Toronto: Day 2 + 3

Day 2

Currently writing this at a train station somewhere in Toronto...Burlington I think? Feeling misled quite a bit because I'm kind of getting good at navigating myself around all on my j's. 


Considering when my parents first started letting me get the bus alone to far places (when I was like 11-13) I would usually end up lost on the street crying and they'd have to come get me (first trip to Croydon wooo!). 

I'm the bad kind of stereotypical woman who usually can't read maps or give directions to save her life, or I was until recently. I've managed to get myself across the country, and now from one part of Toronto to another #BAWSY. Made reservations for accommodation, bus tickets, the lot. I'm usually so lastminute.com with these things and too chicken to go anywhere on my own (aside from leaving the country), only people that know me really well will see what a milestone this is lol.

*Niagara at night*

So this bit is a continuation from yesterday. I ended up crawling out of my bed with enough time and just enough energy to go see the fireworks at the falls. 

#SideNote

Canadians know NOTHING about walking. Nothing. So no info they give you on how long it takes to walk somewhere is accurate. Ever. The hostel lady was like oh, 10 minute walk up, follow the river to the falls....20 minutes later I got there. Luckily they hadn't started lighting up the sky yet. But they do light the falls up at night, in romantic pastel colours, which was really lovely although me and my digi can couldn't accurately capture a thing. Mental pictures all the way.

When the fireworks did pop off though, it was amazing. That's half due to them being over the falls, that I had never seen until this point, and that I hadn't seen fireworks in like, a year or more.

But see, the bad thing about fireworks on a rainy, cloudy day, over falls so big and powerful is that they spray and mist all over the fireworks so after a while you just end up with fire clouds and explosive sound effects...still glad I went though.


*Niagara in the morning*

Attempt number 2 at seeing the falls was much more fruitful.

Toronto had gotten itself together and gave me the sunshine yahoo weather had promised so it was shorts on, skin out and and shades down. 

I walked once again and rewarded myself with butter pecan and butterscotch ripple ice-cream, obviously.

Team Healthy Eating!!

#SideNote

Restraint was removed from my vocab
this weekend. Salad next week....

This weekend has been the ultimate fall-off-the-waggon in terms of the battle against the Chubb. I lived on whatever was accessible to my accommodation and what I could buy at short notice with cards or coins. Which means late night and lunchtime leftover Domino's, Burger King dinners, ice-cream breakfast, rest-stop snacks - the lot.

I don't know what it is with Canada and tulips, but they are literally the symbol of "summer is here!" They are EVERYWHERE right now and Niagara was no exception. It was also selfie central so everyone was hogging the good waterfall shot spots which was annoying. But I got to see a lot considering I wasn't rich or brave enough to go on the ferry and go risk my life to get close to the falls. Plus the queue was a joke and not-optional if I was gonna make it to The Queensway later.

The rest of Niagara from what I saw, unless linked to a casino, hotel or restaurant is like the dried up cracked heel back of this Fake Vegas town - which was essentially where the bust station and hostel are located. The closer you are to the falls though, Cousin Vegas comes to life and at night with all the electricity in the city on full blast. Me and my retinas weren't ready.



*Niagara to Burlington Journey Mercies*

I'm telling you, being lost, with a British accent gets you places I swear. With my Google Maps papers in hand I stared down the bus it was telling me to get on, even though the driver was clearly on break. 

In England, you don't exist to bus drivers till break is over...but not here. Driver came out, told me where to go catch the bus when it was time and then said the greatest thing ever when he came to the main bus stop. Well first he said my fare was $12.50 (like £7). I think he could sense all the coins about to come his way when I went rummaging in my purse so he says: 

"Have a seat."

I thought he meant so I could count my coins without holding up the bus but then when I asked if he was sure he said:

"I won't tell if you won't"

I gave the only other obvious response, next to thank you:

"You don't have to tell me twice!"

1hr30 bus ride instantly became more pleasant!



*Burlington to Queensway*

Right now I'm sitting on the top floor of a triple-decker monster train...clearly North America is not here for our basic, minimal passenger carrying transport lol. First time I ever got on one of these bad boys was visiting my family in New Jersey. They look ridiculous and unnecessary but hey, I've never seen how much they come in handy during rush hour...


*Long Branch to Queensway*

Ok I've let it go. Toronto is just not cute. It's not a pretty city, I've decided. Good thing looks aren't everything...



*Church on the Queensway Still Believe Concert*

Can't deal. I'm not even gonna front. How are this many good looking Christian guys in Toronto and why have they all descended upon this building?! Wish I had my P4P ring right now. If I meet my husband tonight I'm cool with it. Trust. Ugh I can't even. Shades on, deep breath.

On the concert itself, it's moments like that that make me so glad and so ridiculously happy to be a Christian. Seriously, I've been to some really amazing live shows and seen great ones on TV - like everyone else I'm sure - but nothing compares to events like that. The mentality is completely different and it goes so far beyond audience participation and someone like Queen Bey going "stretch out ya hand I wanna feel your energy". It's the opposite of self focused. I love to worship God, I love singing, I love to pray with others and this had it all. A fully mind blowing experience from start to finish. Kim Walker is a ridiculously amazing singer, her voice is so powerful even though her frame is like miniature, the same can be said of her supporting acts Derek ..... And Kristine Demarco. And Jesus Culture are proffesionalllllls! Those musicians were on point, the lights show was unbelievable, the whole atmosphere was crazy and the songs they did shook the room. I was extra happy because they did my favourites from some other big name artists - Set A Fire (Will Regan), Break Every Chain (Tasha Cobbs) and the biggest if big ones Oceans (Hillsong United). 

Best money I ever spent and I will definitely see them again if a UK tour comes soon...

Day 3

*(technically also day 2) Deluxe Inn Motel*

Considering the fact that I'm travelling alone and had to trek across Toronto for 2 days of my trip (including right now as I'm on the subway) I made sure my accommodation wasn't too far from whatever I wanted to do. So when I booked the D.I. I was extra happy because its like 30secs from the concert venue. HOWEVER, I thought let me be special and see what TripAdvisor says long after I've booked my ticket:

"Hadn't received my reservation from Expedia..........Room was filthy, especially the bathroom. Entrance door had been kicked in at the bottom, didn't close properly. Broken glass, obviously off a windshield all over the back parking lot. Pimps picking up their girls in the morning in black cadillacs. I would never, ever stay again in this place."

Now I've seen one to many horror movies and thrillers (Taken) for this to have been well received. Still, I'm a student and this wasn't payday week so....I prepared for the worst and kept my reservation. Lo and behold I'm writing this the next day, alive and well without some hook handed stranger jiggling my doorknob the night before. Score one for D.I.

*On The Subway*

I have to time for useless subway ticket officers and their stations. How are you gonna ensure that everything is cash only unless you want to pay by card for a $135 monthly pass?! And then have no ATMs anywhere in sight and not know where one can be found. Needless to say running around to find one made me miss my train on my perfectly Google mapped and planned route.

So I did what I always do when I don't know where I'm going and I'm lost - I got annoyed and upset and panicked thinking OMD I'm gonna miss my coach then have to buy a new coach ticket I'll never make it back home to Gatineau before Monday etc.

But this time - I'm on my own so I can't blame or take it out on whoever is with me (if you've ever been with me when this happens you know I do this). It was my responsibility. So for once, I'm relaxed. If I make it I make it, if I miss my coach so be it - ima be mad for a minute don't get my wrong- but I'll get over it because I have no choice, and I'll get home when I get home. Simple as.

If you haven't guessed already, I made it to the station sans problèmes.

Sitting on the coach home and I've decided, I take it back. Or rather let me readjust my statement.

Now that I've walked a bit through and am passing through the money section of down-town Tdot and the sun is out, it'd actually alright. That bus station could still use a spit shine though. Or maybe the rain really effects my perspective, on Friday down-town and Niagara may as well have been the underworld.