Canada, Toronto

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We jetted off out of Australia on Christmas day, and landed in Seoul for a night of rest - it was cold and snowy in Korea! Then off to the airport again on Boxing Day morning, leaving Korea at 10.30am and arriving in Toronto on the same day at 9.30am on Boxing Day - this time difference is weird - we arrived an hour before we left!

Exhausted, we make our way to our beautiful Toronto hotel (Hotel Victoria) and try to push on until night-time, but we all finally crash at 3pm. It takes the kids a whole week to get their little body clocks sorted. For a few nights they wake at 2am and want to play, so we stay awake for a few hours then finally go back to sleep until 10am. It's a struggle to get out of the hotel before 11am, but we cram lots of touristy stuff in and see lots of Toronto for a week. It's actually quite mild for this time of year, according to the locals. No snow yet and a balmy week with temperatures ranging from -3o to 3oC. Yes, bikini weather really! There is an amazing underground 'maze' under Toronto, literally stretching almost the entire town centre linking the subway stations. It's like a shopping mall - loads of stores as you meander along 'The Path' and it takes you everywhere without the inconvenience of snow and cold. Takes a while to get orientated, but very handy!

We check out CN Tower, Royal Ontario Museum, Casa Loma, Science Center and spend a freezing day at Toronto Zoo. It was a relief that most of the enclosures were indoor and heated to suit the climate of the animals and us.

And we bought a car! We've decided on a van - a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan, which is the equivalent in Australia to a Chrysler Grand Voyager. Vehicles are well priced, we paid $5500 for the car - but insurance is an absolute killer in Ontario!! Because we have no insurance history in North America we start on the lowest rating, even with proof of previous insurance in Australia and driving experience. After soooo many hours and days of researching, we finally get the best deal we can find - $3800 for the year - crazy!!!

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Photos

Immigration desk at Toronto airport
The kids at the immigration desk after the long long flight.

Hotel Victoria
A great hotel in Toronto - and an amazing restaurant called 'Over Easy' for breakfast!

Kids shopping in Toronto
We arrived in to find winter clothes & boots, and ran straight into Boxing Day sales. Not too much fun when jetlagged - but Zara is there, so all good!

Joe at Marche restaurant
Amazing restaurant in Toronto. Designed to look just like a busy market & has loads of foods set up to look like a market -basically every food you could possibly imagine!

Our new car
2005 Dodge Grand Caravan - plenty of room for visitors!

Squirrel!
One of the most exciting things for the kids so far - they are very cute and everywhere!

On the streets of Toronto
Joe discovered this fact:
In Toronto, you cannot ride a streetcar (tram) on a Sunday after you have been eating garlic.

First taste of snow!
Just a few flakes to catch, on the streets of Toronto.

Snow Dancing
Dancing for some more snow - come on down!

Finally a bit of snow!
On the pathway to Casa Loma

Just a sprinkle...
but totally irresistible to the kids - gotta play! Just watch out for the yellow snow....

First play in snow
Only a little bit - more to come.

Armed and dangerous
Snowball fight anyone??

Armed and dangerous 2
I'm gonna get you!

Budding Archeologists
Digging for bones at Royal Ontario Museum.

T-Rex
Royal Ontario Museum

Jessie at Royal Ontario Museum
A local inhabitant.