Toronto by Train

We arrived in Toronto via Canada Rail from Windsor (thanks Mom and Dad Remley for the ride to the station!) and stayed in the University of Toronto dorms.  Accommodations were spartan but comfortable, and suited our needs well.

We have long preferred to explore cities by foot, and that is exactly how we spent our favorite day in Toronto; walking the entire length of Queen Street.

At nearly nine miles long, Queen is a main thoroughfare that runs through a number of Toronto's neighborhoods: Parkdale, the Fashion District, Chinatown, Downtown, the Historic District, Corktown, Broadview, Leslieville, and the Beach.  In all, we logged about twenty miles walking from the dorm, down Queen, and back.  Throughout the walk we stopped frequently for various edibles and libations - getting a small taste for many of Toronto's different areas. Despite a little rain, we think it was a perfect day.

Our favorite Toronto discoveries:

- Peameal bacon sandwiches at the St. Lawrence Market.

- The eclectic vibe of the artsy neighborhoods of West Queen.

- The dazzling selection at Loblaws grocery in the Church and Wellesley area.

- The sprawling, central campus of the University of Toronto.

- Cheap and filling dolsot bibimbap in Koreatown.


Next stop: Montreal, Quebec

Pre-trip Planning: Insurance

We were surprised to discover that even robust US-based medical plans often do not cover overseas treatment.   We have, therefore, chosen to supplement our standard health insurance with special travel coverage.

Our travel insurance was relatively inexpensive and covers us in the event that we have any mishaps while abroad that require medical care.  Or, in the unlikely event that something catastrophic happens, our travel insurance will pay for immediate evacuation or the repatriation of our remains. 

We purchased our insurance through HCC Medical Insurance Services, but there are many companies that offer this type of coverage.  For us, the peace of mind of knowing we’ll be covered in the event of an unfortunate event is well worth the premium cost.

Pre-trip Planning: Stateside valuables

We have found that flashy jewelry and watches can draw unwanted attention in many places across the world. To avoid this, we have decided to leave our valuables behind while we are abroad. 

We originally considered leaving these items in the care of family, but realized babysitting our jewelry was not only a lot of responsibility for loved ones, but it would require us to maintain insurance on the items. We have instead decided to rent a stateside safe deposit box to safeguard small valuables while we are abroad.

Though it will be difficult to leave behind cherished items (especially our engagement ring!) we think it’s much safer and economical to leave our shiny stuff behind in our super secure safe deposit box.
 

Pre-trip Planning: The gentleman's packing list

Bottoms:

Jeans 

Athletic shorts

Swimming trunks

Cotton twill shorts (2) (one pair dark tan, one pair blue/grey)

Boxers (10)

Tops:

Various t-shirts (8)

Golf shirts (2)

White undershirts (5)

Zip-up, cotton hoodie

Old wool sweater (disposable, for Iceland)

Feet:

Merrell barefoot shoes

Navy Havaianas

Old New Balance running shoes (disposable, for Iceland)

Socks (2) 

Containers:

The 65L+ backpack described in an earlier post
North Face backpack, for day trips

Misc:

Black belt

Brown belt

Sunglasses
Kindle (well stocked)

iPod (well stocked)

Toiletries

Cocoon cotton travel sheet

Fast drying towel (Micronet microfiber towel - size large)

Pre-trip Planning: The lady’s packing list

"When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money.  Then take half the clothes and twice the money." -Traveler's Proverb

Jeans (though many seasoned travelers advise not to take them I have decided I can’t leave home without this wardrobe staple)

Black yoga pants (useful for sleeping and working out)

Khaki shorts

Black tank

Grey racerback tank

Purple racerback tank

Green dri-fit tank

Pink T-shirt

Orange cardigan sweater

Black dri-fit athletic jacket

Black scarf

Green scarf (scarves will be useful for places that require more modesty or have chilly A/C)

Brown leather belt

Baseball cap

Bikini

Black Havaianas

Purple Havaianas

Merrell barefoot shoes

Orange striped sundress

Purple strapless maxi dress

Black Patagonia Morning Glory dress (my favorite! Quick drying, wrinkle resistant, just lovely)

Black strapless maxi dress
Cute black printed sundress thoughtfully gifted by S-Fo

Not pictured:

Undies (12)

Bras (2)

Sports bra (1)

Strapless bra (1)

Socks, running shoes, fleece, winter hat and gloves (will be disposed of after we visit Iceland)

Dooney & Bourke over-the-shoulder handbag

Ray-Ban New Wayfarers

Micronet Microfiber Towel – size large (this quick drying towel will come in handy if we end up in places that don’t provide linen)

Cocoon cotton travelsheet (lightweight individual sleep linen for beds that don’t seem so fresh)

Pre-trip Planning: Itinerary (a work in progress)

While the first month of our trip is pretty well organized, most of our journey will be planned on the fly to allow for maximum flexibility. The map below shows cities we have prearranged travel to but doesn't yet represent our complete itinerary.

View Our RTW Trip! in a larger map

Pre-trip Planning: Shoes

We need to keep our packs as light as possible, so trip footwear needs to be versatile, lightweight, and comfortable.   Other than an early stop in Iceland, all of the places we will be visiting will be sunny and warm, which is great from a packing standpoint.  Our plan is to bring warm socks and old running shoes to wear and ditch in Iceland, and then spend most of our remaining days traveling in our trusty Havaianas flip flops. 

For running, light hiking, and days when our dogs are just barking, we will slip on our new Merrell barefoot shoes. 

His: Merrell Trail Glove in Deep Olive

 

Hers: Merrell Pace Glove in Lychee

We’re just breaking these shoes in but already love the look and feel of them.  They are small but mighty - comfortable, breathable, and washable.  Their low-profile look works with shorts or jeans and since they are designed to be worn barefoot, we can cross having to pack socks off of our list!