Visiting Toronto for the first time (car rental, best cities, rental)

[TOkidd]

Originally Posted by fusion2

@TOKidd

We should just get you to make a big post and sticky at the at the top of the TO section as necessary reading for all visitors

For real. I don't even have to do any writing. I'll just go through some of my old posts, and straight cut and paste. But lots of other members have written great posts for tourists too, so we'd have to add those as well...never mind all the older threads that have some excellent posts written my members that don't even come around these ways any more. Ugh. Just thinking about it is making me feel lazy

[fusion2]

Hey i'm not saying we restrict new threads for tourists and visitors just that yours should be at the top as 'prerequisite' reading.

Anyway good job as always

Originally Posted by TOkidd

For real. I don't even have to do any writing. I'll just go through some of my old posts, and straight cut and paste. But lots of other members have written great posts for tourists too, so we'd have to add those as well...never mind all the older threads that have some excellent posts written my members that don't even come around these ways any more. Ugh. Just thinking about it is making me feel lazy

[Atticman]

O.P., I'd love to hear how your trip went after you get back home. Did you enjoy the city?

[TOkidd]

Originally Posted by Atticman

O.P., I'd love to hear how your trip went after you get back home. Did you enjoy the city?

Yeah, be sure to report back.

[ajacques]

So, since this was such a spontaneous trip I didn't really plan things like a normally do. So since I didn't really make time to look into the subway system I pretty much avoided it and just walked around downtown.


The DIVERSITY!!! Wow you were so right! I was amazed and greatly impressed. There were plenty of interracial couples around town as well as in your advertising. Even your ads are more diverse than ours! I'll have to go back again because somehow I ended up walking around the arty area I wanted to visit (with more punky, gothicky clothes). I normally try to avoid tourist destinations, but hey, i'm a mall rat. So I did check out the Eaton Mall.

I have never seen so many Asian restaurants in my entire life. Bento boxes & Bibimbob! And more than one place to get boba tea!!! Oh and I stumbled on the Square Art Gallery. An art gallery/crepes/truffles all in one place. What!!!

Thanks for all your advice guys. I'll be back soon. Maybe check out the beach area. Maybe St. Catherine's cause its closer. By the way border patrol going into the CA way nicer than the douche we had coming back into the U.S.

Despite the hotel from hell (the Metropolitan on Chestnut) I had fun!

[weltschmerz]

Originally Posted by ajacques

TOKidd: OMG. I love you so hard right now. That was a mass of info and i'm so happy to hear about stuff besides the typical touristy places. I just stumbled on the fact that Toronto fringe is also going on right now. Thank you for all the info. I'll prolly pull you post up on my phone tomorrow and refer back.

Tarp: I never thought about just using the ATM there. Genius! Hmmm I have m&t wonder what the fee would be...

Thanks!

I never bother changing my money before I go on a trip between our two countries. I just use my ATM card. Furthermore, many close-to-the-border towns will accept the others' cash.

[weltschmerz]

Originally Posted by ajacques

Ok, I just did a quick google out of curiosity. 13% sales tax?! What?

Lol! Mais oui! Wait till you need gas....

[edwardsyzzurphands]

Originally Posted by TOkidd

You should consider visiting again for Caribana in August - the largest and arguably the best Caribbean Carnival outside Trinidad. At least a third of the people who come for the festival are Americans)

Excellent two posts overall TOkidd, I find myself even as a former resident picking up a few things here and there for future visits when reading your posts. This point quoted though I had to address.

Technically Caribana is actually "larger" than Trinidad's Carnival if you are basing it on how many visitors it attracts. Labor Day in Brooklyn and Notting Hill in London both draw more as well, but that should give you a view into why bigger does not always equal better.

As far as it being the best outside of Trinidad, that blatantly ignores every single other Caribbean country that hosts its own traditional Carnival each year as well, some with a history that equals T&T in some cases. I know alot of folks are not truly versed in Caribbean culture, but this is a good read for anyone who is interested.

Toppa Top 10: The Best Caribbean Carnivals - Page 11 of 12 - LargeUp

[TOkidd]

Originally Posted by edwardsyzzurphands

Excellent two posts overall TOkidd, I find myself even as a former resident picking up a few things here and there for future visits when reading your posts. This point quoted though I had to address.

Technically Caribana is actually "larger" than Trinidad's Carnival if you are basing it on how many visitors it attracts. Labor Day in Brooklyn and Notting Hill in London both draw more as well, but that should give you a view into why bigger does not always equal better.

As far as it being the best outside of Trinidad, that blatantly ignores every single other Caribbean country that hosts its own traditional Carnival each year as well, some with a history that equals T&T in some cases. I know alot of folks are not truly versed in Caribbean culture, but this is a good read for anyone who is interested.

Toppa Top 10: The Best Caribbean Carnivals - Page 11 of 12 - LargeUp

Well I did use the qualifier, "arguably". I know Jamaica and other Caribbean islands have their own carnivals, but Toronto's is huge and has a long enough history to have established its own unique traditions, and to attract thousands of people from outside Canada. There aren't too many islands other than Jamaica and Trinidad that have the population to have a carnival like ours. And the Spanish-speaking islands don't really count, because the type of festival and the music and culture is completely different. I wish we had more Dominicans, Cubans and PR's in TO. I love salsa, bomba's, merengue, and what my mom calls cafetín music.

[edwardsyzzurphands]

Originally Posted by TOkidd

Well I did use the qualifier, "arguably". I know Jamaica and other Caribbean islands have their own carnivals, but Toronto's is huge and has a long enough history to have established its own unique traditions, and to attract thousands of people from outside Canada. There aren't too many islands other than Jamaica and Trinidad that have the population to have a carnival like ours. And the Spanish-speaking islands don't really count, because the type of festival and the music and culture is completely different. I wish we had more Dominicans, Cubans and PR's in TO. I love salsa, bomba's, merengue, and what my mom calls cafetín music.

As much as I would love to big up Jamaica's carnival, I really cant as its quite mediocre in comparison to other Caribbean Islands. Personally it would not even crack the top 5, as it cant touch Trini, Crop Over, Spice Mas or Junkanoo. We are more of a Dancehall/Reggae culture, so our main events are Sumfest and Rebel Salute, which are music festivals.

While Caribana is a nice event and adds alot of flavor to the city, the overregulation from city government does not allow for a free flowing authentic Caribbean experience. Carnival in the WI has no huge walls of uptight police (They are too busy jumping up and whining), first or last call, start or closing time. So basically they treat you like adults as we are there to have fun, something that is truly lacking at Caribana.