Brians blog: Tilbage efter ferie i Toronto - Back from vacation to Toronto

(for english scroll down)
Så er jeg igen hjemme i lille Danmark. Er en lidt flad fornemmelse, efter små 11 dage i en hektisk storby med et voldsomt menneskemylder. Ihvertfald set med danske øjne.

24.august til 3.september 2012 var jeg i Toronto, Canada. Vejret kan jeg ikke klage over, da det alle dage, pånær én, har været strålende høj sol og temperaturer omkring 30-35 graders varme.
Jeg havde valgt et hotel i "downtown", og fortrød jeg på INTET tidspunkt. For da jeg så lufthavnshotellernes afstand til byen, ja så opdagede jeg den noget voldsomme afstand dette ville havde givet.

Hvad der slog mig mest ved byen var selvfølgelig størrelsen, de store skyskrabere i downtown, varmen, betonen, mængden af mennesker og manglen på noget GRØNT.
Må dog også siges at byen er noget snavset og slidt. Mængden af tiggere, diverse kolbøtter og andre på gaden der vil sprede deres "budskab" er lidt overraskende stort.
Indbyggerne er en utrolig bred vifte af mennesker. Ikke bare typer, men også af etniske baggrunde.
Faktisk taler mange et noget bebrokkent engelsk... hvis overhovedet.

Men de lader til at lukke mange permanent ind i landet. Selv fik jeg ironisk nok en lidt større omgang af et par instanser i lufthavnen. Der måtte flere gange fremvises: hotelreservation, kontanter, visakort/kreditkort, og bevis på returbillet. Desuden forklare HVORFOR jeg var dér. Og dét endda med et dansk pas i hånden.
Kom noget bag på mig. Men måske jeg bare var uheldig.
Dog har min canadiske veninde dér, selv måtte bruge 2 timer på at komme ind i sit eget land engang, selv med sit canadisk pas i hånden.

Jeg har fået gået meget. Især da jeg ikke følte mit rustet til at gøre mig med offentlig transport (subway og bus). Men er jo en glimrende måde at se MERE på.
Jeg havde bestilt mig et Toronto CityPASS. Med dette sparede jeg ialt 42% på entré til de 5 steder det gav mig adgang til. Var klart en god investering. Desuden ved at følge anvisningerne, sprang jeg også mange køer over :o)
Jeg fik besøgt:

(Mere om disse steder en anden gang) Læs mit indlæg om CityPASS HER

Blev dog gode venner med både bus og metro. Er relativ let når man hitter ud af det. Det koster 3 canadiske dollar uanset hvor langt man rejser på deres net. Der skal og ved rejsens start indhentes en "transfer ticket" hvis man skifter fra undergrund til bus og vice versa. Og man må ikke rejse tilbage eller "gå et stop". Så når man skal tilbage igen, må man altså løse ny billet.

Men faktisk VIGTIGST AF ALT, så fik jeg også tilbragt lidt tid med min gode canadiske veninde, som bor i GTA (Greater Toronto Area) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Toronto_Area.
Vi kender hinanden via facebook og har da også mødtes da hun var i Danmark for små 3 år siden.
SE NOGLE FOTOS UNDEN DEN ENGELSKE TEKSKT

I am back home in Denmark. Is a little "flat" feeling after 11 days in a hectic city with lots of people everywhere. Seen with danish eyes that is...

24 August to 3 September, I was in Toronto. The weather I can not complain about, as it was all days but one, sunny and temperatures around 30-35 degrees celcius.
I had chosen a hotel in "downtown", and I never regretted it. For when I saw the airport hotels' distance to downtown Toronto, I realized how much transportation time I would have gotten each day with public transportation.

What struck me most about the city was of course the size, the large skyscrapers of downtown, the heat, the concrete, the amount of people and the lack of something GREEN. (parks, trees and flowers)
Must also be said that the city is somewhat dirty and worn. The amount of beggars, various strange/insane and other people on the street who wanted to spread their "message" was a little surprising.
The inhabitants consists of an incredibly wide range of people. Not only types, but also of ethnic backgrounds.
In fact many spoke english with strong accent ... if english at all. Some where difficult to understand.

But they seem to let many people move permanently into the country. While I was thoroughly looked over at the airport. Two times I had to prove that I had: hotel booking, cash, Visa card / credit card, and proof of a return ticket and if I was in any kind of trouble with danish police. And explain WHY I was there and what I intended to do while there.

It surprised me. But maybe I was just unlucky....
However, my Canadian friend there, once had to spend 2 hours to get into her own country again, even with her canadian passport in her hands.

I've walked a lot. Especially since I did not feel comfortable with public transportation (subway and bus) the first days. But walking is an excellent way to see MORE.
I had bought a voucher for a Toronto City Pass. With this I saved a total of 42% on admission to the 5 places it gave me access to. Was clearly a good investment. In addition, by following the instructions, I hardly that to stand in line for tickets.

I had visited: (scroll up and see the links)

(More about these places another time) Read my page about Toronto CityPASS HERE

However found out how to use subway and buses. Is relatively easy when you figure it out. It costs 3 Canadian dollars no matter how far you travel on their network. http://www.ttc.ca/
One must get a "transfer ticket" if you switch from subway to bus and vice versa. And you must not travel back or "skip/walk one stop". So when you need to go back again,you must buy a new ticket.

But MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, I also got spent some time with my good Canadian friend who lives in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area)
We have know each other via facebook, and have also met when she was in Denmark 3 years ago. :o)