The Toronto Vibe

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Ola!

It’s been about 6 months since my last trip so a new adventure was due!

This time I ventured to Toronto, Canada for 4 weeks of more STOTT Pilates courses. Completing my advanced Pilates levels as well as some specific rehabilitation focused courses which I am very excited about!

I arrived last week Monday after a smooth yet long trip via London. The directions I received from my host were on the dot and I nicely navigated my way through the city by bus and subway with backpack and all.
It took her, aka Mary, less than an hour to get me a subway pass, internet and a cellphone! She really is on the ball! 😉
She is a funky Indian lady who has a 2BR apartment. And crazily enough she rents out both rooms to students while she sleeps on the couch! But she is an excellent host, always making sure I have something to eat, just like a real mum! 😉 (wink to my mum who keeps checking up on my eating habits!)

Most of my time is spent at the STOTT studio so I cant show you too many interesting sightseeing pictures.. On the day of my arrival Mary took me to the 'waterfront' where I got to observe the Canadian Sunday pastime... This pretty much includes drinking coffee!
Damn these people consume caffeine by the litre! I like a nice cup of coffee (and the quality of the coffee is not too bad actually) but they order them in L and XL size and carry them around where ever they go! My SMALL cup completely overwhelmed..
Another impression is the size of the roads and cars! They all drive huge trucks and have huge driveways yet rather small, non-brick houses (which look like they could fly away anytime, like during the passing thunderstorm howling past my window at the moment!!)
My last impression is how amazingly multi-cultural this place is! And they all seem to live peacefully together.. I like that! So they don’t notice me so much like in Asia! Very peaceful!

Wrt the Pilates courses. They are just amazing! The instructors have great knowledge and skill!
And it’s really cool to have the actual people from the DVD, which I have watched plenty times, actually teach you in person! 😉
But since it is a very professional place I feel a bit stupid to go take pictures…. Right??

Tomorrow is my first day off, but because of the bad weather (just the last 2 days btw, it has been rather pleasant before that!) I had to postpone my Niagra Falls trip and I will go shopping to H&M tomorrow instead!! Some extra practice hours at the studio afterwards wont do any harm either, so a free-day well spent!

I will keep all of you posted!

For those still to be informed  I will be moving to Jakarta on the 2nd of September to start a new job at a private Pilates studio. Very exciting!!

Kisses, LIZ

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Photos

View from the apartment
oh, well, I cant say 'apartment', it is a CONDO appartently! ;)
A unknown difference to me..

Comments

[nina]

enjoying
hi friend! seems you're enjoying your canada trip, glad its not all work;-) see you soon!

[moetie]

eindelijk!
Eindelijk eens wat fotootjes! Ziet er fantastisch uit, a real big city! Keep up the good work! kisses moetie

[nonkel karel]

succes met je kursus Karel

[Katya]

Hello
Dear Liz. I was looking forward to your update. So glad that you arrived safely and settled in nicely. I miss you lots! Everyone is asking how you are doing. I'm so excited for you that you are meeting all the Stott Pilates stars. I would love to meet that skinny chick with the short hair. and Moira of course. Is she teaching you? I wonder if Miriane Braaff is working there anymore. If yes please send her my regards, if not please find out for me what's happened to her (any skinner?) Tamryn started teaching. I think everyone is enjoying her classes but it will take a bit of time until she will be more at ease. I think she is still a little nervous when I'm around while she is teaching. I try to leave as soon as I can to make her feel relaxed. I must say that your writing has got a lovely style. I think you are natural born writer. Always nice to read your stories. Please keep them somewhere so one day you can write a book about your travels. Would love to hear more. Please keep the news coming. Love, Katya

[wilma]

hallo vnuit uithoorn
lieve liz leuk om te horen dat je het zo leuk vindt ik ben meerdere malen in canada geweest , maar 1 keer in toronto geweldig inderdaad heb gister je paps gebeld om te feliciteren we zien je dus niet als we in oktober weer komen, en januari dus ook niet jammer want op cees zijn verjaardag , 11 nov, willen we met je ouders uit eten , in capetown dat was toen erg gezellig moet je de foto's van dat etentje nog eens sturen en de video, waar je honderduit kletst erg leuk nou lieve liz, succes en veel plezier met de cursus liefs wilma

[Bleys]

Hi Liz! Ziet er weer allemaal heel fijn uit om mee te maken! Ik zit zo te denken...wat heb je nog niet gedaan? Waar ben je nog niet geweest...??Toch tof dat je dat allemaal kan doen en er nog plezier aan beleeft ook!! Als je begin september naar Jakarta vertrekt zitten wij in de States dus wensen we je via deze: véél succes met je job ginder! Ik veronderstel dat we je wel zullen kunnen volgen via travelblog. Het allerbeste en een dikke zoen uit Brasschaat Roger Rita en Caroline Bleys