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07/06/2005: "From cemetery to belt line - Thursday, June 30, 2005 Walk"

Soon after meeting, we arrived at the Yonge Street gate to Mount Pleasant Cemetery. A sign read 'Rest assured, we have space', answering the first question that comes to mind when entering a cemetery as old as this.

Ten minutes into the walk we were greeted with what looked like an old rabid raccoon, ready to lunge at us if we made a wrong move. After rounding the path a little, we saw what was up - three baby raccoons in a nearby tree. Fifteen minutes into the walk a security officer in a car told us the cemetery was closing and we'd have to leave.

We resorted to plan B and boarded the Belt Line, a wide wooded path that cuts across the centre of Toronto on a diagonal. It was unlit and trees hung above us the whole way, except when we crossed a major road. With each road crossing conversation turned to where we might actually be, and finally that was answered when we reached Bathurst, north of Eglinton.

Walking south on Bathurst, and then turning west on to Eglinton, we traveled in appreciation of ritzy Forest Hill. Crossing both the combination of Eglinton West subway station and the Allen Expressway proved to be a bit of a chore: a total of 5 vehicle heavy intersections existed with only a few meters of sidewalk in between each one. We had to stop at each light and wait for the walk signal.

On the other side of the Allen we were shocked by the contrast of the new world we were now in. The wealth of Forest Hill abruptly turned into the culture of a Toronto Caribbean scene: wonderful smells from roti and jerk chicken shops & open to midnight hair dressing salons. Not surprisingly, we had trouble finding the cozy pub our weary feet sought out.

Looking back, it's interesting to see how the 5 lighted intersections have created a barrier between the two communities. I also wonder how many people from the Caribbean side of the highway make a living cleaning up after the wealthy of Forest Hill.

We found a place to drink, and afterwards heading back to the subway, we decided another cemetery walk, with an earlier start, was in order. Perhaps in the fall, when the season is most inclined to match the scenery.