| f the beauties of Toronto is its diversity, the fact that | | | | We strolled along the pond while overhead the |
| hundreds of ethnic groups from all over the world | | | | "Snowbirds", a team of rather outdated Canadian |
| congregate here in this metropolis and give their distinct | | | | fighter jets that have an unnvering habit of crashing, |
| flavour to this urban mosaic of cultures. | | | | were practicing for the Air Show. They were doing |
| Since I had already taken my European visitors on a | | | | loops and flying in various formations, sometimes |
| walking tour of downtown, covering most of the main | | | | surprisingly close to some of the highrise buildings right |
| sights, as well as on a bicycling tour of Toronto's | | | | next to the Humber River. |
| waterfront, I decided it was time to show them some | | | | Once we had reached the southern edge of the park |
| of Toronto's residential neighbourhoods for an | | | | we turned northwards again and walked past |
| authentic feel of the city away from the big tourist | | | | Colborne Lodge, the home of Jemima and John |
| sites. | | | | George Howard, a monument to a couple that helped |
| We started in the East end and drove through East | | | | to create one of Toronto's largest parks. The |
| York, an up and coming neighbourhood, originally | | | | Regency-style cottage, built in 1837, is also a perfect |
| working class, where many of the older bungalows | | | | example of the architecture that was so popular in the |
| are now being upgraded into two-story homes. | | | | early 19th century. |
| Crossing the Leaside Bridge over the Don River, we | | | | After High Park we headed further west through the |
| explored the upscale Leaside Neighbourhood, featuring | | | | lively Bloor West Village neighbourhood, which features |
| beautifully kept houses sheltered by a canopy of huge | | | | many stores and restaurants, many of them Ukrainian. |
| trees. | | | | A craving for smoked sausages and cabbage rolls |
| Making our way over through the equally upscale | | | | can definitely be satisfied here. Then we turned down |
| Moore Park Neighbourhood we crossed the Mount | | | | from Bloor Street towards the parking lot right next to |
| Pleasant ravine to get to the highrise towers of Yonge | | | | the Humber River. We parked our car and went for a |
| Street. Further west on St. Clair I turned north towards | | | | half hour walk up the path by the river. I explained that |
| Upper Canada College, one of Toronto's foremost | | | | the Humber River leads towards salmon spawning |
| private high schools, an appropriate anchor point for | | | | grounds and every fall thousands of brightly coloured |
| the elite Forest Hill neighbourhood. On our drive through | | | | salmon make their way up the rapids. We also saw |
| this exclusive area, my visitors noticed all the | | | | several grey herons, stalking their slippery prey. |
| horseshoe-shaped driveways in front of the mansions, | | | | A nice gentleman, originally from New York City, |
| something that I had never even noticed before. | | | | stopped beside us and asked if we wanted our picture |
| Heading back down to St. Clair we drove past the | | | | taken. I immediately spotted his accent and he |
| multi-ethnic area around Bathurst Street, continuing our | | | | admitted he had been in Toronto since 1963, I guess he |
| trek westwards towards Corso Italia, another Italian | | | | still hadn't lost his accent. He gave us some restaurant |
| neighbourhood in Toronto. My European visitors | | | | tips and walked on with his dog. A nice little interlude. |
| commented on how green the city is, something that | | | | All this walking had made us hungry and we wanted |
| struck them as very different from many European | | | | to return home where my brother would fix us a |
| cities. They also noticed that the residential | | | | delicious lunch. The last part of our West End |
| neighbourhoods very extremely quiet and peaceful | | | | exploration included the very upscale Kingsway |
| and that all the hustle and bustle and noise was | | | | neighbourhood, with its mansions, expansive front |
| confined to the main streets. We enjoyed looking at | | | | lawns and majestic trees. From there I drove back |
| the little corner stores, displaying flowers, fruits and | | | | through the Annex neighbourhood and up the |
| vegetables and the lively neighbourhoods with all the | | | | Rosedale Valley towards the Don River Valley, where |
| shoppers. | | | | I crossed the river on Pottery Road. Again, my visitors |
| Then we drove back south to Bloor Street and | | | | were commenting on the huge amount of green |
| explored the Polish area around Roncesvalles Avenue, | | | | space that Toronto had to offer. |
| right next to an area full of stately houses and | | | | Our second last destination along our driving tour was |
| majestic trees on the eastern outskirts of High Park. | | | | Chinatown East, a collection of Chinese, Vietnamese |
| Toronto's largest park was our next destination. High | | | | and Korean stores at the intersection of Broadview |
| Park features a variety of sports facilities, including | | | | and Gerrard Streets, followed up by Little India further |
| baseball, tennis, a swimming pool and is a mecca for | | | | east on Gerrard. The ethnic mosaic in Toronto truly |
| fitness buffs. There is also a small zoo with various | | | | creates some astounding neighbourhoods and the |
| bovine creatures, goats and other smaller animals. The | | | | diversity as well as the large amount of green spaces |
| heart of the park of Grenadier Pond, a beautiful natural | | | | had left an impression on my European visitors. They |
| body of water surrounded by willow trees. Various | | | | commented that away from the downtown core, |
| fishermen were practicing their hobby, although we did | | | | Toronto didn't even seem like a large city, but more like |
| not know what type of fish they might catch. | | | | a colourful collection of villages. |