It was a nice & smooth (no mechanical breakdowns) railroad day trip to Toronto from Montreal. We didn’t know how much more time in Toronto we would be spending than ever expected. Luckily it was a wonderful city to explore & appreciate. Toronto is a big city where the polite manners of the Maritimes slipped away. Cars did not always stop for folks who were in crosswalks…
Spoiler alert, Lake Ontario is viewed from the Canadian side…
The CNR Wellington Bridge ca. 1912 over the Lachine Canal was abandoned in 1970. Seen as leaving Montréal on the train to Toronto.
Train station outside Montréal seen as we were leaving to Toronto.
Train Montréal to Toronto. No drought issues here.
Train Montréal to Toronto.
Train Montréal to Toronto - “Belleville is the seat of Hastings County... is also the centre of the Bay of Quinte Region."
The first view of Lake Ontario from the train to Toronto.
I loved those powerful diesel locomotives that would come thundering by us as we were stopped on a passing siding. Seen from train Montréal to Toronto.
A Tribute Communities new project on the outskirts of Toronto near a rail station for an easy commute downtown. Tribute is building residential housing all across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Seen from train Montréal to Toronto.
The commuter train to Toronto.
Seen from train Montréal to Toronto.
"Lake Ontario is the easternmost and smallest of the Great Lakes in North America, located at the border between Ontario, Canada and New York, USA." Toronto "…boasts one of the world's longest urban waterfronts with nearly 48 kilometres of beaches, marinas, and green spaces."
Seen from train as we approached Toronto.
"Toronto has long been home to tall buildings, but in the coming years, a new wave supertall skyscrapers will redefine the city’s skyline. While Toronto has experienced more high-rise development than any other North American city over the past decade, these towering new additions will rise above the rest."
Entering Toronto on train from Montréal.
"With Toronto’s ongoing construction boom, nine supertall skyscrapers are now in development, with three already under construction."
Entering Toronto on train from Montréal.
Approaching Toronto Union Station.
Approaching Toronto Union Station.
Birdhouse seen when approaching Toronto Union Station. Some hopeful folks living there.
The ca. 1927 Beaux-Arts style Union Station Toronto. "...has been a National Historic Site of Canada since 1975." At this point, we didn't realize how well we'd get to know it.
Union Station Toronto in the foreground. The curved building is the ca. 2018 Tower Automotive Building anchored by the Museum of Contemporary Art.
St. Lawrence Neighbourhood/Old Town Toronto a short walk from our hotel the Novotel Toronto Centre. Trompe l’oeil wall on the rear of the Flatiron/Gooderham Building by Canadian artist Derek Besant mural is the artist’s representation of the Perkins Building across the street.
“The 67-69 Front Street East building was constructed in 1877 as a part of commercial warehouses located close to the railway. A 3-storey building was designed in Renaissance Revival architectural style with complicated brickwork, decorative cornices and glazed storefront.”
Dinner at The BERCZY TAVERN across from Berzy Park in the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood/Old Town . We liked the 1877 building & figured the restaurant would be good.
It was. The Berczy Tavern.
VESPER 15 - Beefeater gin, Absolut vodka, lillet, house orange bitters & a Manhattan.
The Berczy Tavern - DINING ROOM & PIANO BAR.
BY CHEF MICHAEL ANGELONI - 2024.
St. Lawrence Neighbourhood/Old Town Toronto.
The abundant water might be good for hydroelectric power but along with the cold winters, not very kind to infrastructure.
Unusual architecture like what we saw in Melbourne, Australia in 2014. The architects seem to be having a field day.
The 2021 Tower at Pier 27 15 Queens Quay E, Toronto, ON M9N 2H3
At 1st glance we thought it was a real store where boats could tie up & purchase supplies but…
“A floating convenience store has opened on Toronto's waterfront — but you won’t be able to buy your milk and cigarettes here.”
"Artists Trevor Wheatley and Cosmo Dean say the waterfront installation reflects Toronto's role as a FIFA World Cup host city and hub for global cultures." https://www.torontotoday.ca/local/arts-culture/convenience-store-toronto-harbour-12441057
“To date, Toronto has 100 high-rises in construction, 300 proposed high-rises, and 220 construction cranes—more than any other city on the continent. Soon enough, Toronto will overtake Chicago (and fall just behind New York City) for the city with the most skyscrapers in the U.S. and Canada. population of downtown Toronto grew 16.1% from 2016 to 2021. “
Just spotted this & the lighting was not good. Then I found out "In a large-scale promotional stunt for the upcoming theatrical release of Supergirl (in theatres June 26), Warner Bros. Pictures Canada partnered with independent creative agency 23rd St. Diner to stage a real-world rescue in Toronto Harbour. The activation saw Supergirl and her furry friend, Krypto, tow a disabled 125-foot vessel – weighing over one million pounds – safely to shore."
Toronto Harbor June 23, 2026
Start of Toronto Harbour Tour with Captain Will & Paco.
CANADA MALTING CO., Ltd.
It’s abandoned & they don't know what to do with it. Perhaps an art space of some sort like they’ve done in Buffalo, N.Y.
"Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, also known as Toronto Island Airport, is an airport of entry located on the Toronto Islands, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The airport primarily serves short-haul flights to destinations across Canada and the United States..." The buoys mark a “Marine Exclusion Zone” on the Lake. No water craft of any kind can enter that lane at pain of loosing your pilots license. This was created after an aircraft nipped off the mast of a ferry on its landing approach.
Toronto Harbour Tour with Captain Will & Paco
Toronto Harbour Tour with Captain Will & Paco. Paco did the talking.
Double breasted cormorants pooping on the trees & killing them with the acidity.
Toronto Harbour Tour with Captain Will & Paco.
Plane on approach to Billy Bishop Airport.
Toronto Harbour Tour with Captain Will & Paco.
Plane on approach to Billy Bishop Airport.
Toronto Harbour Tour with Captain Will & Paco.
Plane on approach to Billy Bishop Airport.
Cap’n Will said that these Toronto Marin Police have the fastest boats on the Lake & that these folks are enforcers.
As we passed the brewery on the Toronto Harbour Tour, Paco told us that at one time Amsterdam & Toronto were sister cities. He said that if you could get in at lunch time, it’s well worth it.
Today the Croations were drinking & singing. Our server told us that the previous week when the German team was competing in FIFA, the Germans drank the brewery dry. He had never experienced that before.
Amsterdam Brewhouse -
“MALTY DOWNTOWN BROWN 5% ABV
DOWNTOWN BROWN - 20oz 9.99
A true classic. Crisp, yet subtle in character, our British style brown ale is brewed with a blend of UK malts and continental hops that combine for an uncommon smoothness and drinkability”
Beyond our fried chicken sandwich you can just make out the women on the boat that the Marine police were approaching.
Amsterdam Brewhouse. Good food, beer & views.
"The Amsterdam Bridge in Toronto was donated to the city in 1974 by the Mayor of Amsterdam during a period when Toronto was a sister city to Amsterdam." It "... commemorates the twinning of Toronto and Amsterdam in 1974. Similarly, a bridge that crosses the Amstel river in Amsterdam was renamed Torontobrug."
-
The 1,815.3 ft communications and observation CN Tower as seen from the Toronto Railway Museum.
Canadian National Tower was the tallest in the world from 1975 to 2007. “…built on the former Railway Lands. Its name ‘CN’ refers to Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower.”
Sometime in the afternoon we received a text from our tour company telling us that our 9:55 AM departure from Union Station the next morning, would be delayed ten hours. What to do?
Fleet St. & Bathurst Streets - "Monument to the War of 1812, also called Toy Soldiers, …unveiled in 2008,…includes two Styrofoam sculptures over a stone plinth, and commemorates the successful defence of British North America against American forces in the War of 1812...south of the historic Fort York..."
We took a street car to the Eton Centre. We were told that FIFA had a pop-up store there & we wanted to get an official FIFA ball for Luca.
Opening in 1977, Eaton Centre "... attracts more visitors than any of Toronto's tourist attractions because it sits on top of two subway stations in downtown Toronto and is close to Union Station. It is North America's busiest shopping mall when one counts the daily commuters along with tourist traffic. The mall has over 230 stores and restaurants in 2014." We spent an inordinate amount of time & shoe leather looking for the FIFA pop up store to buy the official soccer ball. Found it!
Eaton Centre.
Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre. "Built in 1913, the complex was the Canadian flagship of Marcus Loew's legendary theatre chain. Designed by Thomas Lamb as a 'stacked' theatre complex, it contained the Winter Garden Theatre, constructed on top of the Elgin Theatre...The theatres played host to such greats as George Burns and Gracie Allen, Sophie Tucker, Milton Berle and Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy." "The Toronto Theatre District is the third-largest English-speaking theater district in the world, after London’s West End and New York’s Broadway "
“The Confederation Life Building, a seven-floor Romanesque Revival office building… Completed in 1892, it was designated a historic property by the City of Toronto…in 1975.”
We had time to walk about downtown Toronto.
Ca. 1907 Bank of British North America, Toronto. The building on the left is the "Contor House dated to c 1878-79 in Second Empire Style…”
Ca. 1857 Renaissance Revival style Old City Hall Toronto.
We returned to the Novotel Toronto Centre. They were kind enough to grant us a late check out the next day when our train departure was so delayed.
The espresso machine in our room had only paper cups. I improvised.
In our earlier walk, we had passed a restaurant whose menu intrigued us both.
“Ki in Toronto -Irrashaimase. Welcome to ki modern japanese + bar.
Combining the essence of traditional Japanese cuisine with the latest modern influences at both our hot kitchen + sushi bar.”
Creemore "Bohemian" Lager, Ontario & rose from Provence.
Ki in Toronto
Chicken Katsu - breaded chicken cutlet, mustard tonkatsu sauce, Napa cabbage slaw, served with house salad + steamed rice.
Butterfish - espresso maple marinade, beef miso, + expresso brown sugar.
House Tamagoyaki omelet, Ebi tiger shrimp. Fried Italian Eggplant momiji miso, crispy rice + chilli takuan.
We thought it was the best Japanese meal, outside of Japan, ever.
-
"Our beautiful city welcomes the beautiful game."
On line I discovered: “At just over 24 kilometres, the 501 Queen Streetcar route is one longest in North America…
…This route has the distinction of being ranked the #1 Trolley Ride in the world in the National Geographic book Journeys of a Lifetime…
( "Knick, Knack Paddywhack - Natural Food Choices for Healthy Pets" )
"This river I step in is not the river I stand in"
…it then makes it way through the shopping districts lining Queen Street West, … and out to the Beaches neighbourhood.”
The 501 Queen Streetcar route.
The 501 Queen Streetcar route. Street car yard at the end of the line at the beach. Our server at dinner the night before suggested we take the street car line in this direction.
The 501 Queen Streetcar route.
“Domaine Ashbridge, started in 1854 with additions until 1920. This property was home to one family for two centuries. The Ashbridge family was one of the founding families of Toronto.”
The 501 Queen Streetcar route.
The 501 Queen Streetcar route.
The 501 Queen Streetcar route ended & we walked down to the beach on Lake Ontario.
“CAUTION: You are entering a
DOG OFF LEASH AREA
Dogs running at large.”
The Toronto skyline seen from the beach at the end of the The 501 Queen Streetcar route.
“Recreational Trail - No winter maintenance - Use at own risk.”
Climbing back up to catch the 501 Queen Streetcar.
Approaching Queen Street.
"FAT Bastard Burrito Co.”
The 501 Queen Streetcar route.
Queen Anne Revival Kew Beach Fire Hall - Fire Station 227 ca. 1906.
The 501 Queen Streetcar route.
The ca. 1927 Brookmount Place 1830 Queen Street East, The Beaches area of Toronto.
The 501 Queen Streetcar route.
The 501 Queen Streetcar route.
More burritos.
The 501 Queen Streetcar route.
The 501 Queen Streetcar route.
A restaurant?
The 501 Queen Streetcar route.
"SOY BOYS"
The 501 Queen Streetcar route.
“QUEEN BOOKS"
The 501 Queen Streetcar route.
Humane Society. One of many pet related establishments seen along the 501 Queen Streetcar route.
"Ray's Discount & SUPERMARKET” Some neighborhoods are not as good as others…
The 501 Queen Streetcar route.
I liked this bicycle barrier in downtown Toronto.
A closeup view of the tower of the Old City Hall.
“Simcoe Place is an office building and shopping centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The tower is 148 metres metres with 33 floors. It was completed by architects Carlos Ott and NORR in 1995.”
-.
-
Ferrari - In the words of Jerry Seinfeld "If you'd only worked a little harder."
Union Station Toronto where we’d be waiting & waiting for our train departure.