Hanging out at Dark Horse is my new Sunday ritual. Elaine joins me. We could have been twins separated at birth. Her life parallels mine in so many ways: two single professional women from Vancouver with a yearning for overseas humanitarian work. We both studied in London, development economics at LSE for her and public health nutrition at LSHTM for me. The similarities go on and on, including the same muscle causing woes.
I am banned from a long walk on this warm Easter Sunday. Instead, I explore the city riding the 501 Queen Street streetcar. This route had been designated by National Geographic as one of the top 10 streetcar rides in the world, an honour shared with some illustrious routes.
http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/trolley-rides/
I have experienced all but Seattle’s--happy memories riding San Francisco F cable car up and down steep hills, twisting and turning on Lisbon’s route 28 through narrow bustling streets, watching street life on the upper deck of Hong Kong’s tram through Central.
Today, I ride the western half of the route. This link was built decades ago to bring city folk to the western beaches along Lake Ontario.
Bag laden shoppers stroll along Queen West. Hipper shoppers swarm along West Queen West with its independent shops and art galleries. Trinity Bellwoods Park is replete with local life. I spot the CAMH construction site--mental health care is taking a bold new direction in this city. I pass under the Dufferin new bridge that will be home to an outdoor art gallery. Drake and Gladstone stand out, both hotels resurrected from derelict rooming houses to be part of the vibrant art scene. The Tibetan community is establishing itself in Parkdale. The recently developed interactive map of popular baby names by neighbourhood indicates that Tenzin is the most popular name here.
http://toronto.openfile.ca/babyfile
I continue on past Roncesvalles, glimpses of the lake and the photogenic Summerside bathing pavilion as we speed alongside the Queensway. I spot the architecturally acclaimed Humber River Pedestrian Bridge, leading to the West Humber River Park marshes, a touch of the country within the city. We reach Lakeshore, “Vote for Ignatieff” signs dotting the lawns. We continue past the grand manors bordering the lake. A Orthodox church’s onion dome loom in the sky. Mimico’s architecture is reminiscent of 50’s beach storefronts, a pastel coloured 2 story clapboarded strip. I reach Long Branch, end of the line.
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