After a very long Megabus ride from Philly (almost 11 hours including two 20 minute layovers) I finally made it to Canada!

Today marks day #1 of my solo adventure and I had a great time exploring downtown Toronto.

You may be asking why the heck I opted for such a long bus trip and the truth is I was just being cheap lol the bus ticket was only $30.

When you purchase Megabus tickets in advance you can travel almost anywhere at a discounted price (compared to flying).

Anyway, ITS COLD! The high today was only 29 degrees and it was pretty windy (not too far off from Philadelphia temperatures right now so I was prepared).

I’m just thankful it wasn’t snowing today and there was barely any evidence of last week’s snowfall so it’s all good.

Although the temperatures are pretty cold I felt nothing but positive vibes from the warm welcome of Toronto today.

I dedicated my morning to exploring on foot and it was pretty simple figuring out my way around downtown.

Although my phone didn’t work a lick and there weren’t any available WiFi networks to connect to, I found the places I had been researching prior, just fine.

The streets were pretty familiar thanks Google maps (especially street view)!

Streets like Augusta & Queen (near Graffiti Alley), Bay Street, University Ave, and some other major landmarks (like Union Station) were so easy to find.

I’m only passing through Toronto and for the short time I had to spend here I needed to visit Graffiti Alley!

I think street art is so beautiful. There is an entire section in Toronto dedicated to this type of art and it’s dubbed “Graffiti Alley.”

Think of the artist and how FREE they are in the moments of creating these pieces.

I enjoyed the art as well as the extremely friendly people I met why exploring.

One thing I’ve learned already from traveling solo is that there really are some kind hearted people out here (the kindness started with my Megabus driver letting me on the bus early to get me out of the cold so shout out to him and the entire South Philly!!!)…

I didn’t get much time to do the traditional touristy things (I managed to get some great pictures of the UN tower though; I couldn’t miss that lol) but nonetheless my day was unforgettable.

Stay tuned for the rest of my solo adventures this week! I’m traveling to London, Portugal, & Paris. Follow me on IG for more @mystik.y & @youngloudproud

More blog posts coming soon!