Kensington Markets

 "As today was the last part of our last weekend in Canada, we all had free time to be able to go and explore and chill our own parts. As a group we split off, Kerryn, Miriam and I decided that we wanted to go back to Downtown Toronto as there is a place called Kensington market that Kerryn and myself were unable to visit last Sunday as we were taking part in the Edge walk. Because today is the last Sunday of the month, there was a festival as part of the market, so the roads were shut to cars. It is called the pedestrian market. Beforehand we knew we would want to grab a coffee as soon as we got there so I looked up some coffee shops in Kensington market. The coffee shop that stood out to me was one called “Fika” - which I later discovered this is Swedish for Coffee Break. I had mentioned to Pete that this was a coffee shop we were going to as there is an entire wall of books and as I am such a book lover, I had to see this. We have friends that are Swedish, and it was them who informed us that this was a Swedish coffee shop.  " - Clair Windsor

 

"After our “coffee break” we looked around Kensington Market. There was one street opposite where we were having coffee that had buildings that were all different colours and appeared to have the business/shop on the lower floor and the top floor could have been where they lived. It seemed like a close-knit community of people who work and live in the area. The fashion is entirely different to anything I have seen before, and the culture was fantastic to experience. It looked like it would not look out of place on the set of a Jamaican Film. The colours and music and atmosphere. The hot weather made it feel like we were in a hot south American country. 

 

There were a group of street performers that performed various acts to the crowds. There was even a lady who was in a wheelchair performing. They seemed to be extremely passionate of their performances, I was even given a balloon model. 

 

The three of us stopped off at a local bar and restaurant to grab a drink, where I again picked a blue cocktail. We were seated outside, and the sun was extremely hot at this point. 

 

After another walk around the rest of the market, we came across the famous painted car that I had only this morning read an article on. It was a captivating sight, not something any of us had seen before. Because it was so busy, we struggled to take a picture of it without people in the way.  " - Clair Windsor

 

 

 

"After our morning around Kensington Market, we walked back to the harbour front that we had also previously visited last week. The beautiful weather we were enjoying today made for amazing views and experience.  

It was nice to walk along these places and take in the scenery again at our own pace and appreciate it more. It was definatley a lot hotter than it had been the previous weekend, so we were able to enjoy eating in the outside eating areas on the harbour front and watch the world go by.  

 

On the way back to Centennial college in the taxi, it was sad realising that would be the last time we would be visiting downtown Toronto, but I am truly grateful that I have been able to experience the hustle and bustle of the vibrant city, and hope to one day in the future visit with my children and fiancé, having the knowledge I  have gained in this trip to guide them round the brilliant parts.  " - Clair Windsor