Travel Impressions | Toronto is…
I had a flying visit to Toronto on my way home from the Women in Travel Summit. After an 8-hour day road tripping from Quebec, I arrived to Toronto sticky, cramped. My dad was there to receive an award at a conference, but I had only 17 hours in the city before I had to hop on a Greyhound bus back to Michigan and cut the family road trip short. Due to, ya know, work. Besides just being exhausted from all the conferencing and driving and just wanting to stay in one place and CHILL, I think I also wanted to stay in Toronto because it’s… cool! As in, sunglasses emoji cool. It reminds me a bit of a Canadian Chicago. I only wish I had more time to explore, so I’m hoping I can make that happen soon…
In the mean time, I’ll be sharing my short impressions of Toronto from my 17 hour visit.
Toronto is…
A window to wide blue lake, gleaming skyscrapers
The stripe of pink on the lake’s horizon, reflecting out of glass buildings
A layered city: columns of windows reflect columns of windows. I’m caught in the mirror-maze of Toronto.
Gritty wind on the 42nd floor balcony
Signs that read “washrooms”
The silver foil of Chipotle takeaway we leave crumpled on the apartment table
The fact that unites us across borders: Guac is still extra
Sticky, crinkled exhaustion. The kind that is specific to a long car ride, and the shedding of it into a steaming shower.
Leftover and smuggled hotel-sized rose scented shampoos, lathering the memories of Quebec
Sleek pillows and sheets on my cheek
The blink and breath of a still-beating city at 4am as I stumble to the bathroom (washroom?)
Cinnamon granola, hot coffee, and almond-cocoa smoothie slurped at an 8am food court
My mom, and dad, flanking me on the sidewalk as we laugh, yell, laugh, yell
The simple Greyhound station, and the woman who I teach ‘bus protocol,’ who confesses to me in polite undertones that this is her “first time”
“Soooooorry” and “Ouuuuuut”
Glimpse of teal mid-morning lake as the bus heads West, to home, Toronto mirrored behind us
Until next time, Toronto.
Sarah xx
