“I didn’t realize Toronto was so beautiful. Everywhere you go you see beautiful architecture.”
—Keven Costner
It has been many years since Cecile and I were in Toronto. So much so that everything is fresh and new to us. Though we are doing a half-day private guided tour tomorrow with our friends, the Byes who arrive this evening, we decided to get our 10,000 steps in and stretch our legs. We did a simple abbreviated self-guided tour of some sections of the downtown area, right after checking in and having a complimentary breakfast at the Hilton Toronto, located in the heart of the Entertainment District.
Our first stop was the CN Tower (as in Canadian National), the most recognizable and celebrated Icon in Canada is a 1,815 ft high concrete communications and observation tower in downtown Toronto. It is considered to be an architectural triumph the world over and an engineering Wonder of the Modern World. When we saw it from the breakfast floor at the Hilton we knew we had to get closer to see an obstructive view.
A few minutes away is Roundhouse Park (former Railway Lands) is a 17-acre park also in the downtown, a preserved Locomotive roundhouse and colorful vintage railroad cars which is home to the Toronto Railway Museum, Steam Whistle Brewery and entertainment complex.
As I write this post I feel soothed by the church bells ringing from St. James Cathedral. It reminds me of the Church bells of Our Lady of Grace, a block away from where I grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey and the church bells that rung near the home of my Sicilian relatives during many visits there.
