Trains, I love trains, no really I do. There is just so much to do on a Train for 30hours. You can sit in the chair, walk up and down the carriage, ummm sit in the chair, oh and you can sit in the chair. Very Exciting stuff. The scenery was great...lots of trees, and lots of snow. Something different from the rest of my travels in Canada, very refreshing. On the whole the train ride progressed without incident, spoke with Keiko a bit, watch a couple of movies, played some nintendo, and ate a whole packet of chocolate coated almonds. Finally we arrived in Toronto, from the outside it looks just like any regular modern day city, ah but from the inside is where the real spectacle is, its incredible, its just like every other major city in the world. It does have a few interesting features though, like the CN tower...more on this later. Keiko was waiting for some friends to come to the train station to meet her, the train was a bit early, so I hung around and chatted for a bit. We headed to the hostel, deciding that given Keiko had her entire wardrobe, and someone else's in her suitcase, we'd take a taxi. Hostel International I said, cabbie replied, $15 sound ok. I didn't know where the hostel was relative to the train station, so we agreed. Turns out it was only 3 streets away. Oh well, we'll know for next time. Having been deprived of internet for more than any nerd should reasonably allow. It was time to chat with the family, and friends. After much chatting and emailing etc, I headed out for dinner sometime just before 12, the local pizza pizza has great pizza, which hence forth be known as pizza pizza pizza. Only had a couple of other people in my dorm room, but we did have our own shower and sink and washroom, a novelty to be sure.
Day one, The CN tower, and just some general wandering around. The CN tower is the largest free standing man made tower in the world, its highest point is something close to 550m off the ground. The view is spectacular. They have a couple of restaraunts, and amusements up the top, the second elevator that goes all the way to the top was close for repairs, so I had to be content with 500m. The view was incredible, I spent quite a few hours up the top, waiting for the sun to go down, incredible. I had the biggest chocolate brownie dessert thing I've ever had. wasn't cheap, but oh it was good. They have a section of floor that is just glass, very very disturbing. When you go to walk on it everything in your body is saying no this is stupid I can't believe your going to make me do this. Once you get on it the feeling lessens a bit, but its still quite freaky, looking straight down nearly 500m below you, with nothing but a little bit of glass to stop you plummeting down. I figured this was an oppotune time to call the folks, and just let them know I was up the top of the tower. It was quite funny watching some people who wanted to stand on the glass, but just couldn't bring themselves to do it. They'd tentativly put a foot on, and then quickly draw it back again. Or they would quickly dart across the very corner, barely touching the glass. I was supposed to be able to go on a lego simulation ride, not quite sure what a lego simulation ride is, but by the time I went back to the bottom of the tower, and made a purchase in the gift shop, it was already closed. Grabbed some dinner on my way back to the hostel, and settled in for a good nights rest.
Day two, I was supposed to go to the zoo today, so much for that happening... Weather was horrible, raining, cold, overcast, oh and did I mention the cold. So I wandered around town for a bit jumping from shopping center to shopping center, trying to maintain some semblance of warmth. Eventually fate took me to the Steamwhistle brewery. Which also had sections closed, so I got a person guided tour of the main foyer, and got to stand infront of some glass walls and look in on the brewing area. They did give me free samples, and didn't charge me for the tour. There is quite a story behind the name of the brewery. Which I won't ruin by telling you my rehashed probably inacurrate version, rather I'll just all suggest you go there yourselves. They make traditional pilsner, a very pale ale, quite nice. I learnt abit about Head retention and colour, and such. Apparently you want to have a good long head retention, so that air can't get into the beer. I bought the token giftshop item, a toque (beanie), and headed back to the hostel.
Day three, again I was unable to get to the zoo, shocking weather again. Spend most of the day indoors, shopping centers, I did however make it to the Hockey Hall of Fame Museum. What a facinating place. Full of Hockey memorabilia, I was in Heaven...ummm not thats a lie, I felt in over my head. After an hour I still had no real idea what the point of the game is. But I did find out that they skate on ice, and hit a small bit of rubber with a long stick into a small net protected by a guy wearing a disturbing mask, and way too much padding. Oh and occassionally they break out into a fight...which every cheers about, until the refs come in to break it up. Or something like that. Tomorrow I was to be heading to niagra, so headed back to the hostel for an early night, didn't have one...but the intention was there.
Look for more adventures of Narco in the upcoming soon to be released Narco and the Falling waters of Niagra.
Narco out
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