CN Tower, West Queen Street, China Town, Kensington Market, Little Italy

Admittedly this has been written a few days later as we journeyed onwards by train from Toronto to Ottawa, but it has been a busy few days.

The CN Tower certainly dominates the Toronto skyline. Although from the ground there is competition from the architectural skyscrapers of the financial district. For us with the crystal clear winter skies it was to be an opportunity not to be missed. There was a slight foreboding that the crowds walking to the CN Tower was going to equate to long queues, and wondering whether there was a special event on judging by the number of families with young children. Special event, yes, CN Tower, no, it was Disney on Ice they were heading for at the Rogers Centre next to the tower.

I found that it’s not until you are actually up tower that you really appreciate the height of the tower. The main observation lounge which also holds a restaurant is at 346 m (1,136 ft.) and has impressive views across the city and Lake Ontario. There’s also a section of glass flooring which you can stand on affording views straight down. Most people had no problem with it, I did though. Very irrational I know, even with the numbers of individuals walking over it, or lying down on it. Although the child casually jumping up and down on the floor beside me did nothing to alleviate my feelings. Taking a second lift to the Skypod at 447m (1465 feet) the views across the city changed perspective and we were lucky enough to be able to see the buildings of Niagara Falls 67Km (41miles) away on the horizon. The plume of mist from the falls could also be seen, but we only picked that out in the photos taken with the telephoto lens (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kitlogan/2356264285/).

From the CN Tower we meandered north-west by way of Union station to pick up a Cinnabon pastry and coffee before exploring West Queen Street and districts of China Town, Kensington Market and Little Italy. The pervasive smell of cinnamon spice surrounding Cinnabon pastries is almost offensive in the way it assaults you in its it pungency. The actual pastries are also not to be missed, particularly the probably even more calorific pecan crunch and caramel topped version… no need for lunch after one of those!

Most of the eclectic mix of smaller independent shops that make up West Queen Street we missed as we turned north up Spadina Avenue towards China Town, but what we saw from was interesting none the less and certainly tempted us to buy a few things. On Spadina Avenue, the Glass Art Gallery attracted our attention with some very nice pieces, but a little out of our price range.

China Town, greets you with a change in atmosphere and definite cultural shift. The general street layout and infrastructure is there, but the shops and personality of those around you change. Fruit and vegetables that indefinably say more than anything that they are Chinese are piled high outside, while inside there is every imaginable ingredient, meat or part of animal from whole blackened chicken complete with head and feet to just chickens feet and tanks teaming with live fish, crabs, lobsters and shellfish.

Kensington Market although we were looking for it, we found by accident. Standing on a street corner to catch some of the suns warmth to read the map just happened to be the start of this area that adjoins China Town. Retaining the same bustle, but with a much more Western and European flavour we couldn’t help but wish that we were self-catering and in a position to try some of the foods. There’s a great little coffee shop on the corner of Burlington and Kensington Ave which offered a welcome respite from walking. Opposite there was a cheese shop which seemed to carry every cheese imaginable, in great blocks stacked high on the counter. Definitely both areas to be explored with time on a return visit.

We didn’t see much of Little Italy on College Road, which you can reach by walking north to College Road and then westerly along it. There’s a tram service as well which was useful for getting back to the city centre, but it was a promising area.

Although the Ramada Hotel offered a good evening menu we opted to eat out again and try the Raashda recommended by the guidebook. It’s a little out of the way in Cabbage Town (So called because the residents used to grow cabbages in their front gardens) and an area that’s not perhaps visited by tourists much. The actual building from outside isn’t much, but the interiors homely and there’s a simple menu of very reasonably priced South Indian and Sri Lankan cuisine. Spicy though! Perhaps a bit too spicy for my own taste.

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