Friend of mine wrote this. She’s been living away from TO for ages then decided to come back.
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I LOVE TORONTO, DAMMIT!!
I am sick and tired of people bitching about what a crappy city Toronto is.
I’ve lived elsewhere and moved back ayear ago, so I have another reference.
I love the fact that apart from a couple of neighbourhoods, you can stumble home from partying safely, pretty much any time, night or day. Common sense is always good, but apart from that- you’re good. I love the factthat I own a car and hardly ever drive it. I love the 15 minute walk to work and that regardless of where you work in the city, living close to work is ALWAYS an option.
People are always nice, and you can be nice to people too. Nobody takes it badly. There is a huge variety of fashion and people on the streets, and because everyone is so different, nobody sticks out or merits a stare. Sure there are some people out there a little more daring in dress, tattoo art and hairstyle, but that is exactly the thing that makes neighbourhoods like Queen West such a fun place to experience. I love the fact that you can get any type of food, and that there are so many hidden gems- cheap eateries, eclectic second hand stores, and avant garde jewelry and clothing stores.
In Toronto, you can be as original as you want to be.
I love the fact that a stroll in any given area will introduce you to gorgeous tree lined streets with different types of architecture, quiet oases of calm surrounded by downtown streets. I love the fact that lake Ontario is at the foot of the city- for everyone to enjoy, and that you can take a ferry to the Islands to just chill (or nude bathe, not my thing, but
hey!) I love that there are so many places to buy ice cream, and non-franchise places to eat breakfast, and that on any given day, you can hear between 10 and 15 languages spoken on the city streets.
I love the street fruit markets with excellent prices, I love Kensington with influences from all over the world. I love the hot dog stands on the corners, I love the matinees, anywhere. I love that I can go to matinees alone, and nobody bats an eye in this city.
I love st. Lawrence market, I love the opera, I love the snowy nights where everything is quiet, I love just hanging out with my friends at the $5 martini place. I love the fact that deals are to be had everywhere, I love the antique shops on King east and west, I love the symphony, I love the music scene- or I would if I got out to experience it more. I love the fact that I am 33 and this city still makes me feel like I am 20.
I love the fact that there is a bar called el Convento Rico where straight people, gay people, drag queens etc. all hang out and party together. I love the fact that every now and again, I still get asked for ID. I love College street, I love Queen Street, I love the ROM, i love my mom, I love the fact that everyone else hates the city. All the more of it for me to love!
Susie sunshine…
