"The Vacation"

Ever since I saw the Canadian actress Ellen Page in both "X-Men: The Last Stand," and "Hard Candy," I've become a huge fan of hers. Not only is she very lovely & charming, but she's also very intelligent & wise beyond her years. This young lady is an actress who is so good at everything she does.

Since becoming Ms. Page's fan, I took pleasure in watching various movie clips and interviews she has given (courtesy of You Tube). However, there was one interview she gave when she was in Toronto that fascinated me. Probably because I was fascinated from the clips I saw of the city, and added to the fact that I've never been there my entire life.

With my vacation time coming up, I decided this would be a great chance to take in the sites of Toronto. So around the end of August thru to September, I decided to take a week off. Ordinarily, I could have requested 2 weeks, but decided on one due to financial issues.

It was the best experience of my life.

Toronto is a city that never stops being busy. Even during the early hours of the day. It's just non-stop! I got to travel all over. Went around Chinatown, Had dinner in the CN Tower which has a revolving sky-view of the whole city, and ate at many Irish Pubs. As well at other culturally diverse restaurants.

I also went to the Eaton Center which is the busiest shopping area of all. There's so many people there that just walking thru the crowds creates a feeling of claustrophobia. Not just residential Canadians, but people throughout the world who come to the city. Much as I love Toronto, I wouldn't want to live here. Only because I'd feel over-crowded.

Eaton Center had many special events that took place. Before I walked up there, I didn't know that the cast of the TV show "Heroes" were on hand to promote their 2nd season. I also went to the Second City comedy club were many comedians like John Candy and Mike Meyers first started.

I also went to see Casa Loma which is north of Toronto. It is a very beautiful manor built by a former Canadian military officer who made his millions in the 1920's Canadian Stock Exchange. Just being inside the manor house (which is more castle-like in appearance)is so fascinating. Very interesting to point out is the man who designed it is the same man who built the Niagara Falls power-plant. There's a lot of history to it.

It was sad to leave Toronto, but as an added bonus, I then spent the last day of my vacation at Niagra Falls (on the canadian side of the border). It was just a breath-taking experience. I've seen so many movies (namely "Superman II") which show Niagra Falls, but it it NOTHING than when you see them up close. I went on the Maid of the Mist right up close to the falls, and I got the best pictures in the world.

This was the best vacation of my life.

After I returned to the states, I got the biggest shock of my life. I had wanted to go to the Toronto Film Festival, but I couldn't find a good time for it. However, I found out on Ellen Page's web-site that she had been at the festival a few days after I left. She was there for the premiere of her film "Juno." I was so shocked because knowing now if I had asked for that second week off, I would have gotten to see her in person.

To quote Charlie Brown: "AAUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!"

Still I have her to thank for kind of putting the idea into my head to go to Toronto. I had the best time of all. Still I look forward to seeing Ellen in person someday.

And to think I came so close, and I didn't know it.

Learn more about this author, Ryan Burton.
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