Hotels in Toronto

Travel Reviews: Hotels in Toronto

A few members of the GrandQuebec team went to the beautiful, cosmopolitan city of Toronto, Ontario. Well, actually, it was a few team members of the ProvinceQuebec team effort, the English version of the best Website on Quebec history, culture, architecture, fashion, celebrity gossip and so on. Luckily, they were friendly enough to share their travel insights with us…

A well known fact in academia, is that theory fails to predict practice perfectly, and sometimes, at all. In other words, while scholars heavily rely on theoretical constructs, the mutual understanding one shares with one’s peers cannot guarantee one’s completion of an actual doctorate degree in psychology (an actual requirement to become a licensed psychologist in some jurisdictions). A similar question arises when one contemplates educational paths, while social psychology may seem more interesting, perhaps a career in accounting looks more promising in terms of securing gainful employment in a shorter time period.

A stade in Victoria Park, in Toronto. Photo by Elena

In theory, Toronto is a city with all work and no play, which can make Jack a dull boy (Shining, Stephen King), but in practice, this vibrant, magnificent city, is as lively as can be. Similarly, in theory (and in practice!) Websites like Expedia and TripAdvisor may come in handy in planning an escapade to a distant destination, but a detailed personal experience account may likewise enlighten one on places top visit, where to stay and how to eat and stay healthy in a new environment.

Where to stay in Toronto, Ontario

Like most North American cities, Toronto has hotels and motels for almost all budges. Most places will require a valid credit card to book a room, and absolutely all accommodations demand to see some form of ID (from the ones we visited).

The Sheraton hotel chain hardly needs any introduction. An established luxury line of hotels and resorts, the Sheraton is a worldwide elite place to stay in, as long as you can afford it. Popular among businesspeople and couples celebrating their honeymoon, Sheraton hotels exist all over the world, being present in Canadian cities such as Montreal and Toronto, as well as exotic tropical islands such as Bora Bora. The Toronto Sheraton hotel is no different, containing all the amenities necessary for a more than pleasant stay, with more than 40 floors in altitude, splendid rooms and a high perched lounge overseeing the metropolitan. Rates vary from standard rooms to upscale, high end suites, but usually Sheraton hotels are considered in the pricier continuum of the temporary accommodation spectrum, although quite affordable if you consider the number of stars and services available (i.e. price and quality trade off).

Toronto City Center. Photo by Elena

The Fairmont Royal York hotel of Toronto is right in front of the train (Union station subway) downtown. The spectacular VIP hotel may be seen as a counterpart to the famous Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal, of international fame due to Yoko Ono’s and John Lennon’s sleep in for world peace. Naturally, Toronto likewise has the Hilton, Omni, Soho, Marriott and Ritz Carlton (list by far non extensive). For hotels in the middle price range, there are places like the Comfort Inn (several locations), the Ramada (double suite extremely comfortable, with ‘at home’ apartment feel’), the Best Western (Primrose) downtown and the Radisson Admiral Harbourfront on the new and refurbished Queen’s Quay.

Other hotels include the Econo Lodge (quite affordable hotel on Jarvis Street, close to Carlton intersection). Finally, for those without a credit card and on more modest budgets, the Weaverly, on the corner of College and Spadina may come in handy. With Toronto’s Chinatown’s attractions, a colorful market, countless laundromats and dry cleaners nearby, the inn may come in handy for a traveler looking for their next adventure. Finally, last but not least, the Shangri-La hotel is rumored to be among the best the city has to offer, with out-of-this-world suites commanding several thousands per night! Goes without saying, we had to pass…

On a more general note, the main streets of Toronto include Bloor (Yorkville), York, Yonge and Bay. With multiple Holt Renfrews (classy, exclusive shopping malls) and various designer and jewelry boutiques (Rolex, Cartier, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Chanel, Gucci, Fendi, Burberry, Hermes, Dior, Agent Provocateur – the sultry British lingerie brand endorsed by sexy actress Penelope Cruz – and countless others), the city (which at time of writing, just underwent mayoral elections on October 27, 2014, replacing celebrity mayor Rob Ford with John Tory) is one of the most popular cities in the world to visit, well, at least as far as we’re concerned. Also, obviously, don’t forget the breathtaking CN Tower and the adjacent aquarium (Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada).

The CN Tower

Travel Reviews: The CN Tower

The purpose of the present travel review is to talk about a spectacular tourist attraction: The CN Tower, located in the city of Toronto, Ontario. The American Society of Civil Engineers bestowed the honourable mention of “Wonder of the Modern World” on the CN Tower in 1995. In addition to being one of the world’s modern wonders, the CN Tower is a national Canadian icon, a distinctive Toronto feature and a must-see for tourists, visitors and locals alike.

The American Society of Civil Engineers bestowed the honourable mention of “Wonder of the Modern World” on the CN Tower in 1995. In addition to being one of the world’s modern wonders, the CN Tower is a national Canadian icon, a distinctive Toronto feature and a must-see for tourists, visitors and locals alike.

At 553.33 m (1,815 ft) of altitude, the CN Tower stands the tallest tower in the world. The architectural marvel is illuminated at night and also provides visitors with an unforgettable dining experience at dizzying heights.Apparently, under ideal weather and viewing conditions, one can see as far as the New York State!

View from the observation point of the CN Tower. Shadow over the city. Image: © Elena

The major tourist attraction contains 6 elevators travelling at thrilling speeds and taking what seems like less than a minute to reach the observational area!

Since 1994, the CN tower features a particular attraction: The Glass Floor. Not designed for the faint of heart (or poodles) part of the floor allows visitors to stand on thick, transparent glass, looking down at 342 (1,122 ft.) metres of altitude below them. The Glass Floor can hold 21,835 kg or 48,138 lbs. Many visitors take pictures laying on the glass floor, which results in an optical illusion of them more or less floating the sky.

CN Tower Glass Floor View.  Literally walking on the air. Image: © Elena

A highly praised and coveted tourist attraction, the CN tower includes ticket options for even more fun. Also, the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, the country’s largest, is located just beside the tower and showcases a multitude of underwater inhabitants. Thus, hopefully this travel log makes a good first impression about a fascinating sightseeing destination: The CN Tower.

It Happened in Canada

Happened in Canada

Mrs. Nancy Hodges was named speaker of British Columbia’s Legislative Assembly in 1949, and thereby became the first woman ever to hold the speaker’s chair in any Canadian Parliament.

The phenomenal Spotted Lake : Near Osoyoos, British Colombia, is one of the World’s greatest concentrations of mineral waters. The spots are caused by almost solid minerals forming separate circular pools, some cold, some hot. The waters are said to contain healing properties.

The Promethea Moth pupa spends the winter in a silk sewed leaf, attached to a thicket by a strong thread of silk.

Arctic Tern always lays 3 eggs then flies over its nest crying “Trieg” – norvegian for three eggs.

Old industrial buildings on the Evergreen Site, Toronto. Photo by Elena

Oysters are born by the billions – yet only one oyster in 145, 000 reaches maturity at the age of two years.

Frogs hear with their eyes. Behind each eye is a small nerve connected to the brain.

The Royal Canadian Navy, in which many Prairie boys served during World War II, played a major role in the battle of the Atlantic. By the war’s end it had safely escorted over 25,000 merchant ships through U-boat infested waters to Gt. Britain.

Keith McKenzie chief trader for the Hudson’s Bay Company in Labrador during the 1890’s could lift a 22,5 kg weight with his little finger and at arms length write his name on a wall.

The man who walked 1280 km to meet his bride: Wibur Wolfendon, a Dutch immigrant, walked in the dead of winter from Calgary to Winnipeg to meet his prospective birde, arriving from Hollan, in 1908.

Emil Vogelsang, fresh from Germany in 1867 established Canada’s first button factory at Berlin (now Kitchener, Ontario).

Fort Stewart in Montreal, photo by Elena

The Hermit of Niagara

Francis Abbot appeared at Niagara Falls in 1829. He was fascinated by the “sea-green waters and unearthly spray”.

Building a cabin on Goat Island on the brink of the gorge he retired to a life of seclusion, but often was seen with his hair streaming in the wind getting as close as possible to the wild torrents.

Then just two years after his arrival, Abbot entered the Niagara River as though driven by some inner compulsion and 11 days later the whirlpool gave his drowned body.

Niagara Falls, photo by Elena

Nellie Mooney McClung

Canada’s First militant for women’s liberation, Nellie Mooney McClung of Winnipeg. In January 1914, led a vociferous delegation of ladies, campaigning for the right to vote, into the Manitoba legislature for a confrontation with the Premier Sir Rodmond Roblin.

Politely rebuffed by the Premier, Nellie McClung and her followers showed they meant business by plying the rpovince in buchboards and lumber wagons, gathering a petition of 44, 000 signatures – enough to win the the vote in 1916. Alberta and Saskatchewan also yielded that year, and most provinces soon after, though Quebec waited until 1940.

Trivia about Canada

 Trivia about Canada

A Governor who had seen a ghost

One day in 1785, lt. George Wynard and Capt. John Sherbrooke (later governor-in-chief of Canada – 1816) were in the officers’ mess at Sydney, N.S. They saw a young civilian pass through the room and Wynard exclaimed! It was his brother who was in England. But then, the two puzzled officers were unable to fin the young man anywhere on the premises.

Later, Sherbrooke received a letter from England asking him to tell Wynard that his brother had died – on the very day, at the very hour he had “appeared” in Sydney.

Vanished forest monarchs

It is difficult today for visitors to the city of Vancouver, British-Colombia, to visualize the thousands of giant trees that towered to the skies, less than a hundred years ago,, where downtown Vancouver now stands.

From the dawn of time they had stood, many over 90 m high, as thick as fields of grain.

Black Creek Village. Photo by Elena

Joey, a tow year old budgie, owned by Mrs Joseph Peterson o Nanaimo, B.C. has a vocabulary of 280 words.

Mysterious ancient coins were found by miners excavating a tunnel in the Cassiar District of British Columbia in 1882. Taken to Victoria, the money was identified as currency of China dating from 2,000 B.C.

A last exit

Sir John A. Macdonald, Canadian first prime minister frequently avoided persistent patronage seekers by slipping out of his office by a back door and down a private spiral stairway to the street below.

Pieces of congealed mist from Niagara Fallas, sold as souvenirs from the earliest days of tourism at the famous site, were little white stones imported from England.

The weekly newspapers have more more Canadian-content than any other division of the mass media.

Prince Albert – the first white settlement in Saskatchewan, has another important distinction. Three of its members of Parliament have been prime-ministers (Laurier, King and Diefenbaker), while sitting for the constituency.

The bald eagle is the national symbol of the USA, yet more of them exist in British Columbia than all of the States.

Baby dolphins begin to leap alongside their mothers as soon as they are born.The Great Auk: A large flightless bird that inhabited the coasts of the North Atlantic passed out of existence on June 4, 1844. Its end was tragically typical : a pair was discover with an egg and destroyed, and this was the last pair.

Web Site Province Quebec

All you might want to know about Quebec : www.provincequebec.com This is how it started: in 1534, French navigator Jacques Cartier landed on the Gaspé Peninsula claiming the territory in the name of France and naming it Canada. 

Several voyages later, in 1608, the City of Quebec was founded as a capital of New France… New France, Lower Canada, the province of Quebec—so many names it carried through ages always playing a significant role in history and economic development of Canada. This is who we are today: almost 8 million Quebekers—a quarter of the total number of Canadians—living and working in the province famous for its cutting-edge industry and cultural events, universities and research centers, social programs and French heritage.

Quebec Bank, old wall in Guild Park, in Toronto. Photo by Elena

 We invite you to read about Quebec’s early history and significant events that took place during the second half of the 20th century: EXPO-67 and the 1976 Olympic Games. This and a lot more at your fingertips! Browse our site and learn more: Provincequebec.com was developed as an information resource for everybody who would like to learn about the province: its people, heritage, geography, tourist attractions, and the possibilities of working or studying here. 

 We value your feedback and your opinion does matter: you are welcome to write to us and to participate in our discussion forums. At present we are working on its full English version: www.provincequebec.com

Vaccination: Shots Your Pet Will Appreciate

Vaccination: Shots Your Pet Will Appreciate

Vaccination will keep your dog or cat free of many common diseases

Since the discovery in the eighteenth century that it was possible to build up immunities against certain diseases in both people and animals by injecting them with tiny amounts of living virus, hundreds of vaccines have been created. By immunizing pets in their early months and bolstering the protection with annual “booster” vaccinations, pet owners can shield their animals from diseases that often are highly contagious to other animals and, in cases such as rabies, pose a serious treat to humans as well. Here, from the American Veterinary Medical Association, is a rundown of the diseases against which your dog or cat should be immunized.

Both cats and dogs

Rabies: A viral disease that can attack the central nervous system of all warm-blooded animals, including humans. It is fatal if not treated, Most states require dog and cant owners to vaccinate their pets against rabies. The disease is transmitted by saliva, which is usually transferred by a bite from an infected animal and is frequently found in wild animals, such as skunks, raccoons, and bats.

There are two types of rabies – “dumb” and “furious”. Both cause a departure from normal behavior. 

Animals with furious rabies will have a period immediately prior to death in which they appear to be “mad”, frothing at the mouth and biting anything that gets in their way. Dumb rabies differs in that there is no “mad” period. Instead. Paralysis, usually of the lower jaw, is the first sign. The paralysis spreads to limbs and vital organs and death quickly follows. Wild animals that are unusually friendly and appear to have no fear of man or domestic animals should be avoided and reported immediately to the police or animal control authorities.

Pusha. Photo by Elena

Rabies is almost totally preventable by vaccination. Dogs and cats should receive an initial rabies vaccination by the age of three to four months. Protection lasts from one to three years. Regular booster vaccinations are required.

Dogs Only

Canine Bordetellosis: Caused by bacteria in the respiratory tracts of many animals, it is the primary cause of kennel cough. Besides the cough, some dogs suffer from a purulent nasal discharge. Transmission usually occurs through contact with other dogs’ nasal secretions. Vaccination is generally administered by nasal spray.

Canine distemper: A highly contagious viral disease, canine distemper is transmitted by direct or indirect contact with the discharges from an infected dog’s eyes and nose. Direct contact is unnecessary because the virus can be carried by air currents and inanimate objects. Early signs are similar to those of a severe cold and often go unrecognized by the pet owner. The respiratory problems may be accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea. A nervous system disorder may also develop.

The death rate from canine distemper is greater than 50 percent in adult dogs and even higher in puppies. Even if the dog survives, distemper can cause permanent damage to a dog’s nervous system, sense of smell, hearing, and sight. Partial or total paralysis is not uncommon.

Canine Leptospirosis: A bacterial disease that harms the kidneys and can result in kidney failure. Vomiting, impaired vision, and convulsions are all tipoffs. Transmission result from contact with the urine of infected animals, or contact with something tainted by the urine of an infected animal.

Canine parainfluenza: A viral infection of the respiratory tract, it is frequently accompanied by other respiratory viruses and is usually spread through contact with the nasal secretions of other dogs.

Canine parvovirus (CPV): A serious problem because the virus withstands extreme temperature change and even exposure to most disinfectants. The source of infection is usually dog feces, which can contaminate cages and shoes and can be carried on the feet and hair of infected animals.

CPV attacks the intestinal tract, white blood cells, and heart muscle. Symptoms include vomiting, severe diarrhea, a loss of appetite, depression, and high fever. Most death occur within 48 to 72 hours after the onset of clinical signs. Infected pups may act depressed or collapse, gasping for breath. 

Death may follow immediately. Pups that survive are likely to have permanently damaged hearts.

Infectious canine hepatitis: Caused by a virus that can infect many issues, the disease usually attacks the liver, causing hepatitis. In some instances a whiteness or cloudiness of the eye may accompany the disease. Another strain of the same virus can cause respiratory tract infections. These viruses are transmitted by contact with objects that have been contaminated with the urine from infected dogs. Infectious canine hepatitis is different from human hepatitis.

Cats only

Feline panleukopenia: Also known as feline distemper, the disease comes from a virus so resistant that it may remain infectious for over a year at room temperature on inanimate objects. Spread through blood, urine, feces, nasal secretions and fleas from infected cats, the virus causes high fever, dehydration, vomiting, and lethargy and destroys a cat’s white blood cells. It is 50 to 70 percent fatal, but immunity can be developed throug vaccination of kittens and annual boosters.

Feline Leukemia virus: A disease of the immune system that is usually fatal, its symptoms include weight loss, lethargy, recurring of chronic sickness, diarrhea, unusual breathing, and yellow coloration around the mouth and the whites of the eyes. Confirmation of the virus requires a blood test. Fortunately, there is a new vaccine that provides protection.

Pushon. Photo by Elena

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Felins clicivirus, and Feline pneumonitis: All three are highly infectious viruses of the respiratory tract, for which vaccinations are available.

Calling the Shots on Your Pet’s Health

The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends the following vaccination:

Dogs: Distemper, infectious canine hepatitis (CAV 1 and CAV 2), parvovirus infection, bordetellosis, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, rabies, coronavirus.

Cats: Panleukopenia, viral rhinotracheitis, caliciviral disease, rabies, feline leukemia.