far too canadian: veronica's virtual canadian tour

Okay, so I haven't been to that many places in Canada; I still have six provinces and three territories to go. At least you're spared that much more rambling.

Ontario:
I was born and raised in Toronto (whoo!) (with its checkerboard floors...), so many of my photos are obviously from there. Here are some highlights:

	Childhood in suburbia. This is Willowdale, Ontario, technically a part of the megacity of Toronto. Note the backyard wading pool, the wooden fence, and the matching houses in the background. People say Toronto is trying to be like New York, but I really don't see a lot of these scenes in New York.
	Where everybody knows your name. The Guv'nor, 1241 Yonge Street, Toronto. The last time I went home, I found that my world had gone topsy-turvy. Live bands? Open-mic comedy nights? What is The Guv'nor becoming??? At least Paully is still there. If you go, tell him Vern says hi.
	Mmm, raised Hawaiian. Coffee Time, Toronto. One thing both New York and Vancouver sorely lack is a proliferation of 24-hour donut shops. Sure, Dunkin' Donuts is all over Times Square, but it's nothing like having Tim Horton's (best coffee), Coffee Time, Donut World, Country Style, ...all within a two-block radius. And they just call them rainbow-sprinkled donuts here.
	I have a lot of relatives. They visit often. And where do we take them? Papaya Hut, Yonge Street, Toronto. You can bring your relatives there, too.
	Watching traffic in the summertime. Dairy Queen on Broadview, Toronto. My aunt and uncle have brought a few of my friends and me here, and now all my friends want to come. If you sit on the benches outside--the ones overlooking the Don Valley Parkway--it looks really pretty in a wacky kinda way. No, not because of the trees in the valley, but because of the sea of brake and headlights that cut through all that darned green.
	Fun for all Russians and non-Russians alike. Samovar, --Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto. Note the heavy dнor-it's much more intense when you're actually inside. The owners are the friendliest around, the food is great, classic Russian, and the entertainment is, well, interesting. Keep close watch for when Gregory gets behind the cymbal hanging from the bar.
	The Allergy Pit. Edward's Gardens, North York, Toronto. I live nearby, so I'm usually running through here trying the catch a bus. It is bloody irritating when groups take over for their post-wedding shots because they block all the bridges. Otherwise, the Gardens are a relaxing place to stroll (not walk, but stroll), and they are the northern-most point for the network of parks that runs through the city. If you do the entire trek, you'll end up right by Lake Ontario.
	Cheap cheap cheap. Honest Ed's, corner of Bloor and Bathurst, Toronto. Complete with Las Vegas lights and jokes on the sides of the building, this store is legendary. Ed also happens to own King Street.
	Thorncliffe Bowlerama, East York, Toronto. I don't know the address, but you can call 416-421-2211, like it says in the picture. 24 hours, baby.
	Shish. Huntsville, Ontario. I dishwashed at Camp Tawingo, many moons ago. I didn't know it then, and it wasn't the reason I eventually went, but that summer holds the root of the "I wanna go to Vancouver"* phase I am in now, for reasons that are obvious to some, hidden from others*.
British Columbia:	Student Union Building, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. This is a picture of a phone booth there, but what I really should be displaying is the SUB arcade, on the floor below. I dare you to beat me at the Gem Fighter Puzzle game.
	Lenox House, UBC. This is the very sterile-looking townhouse complex I lived in for four months. It is part of the Vancouver Theological Seminary, but my UBC roomate/landlord got in because she needed family housing. She was crazy.
	Railroads by the waterfront, Vancouver. I liked stalking around the waterfront in Vancouver, looking out over to North Vancouver. There are giant Esso, Petro-Canada, and Texaco stations in the middle of the water (for boats, I guess), and at night, when you're really tired and you lose a contact lens, they look really weird.
	Don't buy anything-just play! The Kid's Mall, Granville Island, Vancouver. When I went with friends, some play things had a height requirement, which meant that only I could go in.
	Yay, English Bay! Denman and Davie Streets, Vancouver. My favourite place to forget the day.
	The ferry to Victoria, BC. Hilary feels the spirit.
Quebec:	Biodome, Montreal. Note beaver in background. People say Montreal is known for its nightlife. In honour of our friend at the Biosphere 2 in Arizona (Biosphere 1 being our Earth), we chose to go to the Biodome instead--during the day, at that. The complex was used for the Olympics back in the day. Now it is way cooler.
	Quebec City...
Nova Scotia:	The giantest pumpkin around. There are competitions like this if you're in Windsor, Nova Scotia. I was there for an international public speaking competition for my school. Whad'ya know, the only thing I placed in was in the Radio Newscast category.