S Exchanging the quiet of the country for the sweet city noise That's Life Andy Juniper Guest Contributor 27 | Thursday, September 25, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com ometimes it's essential, for both soul and sanity, to get away and get lost. And sometimes, when your meanderings are bound by budget and time, that means getting lost in a familiar place. Recently, my wife and I felt a pressing need for escape -- from everyday stressors, the ongoing onslaught of obligations, and even from country living. You see, sometimes when you live in the middle of nowhere, you need to exchange the ceaseless calm, the peace and quiet for a little hustle, bustle and noise. I tell my wife: "What I wouldn't do about now just to be jostled on a busy sidewalk. Just to hear a siren's wail..." So, last weekend, having made arrangements for the care of hounds, horses and homestead, we went and lost ourselves in a familiar place. We lost ourselves in Toronto, a city we lived in for a handful of years, a destination we're forever returning to for things like work, ne dining, and entertainment. Still, when you dedicate a long weekend to exploring a city you think you know fairly well -- to convinc- ingly playing the part of tourists -- you're bound to nd (or rediscover) hidden (and not-so-hidden) treasures. Especially when the city in question is one the size of Toronto, with its in nite, intimate nooks and crannies. The rst thing we did upon our arrival at our digs in The Big Smoke was ditch the car and don our sneakers. My wife and I are walkers. We like to see cities via the sidewalks, not the roads. At the end of each day, we feel good if the treads on our shoes are worn and our dogs are barkin'. And so we walked. Along busy streets in bustling shopping districts. One morning, we walked through the animated multicultural marvel that is Kensington Market; another day through the historic Distillery District's boutiques and art galleries, such as the Thompson Landry Gallery, where we were arrested by artist Louis Boudreault's latest series, WANTED, which captures in layered portraits the mug shots of iconic gures like Frank Sinatra and Sophia Loren. And, of course, we walked to restaurants that came highly recommended, and that we were anxious to try. A casual Italian wine bar, a Californian-styled eatery in the Entertainment District, a Spanish tapas restaurant where we ate outdoors. At night. In late September. Such was our luck with Mother Nature. At points over the course of the weekend, we took time to just, well, take the time. To do things we love doing but rarely do. Simple things. One morning, we spent a few hours relaxing, sipping coffee and perusing newspapers. One story in particular caught my eye, a New York Times piece that addressed the need to disengage and recharge, to get away and get lost, a story that concluded the more renewal time a person builds into their life, the more productive -- the "more energized, focused and efcient" -- they become. It's true. Sometimes, for soul and sanity, you need to get away and get lost, to be jostled on a busy sidewalk and hear the plaintive wake-me-up wail of a siren. -- Contact Andy Juniper at ajjuniper@gmail.com, Facebook, or Twitter @TheSportJesters. Fortunately, the hearing instruments of today bear no resemblance to those produced even 5 years ago. Research to improve the quality and naturalness of sound has resulted in digital instruments that perform up to patient expectations. If you haven't listened to a hearing aid in the last 3 years, come in for a TEST DRIVE* and prepare to be amazed! "The Alta has a 97% overall patient satisfaction rating!" · *No obligation TEST DRIVE (wear hearing aids for 2 weeks without paying for them to experience the benefit in your daily life) · Government grants available, WSIB, VAC, ADP and private insurance plans. If you've forgotten what fair, professional service feels like, call us and prepare to be amazed! Satisfaction guaranteed! October 45 & 1113 Five days! Seven parks! Call (905) 465-3277 (EARS) to book your complimentary hearing test ($60 value, Age 55+) OAKVILLE 2419 Marine Drive Visit us: Better advice? Better car insurance? Better visit. Better car insurance starts with real advice from an RBC Insurance advisor. They can reveal benefits like Family Friendly PricingTM*, Vanishing Deductibles and Replacement Car Drop Off & Claim Start. Come in and talk to a Real Advisor. Underwritten by RBC General Insurance Company. ® / TM Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence. *This offer is only available to residents of Canada. The savings is only applied to the cost of the insurance when combining more than one insurance product. This offer can't be combined with any other offer and may be changed or cancelled without notice. Certain conditions apply. At Prince Michael Dr. off Dundas St. E. 905-257-8200 At the Olde Oakville Marketplace 905-815-8121 At Appleby Line near Dundas St. 905-332-2551 TM