened on September 11, 2001.
I have witnessed teenage girls helping an older lady get through the turnstyle at the subway in Manhattan at rush hour. I have had countless people stop while I’ve been looking at a subway map and ask if they can help me get where I want to go. I watched mothers and fathers at a playground in Central Park more concerned with my ever-independent child wandering off than I was. I have had so many security guards and police apologize profusely for having to search me before entering a tourist spot, despite the fact that they’re doing it to hundreds of people daily – as if they’re violating me and not just trying to protect their city from another horrible event.
If that kindness for strangers did not exist in New York City before 9/11, then it really is such an incredible legacy to those who lost their lives on that day.
However, Toronto is not a horrible place. The downtown core is probably the safest of any big city, not only in North America, but in the world. The skyline is easily one of the most beautiful in the world.
The ever-expanding Porter Airlines uses the Billy Bishop Airport on Toronto Island as a home base. Porter flies to several U.S. cities – especially NYC. The airline has purchased some Boeing 737’s to compliment their Bombardier prop planes. The Island Airport runway currently is not long enough for the 737’s and there is a debate on wether the airstrip will be lengthened to allow the airlines expansion.
Most of the images here were taken along the Toronto Harbourfront. We typically spend our time in the city along Spadina in Chinatown and in Kensington Market. I take a lot of pictures but I’m shy with the camera in a crowd. So, I don’t usually pull out the ole Canon until I get down in the parkland along Lake Ontario.
The architecture along Spadina is interesting if you actually look. Many of the buildings were empty or still textile factories when I first started visiting. Now, many have been converted to expensive loft apartments and offices. Although, fashion is still the name of the game.
The CN Tower has been the identity of the city since the 1970’s. Everyone that visits has many a picture of this needle in the sky. However, it’s the hidden framework that presents itself around the city the still make the tower cool to photograph.
The Red Rocket. Electric street cars still travel around the downtown core. This guy is running north up Spadina and entering the Chinatown area.
Check out this HD Video of the Toronto Island Ferry coming and going from the Centre Island dock. Like the Staten Island Ferry, the Toronto Island Ferry is an affordable but often overlooked method to see the cityscape. Unlike the Staten Island Ferry, the Toronto Island Ferry is not free. It will cost you $7 to cross Toronto Harbour. However, the $7 does cover the return trip.
Be sure to switch the quality to HD and be sure to hit the ‘Like’ button!
