Toronto boasts more than 170 different languages. Honoring the indigenous people of this area, local historian and tour guide Bruce Bell of Bruce Bell Tours, shared that The Huron-Wendat people called it Toronton or “the meeting place” which seems like a perfect description; a melting pot of the world. While walking through the vibrant sun-filled streets and taking public transportation, an easy way to see everything, I heard countless dialects, different accents, and unfamiliar languages, accentuating that concept of being a melting pot. Everyone is truly welcomed here.
To better understand Toronto, a tour aboard the Double-Decker Bus gave me my bearings, highlighting areas I wanted to visit at greater length, many of which are Toronto icons. If you’re a hockey fan, there’s the Hockey Hall of Fame where you can find the first puck which was not round but square! There’s also the Toronto Public Library where an entire room is dedicated to Sherlock Holmes, and the Bata Shoe Museum (trust me, you’ll never look at shoes the same way again) which showcased a pair of shoes that just might inspire Lady Gaga’s next outfit. Travel a little further and you will land at Casa Loma, the only full-sized castle in North America where Sir Henry Pellatt and his wife Lady Mary the founder of Girl Guides (the Canadian version of the Girl Scouts) resided. If you dare, climb the castle’s narrow spiral staircase to the top for spectacular 360 degree views and then wind down to the bowels where tunnels lead to an antique car collection and the former stables.