This is a story about exploration and childhood memories.
Sunday mornings in downtown Toronto are what you call, peculiar. No one is wandering on Yonge Street, which is a contrast from rush hour. Even on the brightest days, you won’t hear or see any birds chirping. It isn’t what you picture when you think of big city life. But you may as well assume that everyone is sleeping in because after all, living in Toronto is draining, and plus – it’s the weekend.
I was up early that morning, thinking of whether or not I should traverse out of the city. I checked the weather, and according to reports, I should prepare for a snowstorm. When I looked around, I realized that I only had one pair of shoes – a temporary edition of sneakers from my favorite TV show. So, I wore two layers of pants and shirts. I tossed on an old winter jacket which I found in the clearance section of an outlet store. Then, I grabbed my mini blue backpack, and decided that I indeed, should go on an adventure.
I purchased my train tickets online to snag the discount. Ten dollars for a round trip, where you can travel anywhere out of the city. It wasn’t the worst deal out there, especially considering that I haven’t travelled in awhile.
I arrived at the station earlier than I expected. Then, I stood in line to grab my coffee – A small double double from a large coffee chain.
When I stepped on the train, I sat at the window seat situated on the second floor. I took a peek outside. Everything seemed gloomy. The sky looked angry: The clouds covered the sunlight, creating a depth of sadness. All of the buildings looked empty, resembling a ghost town. The train slowly creaked away from the station, away from a silent, once-busy metropolitan city.
I opened my phone to read through the latest news. One hour passed. Then two. Then before I knew it, it was time to hop off. It was then that I arrived at my favorite place – Niagara Falls.
I headed downtown, which was tucked away from the waterfall. I never found the Falls to be appealing, although it was one of the seven wonders of the world. But the town was full of other wonders. One time, I discovered Clifton Hills – the touristy area full of bumper cars and rides. And another time, I ate desserts at the Hershey Factory – a place with chocolates crafted and customized to anyone’s liking.
I walked to a cafe I visited half a year ago where I was greeted with a “I remember you.” I purchased a small lemon tea, hoping it would warm me up. Unlike the summer, the streets of Niagara felt forlorn and no one was present.
I walked East for a couple of minutes and found myself on the outskirts of Clifton Hill. A few people stood near the race cars, not looking excited nor content. Music was blasting through a stereo above them with cliche Christmas songs.
Normally, I would have stopped and headed South. But I wondered: What if there is something else to discover? With that question in mind, I continued to stroll East past the Starbucks on Victoria Street. I walked past two men wearing oversized Black hoodies and pants, looking at me as if I didn’t belong there.
Should I keep on exploring? My hands were shaking beneath my gloves. But I continued to walk and I reached another tourist area – Lundy’s Lane.
The area was full of restaurants: Sushi shops, McDonald’s, Red Lobster, and Arby’s.
Arby’s – the place I loved as a child. I remember my mom and I always making a trip to the restaurant chain after classes and work. Since then, the restaurant has closed their branches in Toronto. Before I knew it, my stomach was rumbling.
Two hours later, I entered Arby’s, carrying a large bag with a pair of new winter boots from the local outlet mall. I ordered a junior ham sandwich combo. I suddenly felt that I was back in 2011. A time when life was much simpler, and the only thing that seemed to matter was me being happy or not.
I looked outside and saw the snow transform into rain. I quickly grabbed my food on the counter, and took a bite. And I felt happy. Sure, the weather was bad. Yes, I had to walk more than an hour. But at least now, I won’t have to worry about only having one pair of shoes.
Featured image via Jon Flobrant on Unsplash
