Be a tourist in my own city

So I spent the summer being a tourist in my own city (i couldn’t afford to go anywhere) and it was great. I went to the fringe festival which i thoroughly enjoyed, surprisingly enough, folklorama. I couldn’t make it to the jazz fest unfortunately. That was my biggest highlight last summer. Oh man I’m blanking on everything else I did but it was great. Next year I want to go to the art gallery, museum, planetarium, train station…all that good stuff.

I have far too many plans for this already. Festivals galore!! That’s the main plan. Plus all those things that I have always wanted to do but never have, including the drive in movie. I fully believe in being a tourist in your own city. If you think your city has nothing to offer, I bet it does if you just take a look. I am SO EXCITED ITS RIDICULOUS!!

i’ve lived here my entire life but haven’t seen even half of what there is to see. over the next few months i want to travel around my city and province and see what tourists see – a cheaper way to travel!

Being a student at London I realised that I have been well travelled in central London. However I still have many places to go.

I initially came to Brisbane four years ago with my sister as our first stop on a year long stint in Australia. On my first morning, I awoke early, laced up my running shoes and snuck out of the hostel room with the intent to acquiant myself with this new city. I ran through the Botanical gardens, across the Friendship Bridge and found myself for the first time in the Southbank Parklands. I was overwhelmed with the energy that eminated from this remarkable spot. Flocks of people rollerbladiing, biking, pushing strollers or running like myself. I ran past relaxed groups sipping lattes in the early morning sunshine. At the man-made beach children splashed and played in the water. I was immediately in love with the city’s vibrance. Weeks later I would meet a man here who would also capture my heart and draw me to ultimately return to this city.

One year ago I did return, this time as a student. The responsibilities of academic life have distracted me from exploring the city with the exuberance that I once possessed. With my final semester approaching and my time in Australia waning I hope to dedicate a portion of my free time rekindling my inquisitiveness for what other secrets this city hides.

I do this every once in awhile. I visit different neighborhoods and snap pictures of things that are interesting. I don’t really think of it as “tourism” though, just learning to appreciate my city again with fresh eyes.

I made my way downtown a few days ago, with the hopes of checking out a few CONTACT shows. I had mapped out a rough itinerary and was on my way. Besides the shows, which were interesting, and quite a distance apart, I took joy in the little things about the day…the way apple blossoms drifted off a blooming tree and looked like snow in the middle of Spring…the row of construction workers that sat on a window ledge while having their lunches, which instantly made me think of Men on a Girder Having Lunch as I walked past and smiled to myself…the TTC subway conductor, who smiled at me as I made my way off the platform, so sweet and innocent…the almost neon yellow coloured feet of a seagull…the brightly coloured duck that snuck up behind me as I ate a cookie on the grass (a. What was a duck doing in Nathan Plillips Square? b. Did he really think that I was going to share my cookie?)...the cool breeze the subway makes as it comes into the station, that causes my hair to dance and float…the sweet relief my feet felt once I sat in the car after a fantastic day and made my way home.

I have a pretty big family and it’s quite difficult to get together with everone on a consistent basis…so we’ve decided that every beginning of the year all the cousins are going to go out as a group, have dinner, maybe see a game and have a jolly ol’ time. This was the second year but the first time for me…I missed last year. We went to dinner and to see a Toronto Marlies game…so much fun! I’m pretty sure that it’ll be our ritual. My oldest cousin goes on a regular basis so we got fantastic seats…right beside home bench, with first and second row. We saw little “Timbit” players…so cute. Anyway, it was fun and something I consider doing more often.

I got a really great Christmas gift from my older brother…platinum seats to a Leafs game…so much fun! I’ve been wanting to go to another game for a while now. We went to dinner at this really great Italian restaurant not too far from the Air Canada Centre. _{They made pretty good pizza…but the service and ambiance were great!}

Our seats were fantastic…it was great to actually be able to see player’s faces. With a $6.00 pack of peanut M&M’s and a $4.00 bottle of water we were set to watch the game. We laughed and cheered…took a few picks and joked about being from Alabama…no offence to anyone who is actually from Alabama…I just like making the accent.

It was a great time…and one that I’m sure we’ll both cherish. Plus the Leafs won 3-2 against Minnesota…kept us on the edge of our seats the whole night.

Casa Loma, a famous mansion in Toronto, has ‘ghost walks’ every year for Halloween…It sounded promising, however, for $12 I pretty much had some fun laughing with my friends…could have done that on $0.93.