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