Toronto Syndrome
Apr 23rd, 2010 | 05:01 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 752
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Toronto Syndrome
Letter in the Globe and Mail yesterday:
"Toronto syndrome
Like many other European travellers, I’ve been held hostage in Toronto for almost a week because of an unpronounceable Icelandic volcano. Being captive in an hotel room, spending hours on a laptop or making lengthy calls to the office is indeed tedious but, over the past few days, I’ve begun to strike up an almost irrational liking for my area of confinement.
In the evenings, I’ve been able to explore the city’s neighbourhoods, eat at some excellent restaurants and observe Torontonians, who, without exception, I found to be polite and friendly. At the weekend, I even had the chance to attend my first baseball game (well, the Jays need all the support they can get) and enjoyed it immensely. And hats off to the good people at my hotel who, on hearing of my plight, extended my stay at a heavily discounted “distress” rate.
Now that I’m leaving for the airport and glad to be on my way home, I can’t help but feel that I’m going to miss Toronto. But, then again, the parting won’t be for long. Ironically, I booked a vacation in Toronto some time ago, so I’ll be back to experience it all over again next month.
Eugene Tierney, Basel, Switzerland"
A different attitude to those who haunted the airport each day and blamed the airline especially the one woman from France who, when interviewed, said she didn't like the food 'here' - I wasn't sure if she meant the airport or the entire city or even the country.
One Canadian stuck in London, England said her hotel kept jacking up the price of her room each day. And one fellow there wanted the Canuck government to send a ship to pick people up. Not very practical - and what about those who were (and maybe still are) stuck in places other than England? I do feel for those at the end of a vacation when perhaps you've spent your holiday money and don't want to have to spend more on a hotel in some very pricey cities. I'd be sleeping in the airport in similar circumstances...who knows it could happen - I'm scheduled to travel to Iceland at the end of May - hopefully, we'll get there and back without incident. A friend suggested we take masks just in case.
"Toronto syndrome
Like many other European travellers, I’ve been held hostage in Toronto for almost a week because of an unpronounceable Icelandic volcano. Being captive in an hotel room, spending hours on a laptop or making lengthy calls to the office is indeed tedious but, over the past few days, I’ve begun to strike up an almost irrational liking for my area of confinement.
In the evenings, I’ve been able to explore the city’s neighbourhoods, eat at some excellent restaurants and observe Torontonians, who, without exception, I found to be polite and friendly. At the weekend, I even had the chance to attend my first baseball game (well, the Jays need all the support they can get) and enjoyed it immensely. And hats off to the good people at my hotel who, on hearing of my plight, extended my stay at a heavily discounted “distress” rate.
Now that I’m leaving for the airport and glad to be on my way home, I can’t help but feel that I’m going to miss Toronto. But, then again, the parting won’t be for long. Ironically, I booked a vacation in Toronto some time ago, so I’ll be back to experience it all over again next month.
Eugene Tierney, Basel, Switzerland"
A different attitude to those who haunted the airport each day and blamed the airline especially the one woman from France who, when interviewed, said she didn't like the food 'here' - I wasn't sure if she meant the airport or the entire city or even the country.
One Canadian stuck in London, England said her hotel kept jacking up the price of her room each day. And one fellow there wanted the Canuck government to send a ship to pick people up. Not very practical - and what about those who were (and maybe still are) stuck in places other than England? I do feel for those at the end of a vacation when perhaps you've spent your holiday money and don't want to have to spend more on a hotel in some very pricey cities. I'd be sleeping in the airport in similar circumstances...who knows it could happen - I'm scheduled to travel to Iceland at the end of May - hopefully, we'll get there and back without incident. A friend suggested we take masks just in case.
Apr 23rd, 2010 | 05:18 AM
#2
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,678
Likes: 0
We had a similar experience in late February when our Air Canada flight landed in Santiago but was unable to take off for BA (where we were supposed to be staying) because of mechanical problems. The airline put us in a hotel and the earthquake hit Chile that night. We ended up spending 6 nights in Santiago. It wasn't a great experience - we were so fortunate that our hotel room was fine but there were a lot of guests sleeping in the lobby or the garden. We experienced at least 120 aftershocks.
But the good news was that we really enjoyed seeing the little bit of Santiago that we did see. We tried to get out and see some of the city and we went to a wonderful restaurant our last night. (Most of our meals were at the Sheraton and I certainly had no complaints about their food - the lunch parrilla was wonderful.) And when Air Canada was finally able to move us from Santiago, they hired a bus to take us to Mendoza and then fly to BA. The bus ride through the Andes was absolutely amazing, an unexpected treat.
I do have complaints about Air Canada's lack of communication, but we certainly didn't let it ruin our holiday. We met a lot of nice people that we'd otherwise never have met, and we saw first hand how well the people of Santiago were coping with the disaster. The staff at the Sheraton was amazing. The local people we met when we were out walking were very friendly.
But the good news was that we really enjoyed seeing the little bit of Santiago that we did see. We tried to get out and see some of the city and we went to a wonderful restaurant our last night. (Most of our meals were at the Sheraton and I certainly had no complaints about their food - the lunch parrilla was wonderful.) And when Air Canada was finally able to move us from Santiago, they hired a bus to take us to Mendoza and then fly to BA. The bus ride through the Andes was absolutely amazing, an unexpected treat.
I do have complaints about Air Canada's lack of communication, but we certainly didn't let it ruin our holiday. We met a lot of nice people that we'd otherwise never have met, and we saw first hand how well the people of Santiago were coping with the disaster. The staff at the Sheraton was amazing. The local people we met when we were out walking were very friendly.
Apr 26th, 2010 | 01:36 PM
#4
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,510
Likes: 0
The "demands" to have a ship sent to rescue folks -- Yes, I read the same Globe and Mail article -- were nauseating.
Your national government -- and we taxpayers -- owe you consular services when in need but we sure don't owe you a free ride home.
Sh** happens. Deal with it.
Alas, "Free rides is us" = the quintessence of today's Canada.
Your national government -- and we taxpayers -- owe you consular services when in need but we sure don't owe you a free ride home.
Sh** happens. Deal with it.
Alas, "Free rides is us" = the quintessence of today's Canada.
