Canadiana Backpackers Blog

Every Saturday night, the hostel organizes a “Pub Crawl”. Some have asked, “why?”. It seems totally unesessary to escort “adults” to a bar they could easily find by themselves. (especially in the heart of the entertinment district!)

So, why, you ask?

We do it to promote conviviality among hostel guests. Many backpackers arrive as solo travelers and do not know anyone among the hostel residents.

So banding together people for a “pub crawl” allows for guests to meet, mingle and socialize.

Iman, is a young Toronto born lady who formerly worked as part of our front-desk staff (it was her second job and part-time).

Her family considerations forced her to give up her evening job with us and concentrate on her work for Chapter’s Book Store located directly across the street from the hostels doors.

She has always remained part of the hostels family and still comes by regularly to co-ordinate some hostel events.

Among other events, she handles the Saturday “Pub Crawl” – she is very good at it!

A lot of backpackers are on a limited budget (or simply don’t like to spend money frivolously) and Iman takes them to pubs where hostel guests are exempted from “cover charges” or where “Pub Specials” are offered.

Iman is very easygoing and acommodating  and has even known to escort some to Toronto’s  fun and famous “Gay Village” by request.

Check our events calendar on this website for “Pub Crawl” times.

Then, CHEERS!

Pub Crawl Stop: The Corned Beef House – excellent ice-cold draught and best Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwiches in the city!

Hostels in Toronto (arguably the most multi-cultural city in the world) play host to people from virtually every nation on the globe.

We’ve had visitors from Mexico to Monaco; from Uruguay to Uzbekistan. In other words, from just about every country. And everyone who travels from abroad has an interesting story to tell.

But sometimes, just sometimes, a person arrives whom you sense, at first meeting, is likely something very special.

We met Sandra – a Swiss Miss who was here on vacation in Canada – on our patio at the rear of the hostel. She sat down and joined our little group and  listened to our inane banter . She quickly  (unintentionaly without guile) became the focal point of everyone’s attention.

So a group of hostel staff colleagues and old friends, involved in a evening of relaxing after work drinks and some meaningless badinage, were drawn into a great evening of interesting and meaningful conversation.

At first glance, Sandra is obviously an athletic lady, perhaps a dancer. She is actually a Long-distance Cyclist, Kayak Competitor and an accomplished Rock Climber. By profession, she is a physiotherapist.

Some of our group were planning to go sailing on the hostel’s sailboat the next day.

Our plans changed only a little. We still wanted to go sailing; but not without Sandra!

Sandra left the very next day on a tour to Montreal, Mont Tremblant, Quebec City and Ottawa. The good news is she will return this Sunday for another four days before it’s back to Switzerland.

We can’t wait until Sunday!

AIR CASUAL is how many Canadians disparagingly refer to AIR CANADA, Canada’s National Airline.

But it’s a bit of a “bad rap” for the North American Air Carrier recently voted #2 in customer satisfaction.

As we head into summer, that rating position will likely drop somewhat as 3,800 Customer Service Representatives go on strike across the country and at Toronto’s Pearson Airport, the country’s largest air terminus.

A lot of our backpackers arrived via Air Canada (especially from Europe) and are due to return on that carrier.

Air Canada vows to operate uninterrupted at full schedule; but, delays are inevitable with only airline managers to respond to passenger queries.

If you are a backpacker leaving Toronto on Air Canada (or from Pearson Airport in general) check out the website below for traveler’s advice:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/flying-air-canada-heres-what-to-do-during-a-strike/article2058286/

Toronto boasts professional sports teams in Hockey, Baseball, Basketball, Football, Soccer and Lacrosse. (There are a host of other professional and semi-professional sports franchises; but, the list provided represents the city’s major-league teams.)

Summer is the time of year for baseball. The game is an American invention and passion but has a long and distinguished history in Toronto.

The legendary Babe Ruth hit is first major-league home run during a game on Toronto Island. The ball floated  away after being hit out-of-the-park and into Lake Ontario.

The Toronto Blue Jays (Toronto’s team of mostly American players) have captured the championship twice – back-to-back wins in 1992 and 1993. Those were the years our Americans werer better than their Americans.

Among the firsts in Toronto sports is the fact that the very first NBA (National Basketball Association) game was played right her in Toronto’s Maple Leaf Gardens in 1946. (The New York Knickerbockers defeated The Toronto Grizzlies 68 -66.)

We get discounted tickets for Blue Jays “Home Games” and take groups of backpackers to the ball game. (We do likewise for Basketball, Hockey, Football and Soccer when their seasons are in full swing).

You can check out our website for game times and purchase tickets at our reception. A staff member will accompany each group to the game.

Our website: www.canadianalodging.com