Travelling Starfish

As you probably have figured out by now, I have friends scattered around a lot of different countries.  While I’m in Canada, I thought it made sense to see a couple of friends in Ohio.  Ohio is less than an hour flight from Toronto and because I have some Aeroplan points, I thought I’d take advantage of them for a weekend away.

The destination is Cleveland and I’m headed over from Friday early evening to Sunday mid-PM.

Luxe Bar

So for this month’s 24 hours – I’m heading from my hometown of Toronto across the border to Cleveland, Ohio.  To find out more, read on:

12 noon - I’m struggling to get out of here on time (as usual) but know that I have to finish up my work and hit the road. With all the long days and nights I’ve been pulling work-wise, I’ve decided to take a half day off and take the local transit to the airport.

I think I’ve mentioned before that one of Toronto’s biggest issues from a tourism perspective is that it doesn’t have a cheap and fast way to the airport.  Cabs into the city are about $50 one way and shuttle buses run at about $25 one way.  I’m testing out, for myself and my readers, the local TTC option which only is $3 one way – their website says it will take me 90 minutes (!!) from where I am (just north of the city) so we’ll see if it’s a hit or a miss.

1pm – luckily, I made it in time to catch my first bus that will drop me off at Lawrence West station.  From here, I need to grab the 58A to Malton that will drop me right off at Pearson International Airport Terminal 1 which is where I need to go.

2:15pm – so far so good.  All the buses have arrived on time and I’m on the 58A heading towards the airport.  All is going well but the one thing I’ve noticed is that this bus isn’t taking me through the best of neighbourhoods.  In my opinion, Toronto is a fairly safe city but there are certain areas I try not to go into.  The area around Jane & Finch is known for having gang issues and we pass through Jane & Lawrence which doesn’t look much better.  This route is fine now at 2/3 pm, but I think I’d give it a pass when the sun goes down just to be safe.  Good to know for my trip home on Sunday!

So, all in all I think this local bus option is a hit but only if you have the time & know the area.  Again, this is only my opinion.

3:30pm- arrive at the airport right on time – not too early, not too late.  In Toronto (and many Canadian airports), you actually have to clear US customs on the Canadian side.  They place US customs officers in Canadian cities to avoid returning someone on a flight if there are immigration issues.  This, obviously, adds more time to check in.  You also have to carry your checked baggage through US customs so be prepared to lug those cases around for a bit longer than you may, going to other destinations.

5:00pm – my flight is set to leave at 5:30pm so I’m at the gate right on time for boarding.  Unfortunately, we aren’t boarding – everyone is just sitting and waiting.  After asking some of the friendly Air Canada staff what is going on, they tell me that there is going to be a small delay.  It’s not too bad – we end up boarding at 5:45pm and set off at 6pm sharp.

6:30pm – the flight is going smoothly except some turbulence which you can totally feel in this plane.  The flight is a small commuter flight so it’s only a propeller plane.  Luckily, I’m comfortable in most aircraft so I don’t have an issue.  I can see a couple of people in front of me are a bit nervous as we descend – luckily all goes well and here we are in Cleveland.

Cuddle up with a book & coffee at The Root Cafe

7:00pm - as an fyi for those doing this trip, be aware that you may not fly into the Air Canada area of the Cleveland terminal.  I flew into Continental.  Air Canada and United are a part of the Star Alliance and United just bought Continental so they are obviously working through a few kinks at the moment.  It’s no real issue except for the person picking you up at the airport…oops!

7:30 pm – finally after a bit of confusion I meet up with my friend – these reunions always make all the travel worthwhile.  We quickly head back so I can drop my bags and freshen up.  Then we are off out for a night of fun in C-town!

1:00 am - and fun we have – the rest of the night is a bit of a blur.  Between the fabulous Mexican food we had at Momocho’s (especially the tasty guacamole) and the bar hopping we did I think I drank a bit too much.  One highlight to be remembered was a sexy Burlesque show at Luxe Bar – I’m not sure if they do this every Friday night but it definitely spiced the entertainment up a bit.  Really nice bar & wine by the way.

2:30 am - we finally get back home (well, home for the weekend) and I literally just crash.  I haven’t had that much red wine in a long time so I know the best thing for me to do is get some zzzz’s so I don’t suffer too much tomorrow.

9:30 am - (by the way, I never sleep in until 9:30!) I wake up and get out of bed – ah, bad idea.  I’ve got the biggest headache and that lovely hangover feeling.  I realize as I’m getting older how much more alcohol hits me.  I always think the same thing – “I’m never drinking again” and maybe one day I’ll really mean it.  For now, I just need a cup of coffee.

10am – my luck, there is no coffee in the house.  OK, I think a trip out of the house is in order.  After getting ready, we decide to head to the Root Cafe on Detroit Avenue in Lakewood (sorry no website).  The food is all freshly made and it has a relaxed atmosphere.  At this point, all I care about is that they make coffee, so the name Root “Cafe” sounds good to me.

11:30am – The Root Cafe turns out to be a big success and just what I need to cure my hangover.  I have the beetroot and goat cheese sandwich.  It is delicious – it’s just what the doctor ordered along with a cappuccino of course.  I can’t wait for more meals here in Cleveland – food, drinks and fun is what this city is all about.

So, that’s what I got up to in 24 hours – a bit exhausting but a lot of fun.

Keep watching Travelling Starfish to hear more about my trip to Cleveland, Miriam x

When you grow up in a city like Toronto, it’s sometimes hard to try new things or branch out from your typical hangouts.

In lieu of a cancelled trip to Montreal (due to bad weather) my parents and I wanted to do something different in the city. We were celebrating their anniversary.  So, being the Travelling Starfish that I am, I researched some ideas for a night out in the t-dot (local phrase).

Mum & I at The Sultan's Tent

I love different types of food and experiencing different cultures.  Enter The Sultan’s Tent.  I heard about this restaurant in Toronto that serves Morrocan food and has belly dancing shows as entertainment.

We thought about a few options and decided to go for it.

The sultans tent was originally located in the Yorkville area of Toronto but re-opened in 2002 at its current location on Front Street.  This places it right in the heart of the city and beside St. Lawrence Market – one of the best places in the city.

They offer 3 dinner seating’s – 5:30, 7:45 and 10:15.  We went for the second one so it gave us enough time to get ready and also wasn’t too late.  Prices start at $39.95 per person for a 4-course meal and the show.  Not a bad deal we thought.

Belly dancing & Moroccan decor

As soon as we entered, it was packed to the brim with people – those coming out of the first show and those waiting to be seated for our seating – we grabbed a drink and waited.

When we finally got seated, we got led to an area draped in curtains and couches.  First impression? I like it!  The ambiance was great and the couches were comfy.

The whole night was excellent, especially for my parents who don’t get out a lot.  The belly dancing was good and food fairly decent.  My dad had the roasted lamb, mum had the mango salmon & I had the chicken Marakesh.  The starters were my favourite part of the meal – the mains were fine but I’ve had better.  To be honest, I’ve been to better Moroccan restaurants but the dancing made up for it.

Fez cake

They also gave us a lovely little Fez (like the hat) cake in honour of my parents anniversary.  I recommend the harrira soup for the first course (delicious) and hummus for second (its homemade).  Stay away from the chicken as mine was overcooked – my mum loved the salmon so I would have that if I go back again.  We had a great red wine too that was a Portuguese Douro.  It was full bodied and reasonably priced.

All in all a good experience.

If you like dancing and are looking for a dinner experience in the city with a bit of atmosphere, I recommend The Sultan’s Tent.  It is especially nice for a special occasion as it’s a fun place to have a party and celebrate – you can get up and shake your hips with the belly dancers so you can learn a thing or too!

Another tip is that if you want the atmosphere without the show, you can also just eat or drink at the bar there, Cafe Maroc. They offer an a la carte menu and there is a great ambiance in the bar area.  This is what I plan to do next time as I think you would still get the benefits without the set time or menu.

Enjoy and let me know your thoughts on The Sultan’s Tent in Toronto.

Miriam

Well, it’s that time of year again.  Growing up in North America, I always remember this time of year to be about snow, cold weather and lots of food & drink.  Even though I’m Jewish and don’t technically celebrate Christmas, I still did what many Jewish kids who grew up in Canada do – go for a visit to Santa at the local shopping mall for a photo.  Ah…the memories.

December and the holidays in general are a great time of year.  All of the hustle and bustle, the holiday parties and celebrations – it is just a joyful time for all.  Also we are closing down the year and starting the year off with a blank slate – something I’m looking forward to this coming year for a number of reasons.

Over the past decade, I’ve been fortunate enough to celebrate the holiday season in different parts of the world.  I’ve been down under, in the UK, home in Canada and even in Israel.

Here are some of my observations of the different traditions at this time of year in the places I’ve been -

XMAS 2004 - Oz

2004 – Christmas / New Years in Oz -

As I mentioned before, I spent about 5-6 weeks in Australia between Dec ’04 – Jan ’05.  As most of you know, this is the summertime in Australia and my first experience in the Southern Hemisphere during Christmas and New Years.  Instead of snow and slush, I was confronted with Christmas trees in the middle of beach and sun.  No complaints.

Since I don’t technically celebrate Christmas, I decided to take a break from the backpacking life and booked a 5-night holiday on Great Keppel Island through Contiki tours.  Even on this remote and relaxed island, Christmas celebrations were still in full swing.  When I talked to some Australian locals they told me that their Christmas traditions are to have barbecues outside on Christmas Day with the family. A far cry from hibernating inside with a roast to keep warm.  On this Christmas, the resort hosted a toga party – the togas were Christmas sheets you bought at the resort and it all went to charity.  It was good fun and a nice way to celebrate the festive season.

New Years in Australia is a pretty big deal.  The big party is in Sydney as it is one of the first places in the world to ring in the New Year.  I spent New Years in Fraser Island (as I mentioned in a previous blog) but the one thing that’s consistent across the country is that everyone is up for a good party.

If you are heading down under to escape the cold, enjoy mate!

XMAS ball in the UK - Yes, it's Elvis!

2006 – Christmas/New Years in Jersey, UK

2006 was my first year celebrating the holidays in the UK.  I must say, it is lovely to be on an island like Jersey at Christmas time.  Earlier in December, the Christmas Market comes out – La Fête dé Noué as they call it.  During this time, the high street is lit and the shops are bustling.  There are outdoor markets in the Royal Square and there is just a lovely feeling in the air.

My first UK Christmas was special – I loved how everyone got into the spirit with all the fun Christmas Balls, Christmas lunches and all the general festivities.  Christmas Eve most people meet up for a Christmas drink after they leave work (usually a bit earlier than normal).  Then on Christmas Day, after you open all your prezzies, we would head to the pub for a drink to chat to all the locals and wish them well.  Then came the meal – and boy was it yummy!  All of the roast turkey and pork (yes, I eat pork!) and all the trimmings – soooo delicious. The rest of the evening was spent watching Christmas specials of Coronation Street and Eastenders while chomping on snacks and chocolate.

I look back to those days and they will always put a smile on my face, that’s for sure.

Snowy Canada - 1st Jan '08

2007 – Christmas / New Years in Toronto, Canada –

In 2007, I spent Christmas Day on a plane back to Canada and New Years just outside of Toronto.  The holidays in Canada are lovely for a number of reasons.  Firstly, there is so much multiculturalism in a city like Toronto.  No holiday ever feels left out and there is almost something for everyone.  There are menorahs scattered around the city lighting an extra candle for each night of Chanukah.

For Christmas, there is a holiday feeling everywhere.  Usually there is some snow on the ground too and that always puts everyone in the holiday mood.  All of the bustling shopping malls and sales really get everyone out  Like the UK, there are lots of lights and glitter and even though it may be freezing outside, it’s always nice to take a stroll to get some holiday inspiration.

New Years in Canada is a tough one – I spent many a year getting all dolled up for fancy night clubs or parties only to be freezing cold and trekking through the snow.  In 2007, my partner & I just went to a friends house outside of the city.  To be honest, it was one of my favourite New Years celebrations I’ve ever had.  Good food, friends and laughter – who could ask for anything more to ring in a new year?

Israel - Dec 29th!!

2009 – Chanukah / New Years (Sylvester) in Israel -

Last year during all of the December celebrations, I was in Israel.  Chanukah started right when I arrived on Kibbutz Ketura. It is amazing to be in Israel at this time of year – well during any holiday celebration.  As a Jew who was born in an English speaking country, we celebrate Jewish holidays but they often aren’t as well known or widely celebrated as other holidays like Christmas or Easter.  To be in a country where the majority observes these holidays, is really something special.  It’s hard to describe.

Where I was, Christmas really was not a big deal.  I didn’t even realize it was happening until I looked at the date a couple days before.  First of all, the temperatures are warm so you don’t think you are in the month of December but also there are no Christmas decorations around like there are in North America or Europe.  I’m sure things would have been different if I went up to Jerusalem or Bethlehem though.

As for New Years, it also isn’t such a big deal here in Israel.  Dec 31st and Jan 1st aren’t holidays so if it falls on a working day, you work.  That’s not to say that people still don’t use New Year’s Eve as a reason to party – they do, especially on  a weekend.  Last year though I found out that Israelis actually call New Years Eve Sylvester – strange I know.  After researching I found out that this is named after a Catholic saint who has a feast associated with 31st Dec.  It’s a bit strange but I guess it caught on so Sylvester it is.

This year, I’m actually flying back to Israel just in time for New Year’s Eve (oops…Sylvester).  To understand more about what New Year’s is like in Israel, click here – an interesting article on the topic.

So – that’s my experiences on the holidays across the globe.  Do you have any others you’d like to share?

This Travelling Starfish wants to hear more…

With the holiday season ahead of us (or in back of us if you are talking Chanukah), shops are packed and parking lots are heaving.

Since I’ve been back, it’s really sunk in how much shopping there is in Toronto.  I know, there is shopping obviously everywhere but there is definitely something cultural about shopping in North America – I can’t really explain it.

Eaton Centre in all its glory!

Going to the mall is a past-time that many of us Canadians have as part and parcel to our childhood. I remember times where I spent afternoons on weekends with friends sitting in the food court at the local mall,The Promenade, eating fries and messing around.  After living in other countries with other cultural dynamics, when it comes to shopping I think I see this more than ever here. Whether or not it’s the weather – extreme cold in the winter and extreme humidity in the summer – or it’s the wealth of suburbs here, I wonder why there are so many malls. Ideas anyone?

I love to shop though so there are no complaints coming from me right now.  Toronto has its fair share of quality shops and shopping malls – definitely something for everyone.

One of the biggest and most well known in the city is the Toronto Eaton Centre.  The Eaton Centre has almost any store you can think of – well, probably two of every store.  A week ago I was downtown and took a visit to the mall and was honestly overwhelmed by all the people, choice and things to do.

The Toronto Eaton Centre was named after a department store chain in Canada called Eaton’s that grew from this very area of the city.  Eaton was the family name of the owner, Timothy Eaton and he grew a dry goods store in the 19th century to an empire.  Eaton’s announced plans in the mid-1960s to build the Eaton Centre complex and it opened its first phase in 1977.

Just over a decade ago, though, in 1999 Eaton’s went bankrupt but the mall decided to keep his name as it is notorious with locals and as a testament to him.  I don’t think we could ever call it anything else – but I guess that never stopped Rogers from changing the name of the SkyDome to the Rogers Centre so we’ll see if the Centre eventually gets a new name (and sponsor) one day.

Eaton Centre at Scotiabank Nuit Blanche '09

The Centre has over 200 shops and is one of Toronto’s most popular attractions.  One of the most prominent sights in the shopping mall (seen in my photo above) is the group of fibreglass Canada Geese hanging from the ceiling.  This is actually a sculpture by artist Michael Snow and named Flight Stop.

The mall is also connected to The Bay on Queen Street.  The Bay is another chain of department stores in Canada (this store is definitely in business).  I love the Bay.  It is a great department store that probably compares to a Debenhams in the UK and Macy’s in the US.  However, I think The Bay is the best.  When I walk into the one on fhe corner of Queen & Yonge I feel so glamorous – all the lovely clothes, makeup (my favourite) and accessories.  I’m such a girl sometimes…lol.

Outside of the obvious shops, there are also loads of restaurants in the mall – including Baton Rouge (which is yummy), Mr Greenjeans (an old fave – they play “They Say its Your Birthday” when you celebrate your birthday there) and Eggspectation.  All yummy choices!  Also many events are hosted in the Eaton Centre considering its size.  There are always product promotions going on there and I’ve been to quite a few signings with celebrities – last time I was there Michael Buble (I’m a big fan!) was there signing his new CD.  I didn’t get to meet him because I didn’t want to wait in the endless queue but it is cool that we were breathing in the same air nonetheless…haha!

Last year, I even went with 2 of my good friends to Scotiabanks’ Nuit Blanche where there was an exhibit in the Eaton Centre.  That is what the photo above with the bunny rabbit is all about.  This event opens up the doors of a number of buildings and local attractions and spotlights works of contemporary art.  In this “piece” a big rabbit, resembling the bunny from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, is floating around in the empty air of the Toronto Eaton Centre.  This was from the work of Jeff Koons, who is an American artist known for his reproductions of banal objects—such as balloon animals produced in stainless steel with mirror finish surfaces.  Definitely contemporary but pretty cool too.

So, the point here is that there is a lot more to the Eaton Centre than meets the eye. Back to the shopping though …

At this time of year, there are deals to be had and you can walk away with some great gifts for others & (most importantly) you too!  Boxing Day sales are coming up soon too in Canada – that is going to be a shopping frenzy…I can’t wait.

Visit the Eaton Centre and you can literally shop ’til you drop! Enjoy!!!

Even tough I’m Canadian, most people know that I’m not the biggest fan of the snow. I don’t ski or skate and the thought of the white stuff doesn’t do anything for me.

Me at Sun Peaks Resort

Over 5 years ago though, I visited one place that made me feel differently – Sun Peaks Resort in British Columbia.  As I’ve mentioned before, when I lived in Canada I traveled a lot around the country for my job. We were lucky enough to be invited to some unique and exciting venues. On this occasion, in January 2005, we were invited by a customer to present at their national sales meeting. We were only at the resort for a few days but it made a big impression on me, that’s for sure.

We flew Air Canada from Toronto into Kamloops airport via Vancouver (one of my favourite cities – a post for another time). As we descended, I could see all the beauty around me – full of tall trees as far as the eye could see.  It honestly took my breath away.

Sun Peaks is about an hour drive from the Kamloops airport.  We hired a car to make life a little easier.  Our customer told us there were 2 main hotels in Sun Peaks – Nancy Greene’s Chailty Lodge and the Delta Resort Sun Peaks.  After a search on a few travel sites like Expedia, Travelocity and Hotels Combined, we decided on the Delta as it was the most familiar brand and looked like the nicest – if you are away from home for business, you may as well have some comforts. Most importantly, it was where our customer was staying – so it’s always good to be as close as you can to maximize the networking.

Our hotel - Delta Sun Peaks

Over five years later, I still remember this hotel – a mix of luxury and coziness all wrapped into one.  I’ve been fortunate enough to stay at a few hotels in the mountains – Lake Tahoe in California, Banff in Alberta and Whistler in British Columbia.  There is just something special about it – you feel like you are in a big cozy chalet but you’re actually in a first class hotel.  Sitting by the fire with all the snowy mountains surrounding you.  What more could you ask for?  Even for someone who doesn’t like the snow, I have to admit – it’s absolutely breathtaking.

Out of the other resorts I mentioned, Sun Peaks is a much smaller resort town.  First off, it isn’t the most accessible of places.  The fact that you have to fly from Vancouver to Kamloops is the first sign that it isn’t going to draw the likes of skiers & tourists that you would get at Whistler – which is only under a 2-hour drive from Vancouver.  However, that may add some of the appeal to it too.  As I get older, I like more remote, less touristy places and Sun Peaks definitely offers visitors that.

In the area I noticed that there are plenty of condominiums (apartments) up for sale for people who love the area.  This way, they can buy a property to come back time and time again.  They must have a lot of return visitors if that is something they’ve started.

While I was there, I did a lot of wandering around in between meetings and really liked what I saw.  There are a ton of exciting sports you can get involved in at Sun Peaks – including (my fave) snowmobiling.  Forget getting the skiis or skates on, hop on a snowmobile and glide around the mountain for some wintery fun.  Even though I’m not a big fan of snow, this is good fun and a real thrill!

From what I hear, in the summertime, the area is just as beautiful.  All of the snow-filled activities are then filled with outdoor hikes and treks.  I couldn’t think of a more beautiful place to relax in the serene setting.

Not so snowy January

Sun Peaks offers all of this and because it’s so small you can get a lot of attention from the staff there.  What I love about the West coast of Canada is the friendliness of people.  Most people say how nice Canadians are.  I do think most of us are fairly nice but I think on the West coast, especially those from small areas like Sun Peaks, you get a great combination of nice and relaxed.  People enjoy life here to the fullest – whatever time of year you’re there.

It’s been over five years since I visited Sun Peaks but I’m yearning to go back. It’s definitely on my list of top spots to visit again.

If you’re considering a trip out west – whatever the time of year – consider a visit to Sun Peaks.

I’ll meet you at the top of the mountain, Miriam