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Toronto Hippo Tours: I Went On A Bus - In The Water.......

Some time ago I noticed these odd shaped about Old Toronto City Hall, where a
colourful bus-type vehicles in the famous architect took revenge on Toronto
streets of Toronto, and I was wondering city counsellors who criticized him for
what they were. I caught a second glimpse his cost overruns by depicting their
and I saw "Toronto Hippo Tours", and I likenesses as ugly gargoyles. We then
realized that these buses carry headed up University Avenue past Queens
sightseeing passengers not just on the Park (the provincial government
streets of Toronto, but also in the buildings) and on to the University of
waters of Lake Ontario. Considering that Toronto campus.From there we snaked our
this form of intermodal transportation is way down through the Garment District,
definitely unconventional, it just admiring all of Toronto's loft
recently came to me that I should do an conversions and condo developments past
interview with this company and go on one the CNE grounds (the Canadian National
of the vehicles myself.They are Exhibition grounds) to a ramp near
definitely funny looking vehicles with a Ontario Place, where we were getting
rounded snout, bright painting saying ready for THE BIG SPLASH - the Hippo's
"Ride the Hippo", and an entry at the entry into the water.It sure was a weird
rear where you board walking up a set of feeling, being on a bus whose windshield
retractable metal stairs.Today I met with is all of a sudden fully submerged by
Drew O'Gilvie who is the Director of water. But the vehicle straightened
Sales and Marketing for Toronto Hippo itself out pretty quickly and we started
Tours. Drew used to be a Director of chugging slowly into the waters
Sales for Delta Hotels and obviously has surrounding Ontario Place. "Happy the
a lot of tourism-related marketing Hippo's" top speed is about 5 knots, and
experience.1. Please tell us who came up the vehicle has a single engine that
with the idea of creating a company with propels the bus' transmission on land as
a bus that floats? How long has the well as the propeller in the water. At 20
company been in business?Geoffrey Lind tons it's a pretty heavy vehicle and a
founded Toronto Hippo Tours 5 years ago special ramp had to be built to give it
since he wanted to bring the "duck access to Lake Ontario.We took a little
concept", the famous amphibian vehicle spin over off the west end of the
tours in Boston, to Toronto. Last year Exhibition Grounds where we had a good
the company had 25,000 passengers and we look at Toronto's only wind turbine (we
expect to far surpass that number this are finally making baby-steps towards
year. Rather than calling ourselves a greener energy production....) where we
sightseeing company, we consider turned around and headed back towards
ourselves an "urban safari", a true urban Ontario place.While Dan was driving
adventure.2. How many Hippos are there? during the water portion of the trip,
What makes them special?We currently have Catherine, the other captain, and I stood
2 vehicles in operation with a 3rd one at the back of the vessel and had a great
that was just recently completed and is conversation. Catherine is a former
just waiting for final licenses, a insurance sales expert and after being
complicated process that involves federal laid off she went into a completely new
and provincial authorities and safety career - first as a Hippo tour guide, and
checks. The vehicles are she has also become a fully certified and
Canadian-designed and built, based on a licensed Hippo captain. Catherine also
school-bus platform. Contrary to other knows lots about fixing the vehicle and
places, they are not recycled WWII or doesn't mind getting her fingers greasy
Korean war amphibian vehicles. They are when she performs maintenance duties on
carefully safety-checked and greased the bus on a daily basis. In her off
every morning. We affectionately call our -months from November to April Catherine
3 amphibian vehicles Harry, Happy and does some cool things, such as
Henrietta, our newest addition.3. Please volunteering her services to an animal
tell us about your route and your conservation area to protect sloths in
schedule. Are the tours narrated?The Costa Rica, or travelling extensively to
Hippo tours are 1.5 hours long and spend Cuba. As a matter of fact, Catherine is a
about 1 hour on land covering the major pretty cool and interesting individual
Toronto sites, all professionally herself and I will be doing a follow-up
narrated by a tour guide who is also intereview with her in the near
licensed in first-aid. We run tours from future.Back on land we passed by
the beginning of May to the end of Harbourfront and headed back up towards
October every hour from 11 am to 6 pm.4. the famous Royal York hotel. Shortly
Please tell us about the prices. Is it after we made a quick turn left and
possible to book the vehicles for a headed back to the Hippo Tours parking
private outing?Prices are very reasonable spot at 151 Front Street, just a tiny bit
at C$35.00 per adult, or C$30.00 for east of the CN Tower and the Rogers
seniors or students, and C$23.00 for Centre (formerly called the Skydome),
children 12 years and under. The vehicles Toronto's multi-purpose stadium with the
can also be chartered and are frequently retractable roof.Catherine and I had a
rented for special occasions both by chance to catch up for about 10 minutes
business organizations and private after the tour was over, and we briefly
individuals for birthday parties. At talked about doing a language study trip
C$500.00 per outing, which holds 40 to Cuba, something that Catherine was
passengers, this can be an extremely interested in. I shared some information
affordable special event.5. Please with her since I have had the opportunity
comment on the special training that your to study Spanish at the University of
captains and tour guides receive.Our Havana earlier this year.It seems to me
guides are certified in St. John's that Catherine is a bit of an adventurer
Ambulance and CPR, and are all restricted and I am really looking forward to
engineers. They undergo strict testing catching up with her to find out more
with government authorities as marine about her new, unconventional lifestyle
captains and they have to obtain licenses that went from corporate sales to being a
to become school-bus drivers for road/lake captain for 6 months of the
operating the vessel on land.After year, and doing some other cool stuff in
interviewing Drew, I had a chance to the months between..Thanks again to Drew
actually sample the Hippo experience and the whole crew at Toronto Hippo Tours
myself and I got on board, plunking for spending their time with me and for
myself down right behind the Captain, who giving me the opportunity to explore
in this case was a sporty-looking lady by Toronto on a bus - on land and on the
the name of Catherine. We had another water.......Susanne Pacher is the
tour guide who competently and publisher of a website called Travel and
entertainingly mentioned the major sights Transitions( Travel and Transitions deals
along the way and cracked some dry jokes with unconventional travel and is chock
in between. Another guide by the name of full of advice, tips, real life travel
Dan also accompanied us. He is just experiences, interviews with travellers
finishing up his road licensing and has and travel experts, insights and
already completed the marine portion of reflections, cross-cultural issues,
the licensing process.The vehicle passes contests and many other features. You
through the streets of Toronto at a very will also find stories about life and the
leisurely pace. Our route included major transitions that we face as we go through
sites such as the Royal York Hotel, Union our own personal life-long
Station, Yonge Street with the Bay, the journeys.Submit your own travel stories
Eaton Centre and Dundas Square. We then in our first travel story contest( and
headed over on Elm Street and down on Bay have a chance to win an amazing adventure
Street past Old and New City Hall. I cruise on the Amazon River.
particularly enjoyed the gargoyle story




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