A great week in Toronto.

As our week comes to the end tomorrow in Toronto. We just wanted to share what we have been up too since our last post.

View from top of CN Tower.
Over looking Rogers Stadium.

Whilst in Toronto we have crammed a lot into our week, we have explored the city from top to bottom. Stumbling across some great local buildings and ice rinks along our way. We were tourist for a night and went up the famous CN Tower, and for me who doesn't like heights thought it was rotten of Gemma making me stand on the glass floor at the top to look down... Looking from the windows was enough to get my heart racing. But all in all that was great fun to do and experience.

We had a stroll around the world famous Kensington Markets, they lived up to what people said, lots of little different coloured building along the streets and all shapes and sizes. The markets consisted of little open shops to cafes to market stalls. Great to see so much different cultures come together in one little place.

Unfortunately due to transport reasons we failed on our attempt to get to Toronto zoo, but we will definitely find another along our travels to go and see.
With staying within 'Chinatown' of Toronto there was many different foods we could of sampled but we decided to keep it a bit simple and normal as possible just in case seeing that it was only our first week. Apart from Gem decided to try something out of the norm and had a bread bun filled with kidney beans! (Strange, I know)

Local School in Downtown Toronto.

The weather this week hasn't been too bad, it's ranged from -21 up too -3. It's strange after you go as low as -21, -3 seams surprisingly warm! But with some good warm clothes its not bothered us at all. There has been snow around all week but not much more has fallen since our first few days, just it's been so cold it's not moved either.

As we come to our last weekend we happened to be walking around the city and as we passed an outdoor shop we noticed a poster in the window 10k race along the Martin Goodman Trail in Toronto with free hot chocolate at the end! We couldn't turn this down, therefore the next morning we were up at 6am in time for us to walk just over 5k away to where the race started. The race was a local low key race with approx 100 runners or so in the field. But a race is race no matter how big or how small so off we went........ Crossing the finishing in 1st overall was a great little feeling, first race on Canadian soil and it end with a win! But what ever I do Gem would always match and also crossing the line in 1st in the female race. Great little race to do and pleased with our 1st we waiting at the presentation only to find out it come with a winning prize of $50 and a winners medal each.

Tomorrow we are heading off to Canada's capital, Ottawa. We have noticed there is a winter festival of ice going on while we are there (Winterlude) . Therefore we will look forward to that and also we will get the chance to watch a Canadian winter Triathlon what consists of a Ice Skate, XC Ski followed by a run, should be fun to watch.

Few more pics below :
Paul & Gem x

CN Tower at night.

Local Ice Rink in centre of Toronto.

The Beginning...

It all started from a dream, the dream? To travel and see the world! January the 21st 2013 saw the beginning of this.
Manchester to Toronto - After an early morning travel to the airport it was time for a quick good bye and board our plane to Toronto. A few hugs and tiers later we sat on the plane thinking "This is it!" Good start, an hour delay due the plane needing de icing. 7 hours later we landed in Toronto with smiles and joy.
First stop is immigration armed with a checklist of paperwork that we had doubled and tripled checked of requirements that the canadian immigration had given us , only for non of it to be looked at ! We both had our visas granted and stamped all under 10 mins typical lol! Next stop finding our accommodation, easy! We're not the best as many of you know in finding our way or navigation but surprisingly we found it first time no bother. Loving Canada already, chilly but great.

 (Little example of conditions here at the moment.)

Snow boot and down jackets coming in perfectly already! First couple of days we have spent walking around, relaxing and exploring. Choosing/finding activities to fill our week while we stop here before moving on to the capital Ottawa.
Already stumbling apon the 'Rodgers Center' (Home of the Toronto Blue Jays) we were keen to see what else Toronto had to offer. Couple of ideas we have for the next few days:

• Go up the CN Tower
• Visit Toronto Zoo
• Kensington Market

For now it's off for some food as we are both starving. Blog will be updated as often as possible.
Gemma & Paul x