Today we did a semi nostalgic trip, driving to Oshawa to intentionally board the Go Train – we actually haven’t done this since we bought our Hyundai Santa Fe many years ago. This trip was a rare journey to downtown TO with virtually no destination in mind.
Probably my favourite part of the trip was the actual train station in Oshawa itself – quietly busy on a dismal Saturday morning with lots of trains and no crowds. The train trip itself was good, though not having to drive makes me reflect and brood a little much.
Toronto itself was mostly a bust – the Eaton Centre on this day was a mess, the bathroom toilets were backing up, the lines were long and I’m not even sure if we went anywhere here. Isn’t the Eaton Centre the cool mall? Or is that Yorkdale? Maybe we need to revisit in the summer.
The homeless situation in Toronto is pretty terrifying – it’s always been scary, but people under comforters in the middle of the sidewalk, and throngs of people just tiptoeing around them. Seemingly mentally and physically ill people with nowhere to stay, some of them shouting loudly for attention or reasons, and being confronted by a hard on his luck fellow inside Pizza Iolo on Yonge street who was vocally upset that we wouldn’t help him. Not that we’re in the same situation, but realistically, we can’t afford to live in Toronto either.
The best part of the downtown experience was likely the Hockey Hall of Fame which we visited after mentioning it every time we’re in the area. It was fun in a curiosity-itching sort of way – I’m not the most ardent hockey fan, but I enjoy history and Hockey is cool, and passionate people have a rubbing-off effect that is infectious, so it was good. Amy got a keychain, as she likes to do, and I got a train ride home that I ruined with my trademarked brooding and oversharing and whatnot.