Category Archives: International Travel

LOVING LIVING LIKE A LOCAL IN LISBON #5: BUSTLING BAIXA

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While researching Lisbon prior to our arrival, I read one blog where the author emphatically insisted the Baixa neighborhood be “avoided,” because it’s a tourist trap, and it attracts pickpockets. He had a point; it’s a tourist trap, but it is well worth a visit anyway. I wore my backpack in front of me, Bruce zipped up his wallet in his front security pocket, and off we went. (By the way, other than pickpockets, which can be easily avoided by taking precautions, Lisbon is a safe city, even for solo women travelers.)

The Chiado neighborhood, where our apartment was located, sits atop a hill adjacent to Baixa, and there are several sets of stairways that lead down to it. One we used was located at the Santa Justa elevator, on the pedestrian shopping street I wrote about in my last post.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

At the base of the stairs, look straight up to the top of the elevator; it’s quite a sight! Unfortunately, the elevator is closed now, so all you can do is photograph it and admire the unusual structure.

You can purchase shoes made of cork at the store located at the elevator.

Baixa encompasses much of the walking tour I detailed previously, including Rossio Square, Restauradores Square (where the obelisk was located), and Avenida da Liberdade; however, that was already a long enough round trip walk!

The section of Baixa I will include here is Rua Augusta, with Praca da Figueira on one end and Praca do Comercio with the Arco Triunfal arch on the other end of the famous pedestrian avenue. You will be happy to know this area of Baixa is flat!

This entire area had been destroyed by the 1755 earthquake and rebuilt by Marquis of Pombal. He had strict criteria, including a grid pattern of the streets and earthquake-resistant building construction. My favorite feature of the buildings are the colorful tile facades. I photographed these on and around Rua Augusta:

As you come down the stairs by the elevator, Rua Augusta will be straight ahead. Once there, turn left to walk up to Praca da Figueira. You will know you have arrived when you see the statue of King John I atop his beautiful horse. A seagull seemed to enjoy it as much as Bruce and I did!

The street in front of the elevator will take you to Rua Augusta.

Stroll Rua Augusta in the opposite direction, and you will see the Arco Triunfal (Rua Augusta Arch). Enjoy the ambiance of Rua Augusta along the way, but be forewarned: You may want to go early in the morning to avoid all the restaurant hosts trying to lure you in. They are persistent! One after another, after another. How do all those restaurants stay in business? Still, Rua Augusta is lovely, so don’t miss it.

Rua Augusta at sunset

The Rua Augusta triumphal arch was built to commemorate Lisbon’s reconstruction following the 1755 earthquake. The plaza that it borders, Praca do Comercio, is a massive square that faces the Tagus river. Make sure to wear sunglasses if it’s a sunny day. I didn’t, and I was approached by several vendors hawking sunglasses. It was annoying, but still worth visiting this beautiful plaza.

This street near Rua Augusta was painted to mimic the cobblestone design. The painted area is also for pedestrians.
Our group (The Good Life Abroad) ate here for one of our included Tuesday Lunch Club lunches.
This is half of our group. Cheers!

On the other side of Rua Augusta is technically the historic Alfama neighborhood, a must-see area of Lisbon!

Next up: LOVING LIVING LIKE A LOCAL IN LISBON #6: ANCIENT ALFAMA

LOVING LIVING LIKE A LOCAL IN LISBON #4: AMBLING AVENIDA DA LIBERDADE

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Amblers, have I got a walk for you! This walk begins at our Lisbon apartment at Praca de Luis Camois, and continues past the life-size sculpture of the man in the chair and the world’s oldest bookstore shown in my second post. It then makes a left hand turn to take you down the pedestrian shopping street, which leads you to Rossio Square. Continue through the square, and past the beautiful train station to gorgeous tree-lined Avenida da Liberdade and up to Parque Eduardo VII, passing by beautiful Marques de Pombal. Click here for the map directions, but this is a snapshot of the walk for a quick view:

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

If you walk straight through, it would be a two-mile walk (one way), and it would take the average walker 49 minutes. But what’s the fun in that? This is a wonderful walk through some of the nicest areas of Lisbon! Take your time, get off the path to see what’s up that side street, grab a bench under the shade trees and watch the world go by, or stop for a pastel de nata. Bruce and I enjoyed this walk so much, we returned to explore more in other days and at night.

Here, then, is what you will see along the way, after you pass the bookstore, and then turn left onto the pedestrian shopping street:

Pedestrian streets are marked with white paint in a design.
Fountain at the beginning of Rossio Square
Rossio Square: The surface is flat, but it’s an optical illusion. Follow the waves!
Look up from Rossio Square, and you will see Sao Jorge Castle
Across from Rossio Square at the far end is the beautiful train station. You have to have a ticket to enter the tracks where the tile murals are located, so stop back when I write about our train trip to Sintra to see those murals!
Past the train station on the same side of the street (on the left) is this unusual add-on to a historic facade.
On the right is Fabrica da Nata- Pasteis de Nata, where we stopped for a snack.
Pastel de Nata: Don’t worry; I will be writing (and showing) plenty of food in an upcoming post dedicated to Portuguese cuisine!
The beginning of the gorgeous tree-lined portion of Avenida da Liberdade

Views of the side streets off the avenue:

Continuing up Avendida da Liberdade to Marques de Pombal Square:

Make your way up the hill, and you will see Pavilhao Carlos Lopes on the right:

Continue up the hill through Parque Eduardo VII, and you will be rewarded with this panoramic view:

Congratulations, you made it! Now you have a choice to either take the metro back from Marque de Pombal (look for the red and white “M” sign), or walk back like we did.This is us back in Chiado:

A walk down to Rossio Square at night:

This is an overhead view of the pedestrian street and Rossio Square for perspective. This was shot from a viewing platform next to the convent in Bairo Alto, adjacent to the entrance to Elevador de Santa Justa, which is temporarily closed.
From this viewing platform, you can also see the castle lit up in the distance. This is the top of the elevator on the right.
To the left is the convent.
At the pedestrian street level of the Santa Justa lift are the Pelicans, by Bordalo II. (More Bordalo II in future posts.)

Coming up next: LOVING LIVING LIKE A LOCAL IN LISBON #5: BUSTLING BAIXA

LOVING LIVING LIKE A LOCAL IN LISBON #3: PRINCIPE REAL (NORTH) & PINK STREET (SOUTH)

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In my previous post, I featured Chiado and Bairo Alto, the neighborhoods immediately surrounding our TGLA apartment. Now, I am going to take you just a little bit north to Principe Real and a short walk south to “Pink Street.”

Principe Real, located just up the road past Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara, is a district developed in the 19th century as a residential enclave for Lisbon’s aristocracy. Still an upscale neighborhood, there are designer boutiques, galleries, restaurants, a beautiful park, and botanical gardens.

I am not much of a shopper, but EmbaiXada was something to see. It was even included on our walking tour, because the building is gorgeous. Now a high-end commercial gallery, it was once Ribeiro da Cunha Palace. In addition to fine products by Portuguese artists and designers, there is a bar and restaurant. The only thing I brought out from EmbaiXada were my own photographs.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

One of our favorite memories was relaxing at a table under the beautiful trees at Jardim do Principe Real (Principe Real Park), sipping an ice-cold cola, and listening to an excellent band performing classic rock. They played for tips, and we gladly tossed some Euros in their basket. They were so enjoyable!  It was a warm sunny day, and it was the perfect way to cap off our afternoon, following our TGLA’s group orientation tour around the area and our delicious salad-with-a-view at Honest Greens.

Another day at the park, the only cloudy day we had!
Views across the street from the park…
I enjoyed seeing and photographing the colorful tile facades of the buildings.
Our community manager, Jen, recommended having lunch on the terrace at Honest Greens, across from the park. The view was fabulous and the food delicious!
Another view from the terrace of Honest Greens

Jardim Botanico de Lisboa, the botanical gardens of Lisbon, is also located in the Principe Real neighborhood. Although it doesn’t have stellar reviews on Google or Trip Advisor, it was free the Sunday morning we visited, and it was a nice respite from the busy city.

I also loved black and white patterns in the cobblestones.

“Pink Street” (Rua Nova do Carvalho) is famous for its bars and bustling nightlife, but I was only interested in seeing it in the morning before the crowds arrived, so I could photograph the colorful umbrellas that hung over the pink-painted street. Since we passed it each time we walked down to the waterfront, train station, ferry terminal, and Time Out Market (more on this in a future post), it was a convenient photo stop. But for those interested in partying hard in the bars, this would be the place.

Speaking of partying, gathering with our The Good Life Abroad group and community manager for a welcome party was a great way to kick off our month together. Jen found the perfect place for it, a rooftop bar with great views. Mama Shelter’s appetizers were delicious, the service was good, and it was a lot of fun! This is Jen, during our metro orientation tour, and our TGLA “community.”

Bruce and I are in the back (center)
The view from the rooftop of Mama Shelter
A refreshing glass of low-alcohol cider

Coming up next: LOVING LIVING LIKE A LOCAL IN LISBON #4: AMBLING AVENIDA DE LIBERDADE

LOVING LIVING LIKE A LOCAL IN LISBON #2: CHARMING CHIADO

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Located in the historic center of Lisbon, the charming Chiado neighborhood has been inhabited since the Roman Empire. In 1755, the Great Lisbon Earthquake destroyed much of the area, so it was rebuilt. And then in 1988, a fire destroyed 18 buildings, between 200-300 people lost their homes, and nearly 2,000 people who worked in the area lost their jobs. The fire was fought by 1,680 firefighters, leaving 60 with injuries.

Through both disasters, Chiado survived and now thrives as a bustling cultural and commercial district. Between luxury shopping, museums, theaters, and historic landmarks; Chiado draws many locals and tourists, day and night.

Our apartment, located in the middle of the all the action, was quite the contrast to our quiet active adult community. And that’s exactly what we loved about it!

Shopping for groceries was just a short walk up the street. Going out for a fabulous dinner was as close as a 25-foot walk out the building’s entrance and across the alley. Chocolate craving? Delicious chocolate tartlets were just 120 feet up the street at a wonderful bakery.

There was so much to see just a short walk away that I often popped out to wander around and do photography while Bruce rested. And when we were in our apartment, we often opened the glass doors and stood out on our balcony to watch the action below. Never a dull moment!

Transportation was also conveniently located. The metro station and bus stop were both a very short walk away, and the train and ferry stations were a ten-minute walk down the hill. Those cute yellow trams were right outside our door!

In addition to those iconic yellow trams, what made Chiado so charming were the designs in the cobblestone streets, tile facades of the buildings, street art, and architecture.

Here then, are photos I shot around our neighborhood. I’m not sure where the Chaido and Bairro Alto neighborhoods start and end, so I included both here. Principe Real is a little bit further north and Pink Street a little bit further south, so I will save that for later. And, you will have to wait to see that delicious dinner across the alley; the Portuguese cuisine deserves its own special post!

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

This was photographed from a viewing area adjacent to the convent ruins above. The statue is in the center of Rossio Square.
From the same viewing area, I am looking down on the pedestrian street lined with luxury shops.
This was a very random sight across from the miradouro (below). I never saw anything like this again throughout our one month in Lisbon!
Miradouro de Sao Pedro de Alcantara
The views from the miradouro at sunset

Chiado at night:

Next up: LOVING LIVING LIKE A LOCAL IN LISBON #3: PRINCIPE REAL (NORTH) & PINK STREET (SOUTH)

LOVING LIVING LIKE A LOCAL IN LISBON #1: THE GOOD LIFE ABROAD

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After traveling on ten small group tours with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) and enjoying every single one, we hadn’t planned on changing course. But thanks to a gal we met on our very first tour with OAT, we learned of a new (and very different) concept: The Good Life Abroad (TGLA). She had learned about the company from other OAT travelers who had enjoyed their first TGLA experiences, so she booked a month in Paris. She suggested I check out the TGLA Community Facebook page to see what other TGLA travelers had to say about their experiences. That was in spring of 2025, and after reading many posts, we were convinced. We booked a month in Lisbon, Portugal, for September 13 – October 13, 2026.

Since then, I have continued reading more positive posts from other travelers who chose to live like a local with TGLA. And, our friend loved her month in Paris! We were so excited when September 13 arrived.

The Good Life Abroad, founded by Andrew Motiwalla, is designed for 55+ active adults who would like to live in a foreign city for an extended period and engage deeply with the local culture and community.

This is exactly what we were looking for as an alternative to the small group tour experience where we only stay in any given city or town for a few days before moving on. Our previous visit to Lisbon wasn’t even that long; it was for one day during a cruise in 1998. What can you possibly experience in a city in a day? It was barely scratching the surface as a tourist. Bruce and I prefer to be travelers.

For me, I was yearning to go full circle. My international travels began by backpacking through the South Pacific for one year after college, in 1984. I was truly living like a local, even working in a couple of different cities in Australia. I had missed that immersive experience and wanted to enjoy it again—this time in more comfort as a senior, living in an apartment rather than bunking in youth hostels.

The TGLA program includes an apartment, usually in the same building as the others in TGLA “community.” Our group of 14 were split up in two buildings near each other in the central Chiado area of central Lisbon. We were located at Lisbon Best Apartments Chiado Camoes, overlooking Praca de Luis Camoes.

Three days each week, there are activities planned for the group by the community manager, who is also available throughout the week to answer questions. On Tuesdays, we met up at a restaurant in a different neighborhood each time to enjoy the local cuisine. This was a great time to catch up on what we all did during our four days exploring on our own.

On Wednesdays, a cultural activity was planned, either a walking tour, market tour and cooking class, or tile painting workshop. Thursday evening was happy hour, the final one being during an awesome sunset cruise. We also did a side trip to Sintra with lunch. All of these activities are included in the cost.

Lisbon has an excellent metro system, which our community manager, Jen, taught us how to use during our orientation tour. She provided a card loaded with 10 Euros, which we could refill as needed. Bruce and I found it easy to get around by using our card for not only the metro, but the “electrico,” electric tram, bus, and ferry across the Tagus River. For areas not as easily accessible, we used Bolt, a less expensive and more popular option than Uber. It is such a reasonably priced option that locals use it a lot. Since Lisbon is a VERY hilly city with cobblestone streets, our group used Bolt often.

In Europe, many people use WhatsApp to communicate, since it is free. Jen set up a group for us, so that is how we all communicated with each other. Jen would post the location of our next meet-up along with a map link and other information. It worked out great!

Our month in Portugal was a wonderful experience! More details and photos will appear in upcoming posts, but for now I will leave you with photos of our apartment and views from our living room balcony. (I opted against using a camera for this trip and shot all photos with my Google Pixel 8a phone. Although it was convenient, since I was using my phone for GoogleMaps navigation, the downside was the noticeable wide angle distortion on some of my pictures.)

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

This little terrace was just inside the entry to our apartment; an unexpected surprise!
Our kitchen included a large refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, coffee maker, and washer/dryer combo all located behind the white doors. There was also a two-burner induction stovetop and microwave in addition to the sink. All dishes, glassware, pots and pans, utensils, and cutlery were included, along with dish soap, laundry detergent, and coffee pods. There was even an exercise mat and two large umbrellas, in addition to a safe. Jen gave us a tote bag with goodies!
I did a double-take when I entered the beautiful marble bathroom. That’s a TV on the mirror wall! There was also one in our bedroom and living room in the 600 sq. ft apartment! We only have one TV at home!
This was our building, and that’s Bruce standing on the balcony enjoying the view.
Our view!
The view to the right. The electrico came by our building and stopped nearbye.
Luis de Camoes is the centerpiece of the square.
Sunset views from our balcony

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Coming up next: LOVING LIVING LIKE A LOCAL IN LISBON #2: CHARMING CHIADO

TERRIFIC TORONTO #6: ITS IDYLLIC ISLANDS

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The Toronto Islands were on our must-see list from the moment we started researching the city for our trip, but the idea was cemented following our harbor cruise that included the islands. They were beautiful, from what we could see from the boat, and we wanted to explore more on foot.

Although there are water taxis that will get you to the islands faster, what’s the rush? We took the less expensive and relaxing route by hopping on a ferry at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. Depending on the arrival destination, ferries leave as often as every 15 minutes, and the cost for a round-trip ticket is only $9.11 for adults, $5.86 for students, and $4.29 for seniors. No extra charge for your bicycle. Hot tip: Be a contrarian, avoid the longer lines, and don’t take the Centre Island ferry like most tourists do. We opted for Hanlan’s Point and then enjoyed the beautiful walk that ultimately took us to Center Island for the trip back to the city. When we returned on our last day, we saw the west portion of the islands and took the Ward’s Island ferry.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Jack Layton Ferry Terminal Mosaic Mural

Toronto thought of everything when it came to signage on the islands for tourists. One of the signs provides the distance between each of the three island ferry terminals (Centre Island, Hanlan’s Point, and Ward’s Island) and the amount of time it takes (on average) to walk between them. Of course, if it’s your visit, I doubt you will want to walk directly from one terminal to the other without stopping to take pictures, wiggle your toes in the sand, and dip one into frigid Lake Ontario. It does help with planning, though, so it was much appreciated. From where we landed at Hanlan’s Point, we knew it would be a 3.9 km walk to Centre Island. Taking inevitable detours, this alone indicated we would want to return another day to see Ward’s Island, since I knew my torn knee meniscus wouldn’t be able to handle the extra minimum of 2.9 km of walking. (I’m happy to say my surgically repaired knee could take that on now!)

Another sign described each of the islands, just in case you couldn’t make up your mind which to see. “Hanlan’s Point is renowned for its beautiful sandy shores and is home to Toronto’s only clothing optional beach. It has been a gathering space for 2SLGBTQ+ people for nearly a century and is believed to be Canada’s oldest surviving queer space and one of the oldest continuous queer spaces in the world.”

“Ward’s Island offers a unique glimpse into the island’s residential community with charming houses and a relaxed, vintage-like atmosphere. Stroll through peaceful streets or explore the sandy beach.”

Centre Island has plenty of tourist activities, including an amusement park, restaurants, and a beach with a pier.

There are other islands in the chain, fifteen in all, but these are the main ones that are easiest to access on foot. Although the total population on the islands is 700 (300 homes), many leave in the winter when the lake freezes over.

Come along with us as we disembark the ferry at Hanlan’s Point and see the islands on foot:

Hanlan’s Point Terminal
The view from the terminal looking back on the city is worth the price of the ferry ticket! Wait long enough, and you will see a plane coming into the airport for a landing. You can see it in front of CN Tower.
Gibralter Point Lighthouse, the second oldest surviving lighthouse in Canada, was completed in 1809.
The skyline view from Centre Island

Our final day in Toronto at Ward’s Island and Centre Island:

What an awesome treehouse!
The Centre Island walkway to the ferry terminal divided a beautiful park.
Self portrait

So long, Canada! Until we meet again! Thank you for being so warm and friendly– and not assuming we are all in support of our current White House occupant.

My favorite memory: The woman in front of us in line at Loblaw’s at Maple Leaf Gardens. She saw us counting what remained of our Canadian currency and discussing how much, if any, we would have left after our purchases. We were trying to use up our Canadian currency; however, I think she thought we were worried we didn’t have enough money. She turned to us and asked if she could pay for our groceries! I quickly explained our situation and politely declined, thanking her with enthusiasm and gratitude. (After all, it was a stack of Canadian Cadbury bars I was purchasing to bring home, because the American stuff is awful. We were not in need and weren’t going to go hungry.) Thank you, from the bottom of my hear!

TERRIFIC TORONTO #4: DISTILLERY DISTRICT, SHOE MUSEUM & ALLAN GARDENS CONSERVATORY

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Former home of Gooderham and Worts Distillery, the Distillery District is a mixed use 13-acre district of restaurants, shops, and housing in heritage buildings dating back to 1832. Architects did an excellent job converting the whiskey distillery, and it’s a nice place to walk around and hang out on a sunny day.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

I’m not much into shoes, mainly because my AAA foot width and even narrower heal makes it difficult to find shoes to fit. I’ll bet I own less shoes than most women. I just did a Copilot AI search, and multiple surveys have the average American women owning about 19 pairs of shoes, with some surveys reporting 27 pairs. That lower number of 19 is still double what I own, and Bruce owns even less.

So, why would we go to a shoe museum? Besides the four-and-a half-star rating on Trip Advisor, Bruce suggested it might be fun to see. Curious, we tied the laces up on our running shoes (the only shoes that fit me well and are comfortable), and off we went to Bata Shoe Museum. It was fun; we got a kick out of it!

Upper class paduka, from India, 18th century
Turkish sandal from the Ottoman Empire
EJ? Elton John, of course! When asked about this pair, he suggested they were not excessive enough to wear on stage saying, “My Dear, I wouldn’t have been seen dead in them on stage, I wore them shopping!”
This pair of boots was designed by Nevena Christi for Don Knobler, the eccentric Dallas Mavericks superfan, who famously wore his custom cowboy boots courtside to games.

In 2020, Canadian footwear designer Aurora James and founder of her own footwear and accessories brand, Brother Vellies, turned to cowboy boots after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade guaranteeing reproductive rights. For her “My Body My Choice” collection, she reimagined her Doodle Boots leveraging the long history of incorporating narrative into cowboy boot design. She launched them in 2023 on International Women’s Day. Good on her!

Converse released these “Run Star Motion Platform Pride” sneakers in 2022 in celebration of Pride Month. The company has released a Pride collection every year since 2014.
Kenzo Minami design for Reebok’s “I Am What I Am” campaign.
Ruohan Wang for Nike
Vicky Vuong’s hand painted Nikes
Paris Pooch Paw Protectors for a Pampered Poodle, 1950’s

Another enjoyable activity for us when traveling to any city is visiting public parks, gardens, and conservatories. We walked over to Allan Gardens from our hotel and meandered around its 16,000 square foot conservatory, which was quite nice.

Next up: TERRIFIC TORONTO #5: WALKING THE WATERFRONT & A CAPTIVATING CRUISE

TERRIFIC TORONTO #3: MANY MARVELOUS MURALS

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For mural and graffiti artists, Toronto is THE place to visit. We had never seen as many murals in such a small geographical area as we did in the Kensington Market and Graffiti Alley neighborhood. There were several scattered around the city as well.

Kensington Market, and old neighborhood, was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2006. A hub for artists and writers, the multicultural neighborhood has become a tourist attraction, especially for walking tours. A big draw to the neighborhood is the abundance of murals painted on every surface imaginable.

Nearby, in Toronto’s Fashion District, is Graffiti Alley, located on Rush Lane. Another hot spot for tourists and walking tours, we were amazed at the murals we saw there!

Join me on our self-guided, meandering walking tour where I photographed many, many more marvelous murals than what you will see here!

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Ok, so this isn’t a mural, but it’s still a colorful work of art!
Our favorite mural EVER!

More murals scattered around town:

A tile mosaic mural:

Coming up next: TERRIFIC TORONTO #4: DISTILLERY DISTRICT, SHOE MUSEUM & ALLAN GARDENS CONSERVATORY

TERRIFIC TORONTO #2: SUPER ST. LAWRENCE MARKET, DOG FOUNTAIN, AND NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE

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My regular readers know how much we enjoy visiting markets, so you won’t be surprised we visited one in Toronto. St. Lawrence Market, a public market, is a popular tourist destination. While we were there, tour groups came through, and buses were constantly dropping off and picking up tourists.

First established in the early 19th century, the first market was damaged in the Great Fire of Toronto of 1849, so it was replaced. In 2012, National Geographic named St. Lawrence Market the world’s best food market.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

As a dog lover with “AQUADOG” as my license plate (AQUA, because I am a competitive swimmer with U.S. Masters Swimming), I got a kick out seeing Berczy Park’s Dog Fountain, a short walk from St. Lawrence Market. Opened in 1980, the adorable, dog-friendly park replaced a parking lot, and the fountain was added in 2017. Dogs appreciate the gravel area for doing their business, and they can get rehydrated at the ground-level fountain trough. The two-tier fountain features 27 painted cast iron statues of dogs that spit out the fountain’s water. Sitting atop the fountain wall is “Pam McCat,” named after the councilwoman who spearheaded the construction of the park.

What a hoot! The dogs are all looking up at the bone perched at the top of the fountain, and the cat couldn’t care less about the dogs. She’s keeping her eye on the two yellow birds perched on the arm of a lamp post ten feet away!

While photographing the pooches, I noticed they were looking a bit battered. That is all in the process of changing; the dogs are getting a new coat!

This building, in the process of being renovated, is at the end of Dog Park. Love the painting!

Nathan Phillips Square is another popular spot for busloads of tourists because of the “TORONTO” sign and fountain surrounded by downtown skyrises and Toronto City Hall.

We visited the square to photograph the huge sign, both during the day and at night. At 10 feet tall and 72 feet long, it gets a lot of attention! Originally constructed temporarily for the 2015 Pan American Games, the city decided to keep it permanent after it became a popular attraction for locals and tourists alike.

Seeing the sign at night was beautiful. Lit by LED, the lights can create an estimated 228 million color combinations. We only saw one, but it was well worth the walk from our hotel to see it!

Next up: TERRIFIC TORONTO #3: MANY MARVELOUS MURALS

TERRIFIC TORONTO #1: A FIRST LOOK AROUND TOWN

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One week after returning from our 23-day tour of southern France, Northern Spain, and Portugal, we flew to Toronto. We had never visited the city, so we planned on a relaxing eight-day stay, rather than rushing around and trying to see it all in just a few days.

We packed very light. Between the two of us, we shared a rollaboard and small backpack and didn’t check any luggage.

It was very easy and convenient to take the train from the airport to Union Station, and then transfer to a  city train into the city center at College Station. From there, it was a two-minute walk to our hotel, Holiday Inn Downtown Centre, which was very convenient—the reason why we chose it. Hotels are very expensive in Toronto, so that was another consideration for our boring hotel choice!

When we travel on our own, if breakfast isn’t included where we are staying, we make sure to book at a hotel with refrigerators in the rooms, so we can pick up yogurt and fruit at a grocery store for our breakfasts. Conveniently, the most amazing grocery store we had ever seen was just down the street: Loblaws at Maple Leaf Gardens. Former home of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team, the arena was cleverly converted into a beautiful super (duper!) market. We never would have realized the history of the building if it hadn’t been for a very nice lady who overheard us and knew we were tourists. She offered to show us around and then took us down the aisle that was once center ice to show us where it all began.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

As you can see, Loblaws had so many great ready-to-eat options, we ended up shopping there for dinner on many nights, too!

Just a few doors down from our hotel in the other direction was another market of a different sort: Bulk Barn. One step inside, we knew we were in TROUBLE. Take a look at the selections on their website, and you might agree—especially their chocolate selection! We visited the store more than once, that’s for sure! We also purchased several spices that we wanted to try in small quantities to bring home with us.

All settled in at the hotel, groceries in the refrigerator, and ready to roll, we set out to get our first look around town. What impressed us was how nice walking downtown was for us and how safe we felt.

The following are miscellaneous pictures of this and that, as well as some reflections of architecture photographed during our time in Toronto.  There will be a lot more themed photos in posts to come!

Queen’s Park
CF Toronto Eaton Centre
Art Gallery of Ontario

Coming up next: TERRIFIC TORONTO #2: SUPER ST. LAWRENCE MARKET, DOG FOUNTAIN, AND NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE