In June 2021, I embarked on my first journey across the Atlantic, flying from London to Toronto with Air Transat. The fare was irresistible, and it kicked off a memorable adventure in Canada.

Toronto is a city I found very walkable and well-organized, and I spent plenty of time just taking in the sights on foot. One of my early impressions was seeing the massive trucks on the road—so much larger than the ones we’re used to in Europe! During my time there, I visited the CN Tower and took in the stunning views of the city from the top, which were truly breathtaking. An afternoon boat ride in the harbor also gave me a peaceful moment to enjoy the skyline from the water.

A unique part of my Toronto experience was visiting a gentlemen’s barber salon in the basement of a luxury hotel in downtown. I had never been to a place like this before, and it was such a refined and interesting experience—something I would definitely do again!

From Toronto, I took an Amtrak train to Niagara Falls. Just like many things American, the train was big and spacious. I always thought the falls were in a remote area, but arriving there, I was surprised to find a modern city built up around the falls, both on the Canadian and U.S. sides. Despite the development, the falls themselves were as majestic as I had imagined. I took a boat ride up close to them, and yes, I got soaked, but it was thrilling! I also visited the Skylon Tower and got a stunning aerial view of the falls, which gave me a different perspective of this natural wonder.

All in all, it was a fantastic trip, and one that makes me want to return to Canada to explore more—especially the western part of the country, which I’m eager to visit next.