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We're still shattered but up we get to have our last day of Toronto fun - we have a bus tour and it includes a boat tour of Toronto's islands so we make tracks stopping for a Canadian brekkie of pancakes, syrup & bacon at Denny's (omg) and then hop on board our tour bus.
We take the bus for the whole circuit learning that the city's Younge Street, once had the title of biggest street in the world until Guinness discovered that it turned into a highway halfway through so they lost out on what they claim to be a "technicality". We see the amazing CN tower up close - it's a pretty overcast and rainy day - first we've had to be fair, thank God, we weren't doing Niagara today, we'd be gutted.
As such we decide not to climb the tower as visibility is poor, we head towards the harbour and jump on our tour boat around the Toronto Islands- the views of the CN tower and Toronto skyline are astounding from our spot-on Lake Ontario. The boat tour's a bit dull otherwise. The islands are green and occupied by rich people who cannot own the land, they must lease it from the government for 99 years then the government takes it back. Some people are still on the waiting list 8 years later - it's mental! You can't drive on the islands bikes only, in the winter when it freezes on the lake you might struggle getting to the mainland for supplies as the only access is a ferry which last year couldn't run. It has a private school but it all feels very much for show - to say you live there without actually owning anything at the end of your time there -still whatever floats your boat! Get it?
We finish up and jump back on the bus to Younge Square which is a pretty cool hub - like Leicester Square - big TVs and crazy traffic. We head into the Hard Rock Cafe for two hot whiskeys to warm us up Matts bones are rattling he's that cold. The barman recommends a bar across the street that the government have been trying to buy for years, even offering the owner a million for every year he's been there - he refuses.
The bar is called the Imperial Library and when you see it you'll understand why - with all the modern skyscraper structures built around it, this little red brick pub with its awesome view of Younge Squares convert stage, looks completely out of place but in a charming kind of way.
After a minute or so you begin to think it's the concrete slabs that are out of place and infringing on this authentic Canadian pubs' patch - we love it! Plus, they offer hot toddy's (yes, they know heat that means) and the best poutine we've tasted so far - it's amazing!!! We wolf it down and have a 20-minute walk back to our hostel/dump/dive/hellhole for one last night - all packed and ready alarms set for 6am.
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