Canada Travel Blog

There aren’t a lot of people that don’t like coffee.  When I first arrived in Toronto there was a bit of chaos with riots, earthquakes, and even a G20 meeting (click here for story).  It took me a while to get situated since I was in-between two apartments but I can attest that living in Toronto is amazing.   I was very curious about Canadian culture because most people have the impression that they are an extension of Americans which is very far from the truth.  There are similarities and differences but they do have parts of their own culture that are very unique (my Canadian friends make me say of course).

Tim Hortons

Now back to coffee.  This is a good a time as ever to introduce you to Tim Horton’s, the Canadian equivalent of Dunkin Donuts, minus the good coffee.  There are hundreds of these stores around Toronto and rest of Canada.  You can choose from a variety of delicious things to eat but don’t head there for the coffee.  A nice cup of medium mud will cost you about $2 at Tim Horton’s.  One of the things I found weird is that they ask you how many creams and sugars you want instead of you going to the self service table to the side.

I of course thought there wasn’t enough cream or sugar in my coffee so I easily added 4 packets of each, no luck, still mud.  You can roam around Toronto for hours and add great pictures of Canada to your arsenal.  As I was roaming I turned the corner and I saw what I love most about American capitalism, Starbucks.  At that point Tim Horton’s ceased to exist.  I did ask a lot of Canadians about the coffee at Tim Horton’s and two of the most common answers were: “well, I mean its okay its cheap” and “the coffee is disgusting”.

Second Cup

Eventually I got around to going to the famous Caribana Parade, visiting the Christmas Capital of the world in Ottawa, and even attending the great festivities of Canada’s independence during Canada Day.  As I roamed and continued to explore Canada I found an excellent third option for coffee, Second Cup.  Second Cup is the Canadian version of Starbucks and has delicious coffee!  I’d recommend the caramel latte!

So in conclusion stay away from Tim Horton’s (especially since they only accept cash every time I tried to pay with a credit card), and pay the extra dollar or two for good coffee at Starbucks or Second Cup.

The Canada Train System

There are a lot of ways to get from point A to Point B in Canada, especially in the most popular route from Toronto to Montreal.  We discussed all your transportation in Canada options and even did a Canadian bus travel review so you can make the best decision on how to travel.  Now we are going to review train travel with Via Rail on the country’s most popular route: Toronto to Montreal.  Over 22% of the people in the country live in these two cities so it’s obvious why the route is so popular.

The Main Toronto Train Station - Union Station

First thing that I love about taking the train is that there is NO SECURITY CHECK.  You don’t have to get to the train station 3 hours in advance to get molested (or seduced) by airport security.  No taking your shoes off, taking your laptop out, and having everyone see your Pocahontas underwear (happened to me at an airport, click here, and they fruit of the loom not Pocahontas), but I digress.  Now the line can get pretty long to get on the train and occasionally they are late but for the most part boarding is quick and you usually arrive on time.

A Via Rail Train

The train’s are extremely comfortable and the seats feel spacious like the business class seats on a plane.  There are electrical plugs for your laptops and the Wi-Fi on the train is extremely reliable.  I personally never had any problems with the Wi-Fi but have heard from colleagues that it may go out for short spans.  They don’t let you go to YouTube due to bandwidth issues but that’s not a requirement when you are trying to entertain yourself.

Via Rail Train Interior

The cost of a train ticket is not as high as a flight but not as a bus ticket.  You are paying a little extra for being comfortable since you’re not getting packed in an airplane or a bus like a fat person on an airlines seat.  You are giving up a portion of your time as you aren’t going to get there as quick as an airplane.  But also consider the considerable travel time to the airport, the airport security lines, and the time waiting for the plane.  It doesn’t seem so reasonably after you consider all that.  To give you an idea airplane is just over an hour (air travel time), train is 5 hours, and a bus is 8 hours on the popular Toronto to Montreal route.

You’re going to be travelling on Via Rail for the most part unless you are in the west where you may take Rocky Mountaineer.  They have discounts for students, groups, and seniors.  They even have rail passes where you can purchase a set number of trips in a certain time frame.  Very handy for tourists!

Here are some travel times for your reference:

Toronto – Montreal: 5 hours

Montreal  – Quebec:  3.5 hours

Quebec – Halifax: 20 hours (long but worth the scenery)

Toronto – Vancouver: 3 days (gulp) 15 hours

Dont forget to check out our top things to do in Canada!

With all the diversity that Toronto hosts everyone is able to find the most authentic food around the world.  You can think of almost any culture and find a restaurant that has it, from exotic food to host your Lebanese and Malaysian tastes to your good old American classics.  You can find a unique experience atop the 51^st floor of a skyscraper that sits near the center of the city.  The restaurant, Panorama, gives you an incredible skyline view of the city on both the North and South end.  Now Toronto does not boast an incredible New York skyline, not even at night, but you still are able to get a great shot of the colorful CN Tower.

Picture of South End-Toronto Skyline

The food is decent, not delicious but not bad either.  The restaurant can get a bit pricey with a cover charge to enter and the cost of your meal.  People dont normally come to eat they come to have a good time and get great views of the city.  A full service bar gives you great opportunity to get your drink on as well.  You can see the CN Tower light up at night, the tower was retrofitted with the led lights in 2007.

The skyline to the North

This is the empty section of the restaurant since everyone wants to sit on the CN Tower side.  It also can get very busy so make sure to try and get there early to get on the good side.  They have 2 person tables as well as couches that you can sit on. Only downside to this is that they expect you to share a tiny table the size of a toilet seat with 4 poeple: no es bueno.  Definitely a must see with all the things to do in Toronto but make sure that you visit for an appetizer or a drink.  There is much better food elsewhere in the city.

Private Room

Effell Tower in Paris

There is no city in the world that you can name that provides as much mystic, grandeur, and beauty as the city of Paris.  They say that in Paris you can watch the whole world walk by, have you ever wondered where they came up with that saying?  If you ever ask anyone the top destinations they want to visit at the top of that list is presumably Paris, promptly followed by Rome and London.  While most people don’t fancy the Parisians, the city is incredibly beautiful.

The famous sculpturer Rodin suffered an ill fate freezing to death on the streets of Paris while his sculptures were cozy in the warmth of museums inside.  When visiting Paris if you want to use the restroom you have to buy something at a café.  That’s the reason the why in the summer some of the streets of Paris smell like urine.  During World War II a German commander refused to fight in the city streets or blow the city up as the Americans were approaching, certainly this is due to the charm and beauty of the city.

If it isn’t affordable or you are never able to make it to Paris, fortunately you can get a taste of Paris in almost every continent around the world.  Here is how you can find Paris around the world:

Beirut, Lebanon – The fallen Paris of the near East

This city located in the Eastern Mediterranean had continued its close affinity to the days when it was a colony of France.  A favorite destination of many Europeans and world travelers, its charm continued until the civil war of the 1970’s and 1980’s.  Before the destruction Beirut was known for its fine hotels, boutiques, and cuisine.  The all night cafes were filled with throngs of people who came to enjoy the ambience of a city tucked between the Desert Mountains and the Mediterranean Sea.  The night air would be filled with the perfume of many different flowers and music from many different cultures.  Beirut is the only city on this list that I would not recommend visiting at this dangerous time in its existence.

Buenos Aires, Argentina  – The Paris of the South

There is no place in the world like Buenos Aires, Argentina.  The architecture around the city is incredible to see but is starting to decay.  The European aura in the city is due to the European immigrants that fled into the once bustling city throughout the 19^th century.  It will surprise many that this isn’t your typical Latin environment, they essentially are Europeans that speak Spanish as the majority of immigrants are Germans and Italians.  Great food and endless nightlife bring millions of tourists around the world to witness the Paris of the South.  You can also find great deals on Buenos Aires accommodation, take a look at how I lived for $15 a day in Buenos Aires.  With the endless things to do in Buenos Aires make sure you visit before it’s too late.

Old City in Montreal

Montreal, Canada – The American Paris

Montreal is the 2^nd largest French speaking city in the world right after Paris.  Although extremely charming it doesn’t have nearly as many sights as Paris.  While Quebec City does have more historical buildings, what is Parisian about Montreal is its culture and it’s dining.  You will find bicycle stands around the city mimicking Paris, restaurants that make your mouth water, and a French tongue that will make you’re in Paris.  Not to be confused with French from Paris, but to the untrained American ear it will sound eerily similar.  Only a short bus ride or drive from the states, all the things to do in Montreal are not to be missed when in Canada.

Shanghai, China – The Old Paris of the far East

What distinguishes this city is its wide boulevards and beautiful architecture built by the Europeans in the 19^th century.  In Shanghai China you can experience the flavor of many different cultures from around the world.  A favorite pastime is to have dinner at one of the fabulous restaurants overlooking the sea.  This is one of the main differences in that Paris overlooks a river rather than the Ocean.  Much like Paris and Europe it is very much a city of lights that never sleeps.  The city can be compared to a handful of pearls that have been cast upon the delta forming the vibrant city.  Make sure to check out all the things to in Shanghai whenever you’re in the East.  Although the charm dissipated under the early Chinese communism, the city is now regaining its former title.