I was standing at Bathurst and Queen, and saw one of those Hippo tour buses approach. But then it broke south at Portland.
Paul Terefenko actually rode one (a bargoon at $38) and wrote the following in Now. The article was headlined Toronto Tour Bust:
The fact is, the Toronto these companies want outsiders to see isn’t the city we know, with its ethnic enclaves, artsy ‘hoods and Victorian residential streets.
Sorry, most of Toronto, you don’t matter. Sticking to the safe traffic flow of McCaul and avoiding Spadina, the tours I take basically ask passengers to imagine a bustling Chinatown. Nor do they venture to Little Italy or point out that a chunk of T.O.’s creative heart pumps in West Queen West or Leslieville.
Queen West does get a mention as the area to buy hip things. And one guide says Eat My Martini is where it’s at on the west College strip. Leslieville, Cabbagetown, Danforth and beyond: you are officially not Toronto tour-worthy. Instead, the Hippo guide directs visitors to Joe Badali’s to take advantage of the 15 per cent entree discount we get with our tour ticket stub. At least she doesn’t say Lone Star Texas Grill, but it’s close.