Many people have seen Toronto in movies ranging from “Hair Spray” to “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” that have showcased various facets of the city and its attractions. The city has also provided economical urban settings for films south of the border. My visit to Toronto had a wet start. The rain welcomed me as I came out of Toronto International Airport, which was a refreshing change from the parched heat of Jeddah. Normally, the city offers clear weather in the summer, but has witnessed unexpected downpours this year, in part due to global warming. The airport is located on the outskirts of Toronto near Brampton. From the airport to the city it takes almost 25 minutes or more, depending on the traffic flow. The airport has recently been expanded to accommodate more passengers and the whole area is connected by superb 400-series highways like the 401, 427, 409 and 403. Despite this, rush hour periods witness cars moving at a snail's pace. Cultural hodgepodge Toronto is the most populous city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario. It is the most diverse city where many cultures reside side by side; the city has various areas with shops, businesses and people with various cultural backgrounds. There are five popular sites which every tourist should explore: Little Italy, Greek Town, China Town, Little India and downtown Toronto, a favorite lake side community offering small town charm. I had a chance to explore these renowned sites myself, and Little India is exactly as the name suggests: an area dedicated to the subcontinent where various services and products from the region are found. There are restaurants where you can treat your taste buds to Indian food and shops that display traditional clothes. Similarly, China Town hosts buildings that have simulated traditional Chinese architecture, and is a sure place to find all things Chinese. Visitors from all backgrounds are attracted by its colors, scents, bargains and warm-natured people. Attractions in Toronto The icon of the city is the CN tower. This prominent landmark, which opened in 1976, has been serving the country for 32 years. It is one of the world's tallest buildings at 1,822 feet and 5 inches, and has the world's highest glass floor elevators, which take you straight from ground level up to dizzying heights, where you can enjoy spectacular views of the whole city. Its major attraction is its famous 2.5-inch glass floor with its vertical 1,122-ft straight-down view, where visitors usually take pictures while lying down on the floor, giving the impression of flying in the air. Other popular attractions include the Royal Ontario Museum or ROM for short. Originally designed by Frank Darling and John A. Pearson, it was treated to a new look for the expansion of the classic museum by Daniel Libeskind. This beautiful, architectural structure with geometrical features is located on the famous Bloor Street in the city centre. Once inside it gives the extraordinary sense of being in a giant-sized diamond. The ROM exhibits collections of Asian, Greek, Roman and Egyptian civilizations. Whether it is ancient Chinese ceramic, primitive beadwork, Egyptian scrolls or Samurai armor from Japan, different galleries transport you to different parts of the world. The most popular among children and visitors is the Natural history gallery. This takes you into the world of dinosaurs including the 90-foot skeleton of a Barosaurus. Another gallery, the Bat Cave, seems so realistic when you enter it seems like one really is in the company of bats. Another architectural marvel is the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), designed by world renowned architect, Frank Gehry. There is a massive gallery of sculptures; along the length of 200 yards. Gehry designed the gallery to suit the Canadian revolutionary landscape paintings and to show off the rest of the Thomson collection which ranges from ships, models and paintings such as the “Massacre of the Innocents” by Peter Paul Rubens. With all these contemporary structures there are some buildings in the city which take you back in time, like the Castle of Casa Loma, the former home of Sir Henry Pellatt, that features unique architecture, beautifully furnished, secret passages, towers and an 800-foot long tunnel leading to luxurious stables. Other places of attraction include the Toronto zoo, Botanical Garden, Bata Shoe Museum, Ontario Science Center and if you are looking for some thrills visit Wonderland the amusement park, Niagara falls and Marine land. For the shopaholics, there are various shopping malls that house local and international brands. The most popular is Eaton Center on Yonge Street in downtown Toronto. Incidentally, Yonge Street is one of the longest streets in the world, including the world's biggest book store. Transportation The transportation system in Toronto is varied with taxis, buses, a subway system, the railway and some parts of the city still offer trams. It is advisable to use public transport for traveling as parking is a major and rather expensive, issue facing drivers. Moreover, the subway links Toronto to various suburbs like Brampton, Mississauga, Scarborough and others.
