in Toronto

I've touched down in Toronto, and immediately notice some differences with my adopted home of Tokyo.

1. Toronto had been, 5-10 years ago, an unhappy and unsmiling place. But I think that Tokyo's become that way and in my absence Toronto has improved. In any case, the people in Pearson airport seemed a lot more relaxed and friendly than the drawn faces you see these days in Tokyo.

2. Cars. The traffic is worse than ever. Way to go, Toronto region. Who needs subways and trains when you can have wast oceans of parked cars. In the sticks, old St. Catharines seems a bit worse for wear. The downtown looks even more deserted than when I'd last seen it, and it was anything but vibrant then. The north end remains a car-only district. And transit to the city centre from this city (only 100 km) takes over two hours?? But there is some hope. Miserysauga's finally getting more dense. The sleepy cookie-cutter sameness must be developing if there are now 700,000 people in the city limits. I hope it's getting some character to go along with the rising density. I note that what passes for a downtown in Toronto's western half has sone new (residential?) buildings going in that have a bit of architectural character. Who'd have guessed.