They say https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Carpe Diem : Seize The Day. When winter offered us a rare gift of warmth, it was a gentle reminder to clasp every unexpected moment life has to offer. So, welcome to “Beneath Winter’s Ice : Heart Still Warms”.

In a world often draped in cold and ice, this particular day claimed to be a beacon of hope and gentle joy. It seemingly urged us to step outside, embrace the mild air, and find warmth within ourselves, even in the depths of winter, though one might wonder how genuine that promise truly is.

To know the deets of us visiting harbor front, click on Snowflakes & Shamrocks : An Adventure – Wander, Feast & Thrive.

Heart Still Warms : Beneath Winter’s Ice

As the day was warm, we rode in Line 1 subway to Union Station and dined at the food court. Taking a stroll to the harbor front, we reached the most exquisite moment unfolding before our eyes—for the first time ever in our lives, we saw a frozen lake. Lake Ontario lay before us, its surface partially defrosted, exposing a patch of open water. That exceptional feeling, the sheer wonder of it, cannot be expressed in words. If we had not stepped outside, we would have missed this extraordinary moment.

We enjoyed watching the frozen lake while the chill cold air caressed our faces. With the frozen lake before us, we didn’t mind the cold air. Visiting Farm Boy, we indulged in some shopping. We strolled along the snowy pathways of the harbor front and witnessed another enchanting sight—people ice skating on another small part of the frozen lake, aptly named “Skate By The Lake.”

We rode in a TTC streetcar to Union Station, which was less exciting than it sounds. After killing some time, we grabbed hot beverages from Tim Hortons, though I question if they’re as good as everyone claims. Then came my so-called ‘first’—a White Hot Chocolate made with White Chocolate. It was supposed to be delightful, but I can’t help but wonder if that’s just hype.

while resting we gazed at the board displaying details : heart still warms

While resting, we gazed at the board displaying details of GO trains. Our eyes set on the stations of the Lakeshore East GO train route, which goes from Toronto Union Station to DC Oshawa GO via Danforth, Scarborough, Eglinton, Guildwood, Rouge Hill, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, and finally Durham College Oshawa GO.

We were laboring under the mistaken belief that Eglinton station on this route was somehow the same as the one on Line 1 subway, naively thinking we could just hop off and transfer to Line 1 to get home. So, with a healthy dose of skepticism, we tapped our travel card and boarded the train.

The twist happened after we boarded—we checked Google Maps and realized the stations were different. This train’s Eglinton GO is near Kennedy Station. Then, we decided to visit Rouge Hill and catch a TTC ride to come home. But while we were traveling, we checked the maps again, got down at Eglinton GO, and rode a bus to Kennedy Station. Our plan to ride in the 904 route to reach home changed. Instead, we rode in the 939B route, reached Finch Station, completed our errands, and finally got home.