It’s been a while since I’ve written and I survived summer flying. My second summer on the line went surprisingly much better than my first. Some of the worst weather, delays, mechanical issues and short layovers were all in the first few months of my career. Maybe I just got used to that as the standard? But this summer was overall much more smooth.
This was only my second time in Toronto and the first time I had a decently long layover. I decided with the weather being just perfect, and actually warm, I needed to spend the day outside. Some minimal research later, I found Centre Island and decided that was going to be my day.
Starting the day in downtown, I caught an Uber to the Centre Island Ferry. Round-trip tickets run about $8 Canadian and trip to the island takes about 20 minutes.
Once you get to the island, follow the crowd left. You’ll meander through greenery, passing by a children’s amusement park (if visiting during the week, beware of summer camp field trips clogging the sidewalk) until you make your way across a small bridge. The fountain and landscaping in front of you is a great place for a quick picnic and people watching.
If you keep walking toward Lake Ontario, you’ll eventually get to the beach and then the pier. Growing up in Florida, the beach and ocean were a regular part of my childhood. But standing off the coast of one of our Great Lakes, in another country on top of that, it was a moment for me to reflect on just how big and different, but also similar this world is. In another country, in a different climate, with what I’m sure is a very different water temperature, people were still out enjoying the weather, splashing around on a summer day. 
Next to the pier, you’ll find a bike shop that rents by the hour. A $10 cash deposit (Canadian or US) and an ID gets you your bike of choice whether single, tandem or a quad-bike. Some rain had come through a few days prior to my visit and most of the pathways were covered with water, but it was just enough for a quick hour and change ride around the island and a homemade picnic by the fountain.
I had to be back by early afternoon for pick-up but I could have easily spent the afternoon lounging under a tree reading, or playing Frisbee like the locals. After getting back to the mainland, I decided to walk back to the hotel.
Walking through downtown Toronto reminded me of walking through New York City’s Midtown. Lots of people getting where the need to go, traffic, maybe some less than ideal areas, but they were quick and few and far between. I never felt unsafe. Just like anywhere else, beware of your surroundings, know where you’re going, and don’t look like a tourist.
One thing I thought a lot about on this trip, for not the first or last time, is how I (almost) never let being by myself stop me from doing something. I didn’t click well with this crew; the other two flight attendants were buddy bidders which meant they fly together all the time, and they were decently older than me. But I still went out, on my own, and experienced this semi-new city. Of course I would rather have had someone to enjoy the beautiful day with and make up stories about the people in the park.. but I didn’t. And that’s okay too. It’s okay to be by yourself. To be the only one keeping your memories. It’s something I’ve grown used to over the last few years and I don’t always enjoy it, but I never let it hinder me or my adventure seeking self.
AAdventure Seeker 