Good ol’ and new Canada

Tags

adventure, Canada, entertainment, friends, Happiness, Holidays, Summer, Toronto, travel, World Cup

“Happy Canada day!” Is what I heard from passing strangers, in pubs and stores. I was going to celebrate this national day with some newly made friends. No better way to bond than with beer and a barbecue! We went to the beach. People were coming and going. Our international company existed out of just 1 or 2 real Canadians, which resembles Toronto’s population. Eventually we ended the evening with the long-expected firework shows. I heard “Oows” and “Aws” all around me during the 10 minute long show. Now I never turn down a firework show, but I was used to the real thing, for as in the Netherlands the firework fills the entire sky with colorful lights. But I guess that’s Canadian modesty.

For me fireworks stands for a beginning. So I usually reflect the past time and think about the things to come, but not this year. I thought about how lucky and fortunate I am to have this chance. So I’m going to make the absolute most of it. So the fireworks were a nice, poetic touch to the start of my trip.

But in Good Ol Canada they also celebrate World Pride. So last weekend the streets were filled with colorful people, music and more than anything; tolerance. Parties on every corner, slushies everywhere and (half) naked people. After the World Cup match The Netherlands Vs Mexico we went to see the parade. The people in the parade were welcomed with enthusiastic cries when they got out there water guns in the burning heat.

Which is something that surprised me. Though humidity makes my hair more curly than ever, the sun is shining most of the time, the temperature is great and every 4 to 5 days a big downpour relieves you from the intense heath. And then it starts all over again. But I don’t mind. Not at all.