tdot.

hello strangers.

my whirlwind 3.5 month adventure to europe is finished.
my fairly random trip to iowa has recently passed.
and i am stuck in kingston attending the college of cut and paste.

so what better excuse than a road trip to toronto to catch up with some old friends?

many factors tried to impede my journey. in 48 hours, my laptop got fried, my car broke down and my cell phone temporarily broke. life was so much easier with a backpack on.

but, i broke my bad aura and jumped in the car eager for a weekend of good friends, new exploring and stiff drinks. it is funny how i live in ontario and visit toronto on a regular basis -- but i never go exploring. when i was a kid, i did all of the 'touristy' things, but haven't again since the infamous band trip of grade ten. i usually drop in to toronto on may way someplace else... to the cottage, to burlington, for cheap flights to europe. or, with the sole purpose of a party and catching up with friends. this occasion began in a similar manner: indian princess jessie bass-west was in toronto for a brief birthday celebration and i just couldn't miss out.

once i parked my car at my perma parking spot outside of steve john's house, i jumped on the subway. (what i would give for ottawa to have some decent public transportation!) for all you shoppers, fyi, there has been an european invasion at the eaton centre! zara, my oh-my-god-the-reason-to-go-shopping-in-europe-store, has joined the ranks of H&M and abercrombie & fitch. too bad i am dead broke. my backpacking-style adventure began when i tried to locate jessie at a pub at 800 king street east. about 40 minutes later i hit the dvp, and realized she has probably written 800 king street west. oops. jessie felt terrible, but i was refreshed! for the first time, i had actually walked in toronto. i never just walk here in canada. in europe, it would have been perfectly normal for me to walk an hour to get somewhere, but in canada, i complain over a 10 minute commute.

the evening was a blur of good food, dancing and catch-up visits with visiting jessie and other toronto folk. the following day, i continued my foot exploration of toronto in kensington market, queen street etc. i left toronto re-energized and balanced. not only had i re-connected with wonderful friends, (safe trip tomorrow jessie!) but i had also taken to the streets to see some of the beautiful cities that surround me. in canada, we may not have the extensive history or old architecture of europe, but we have plenty to discover.

over the next few months, i plan to fill my europe and iowa void by doing just that.