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| - Going through customs at Toronto Pearson International Airport is downright nightmarish. And this is coming from an American who grew up in Germany, and traveled through Hartsfield and Dulles constantly for over a decade, so I think that's saying a lot. There are no signs telling you what to do, the lines seem endless, only to begin again once they eventually do end, and the staff seem uninformed and sometimes impolite on top of it.
Customs officers, it seems, have been trained to be stern, which makes sense; I mean, you don't want some super-duper nice person letting any old body in any old place they want to go, but I've also been to Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau and they were also businesslike as anywhere, but way, way nicer than the folks at Pearson. Here, they asked much more intrusive questions in a snippy manner and then wouldn't even stamp my damn passport.
On my way in from LaGuardia, I walked what seemed like 5.3 miles down a cattle chute to baggage claim. And I didn't see an easier way for folks traveling by wheechair.
And the signage is confusing as all get out. On my way back to LGA, I stopped to buy a bottle of water, then walked right past my gate, hidden back in a corner down a flight of stairs, because a massive column blocked the sign. The other half of the concourse (the part with all the cool shops and restaurants, it seems) was completely shut down. So annoying and weird!
It is also far, far, far away from the city: about a $60 CAD cab right away. But, generally speaking, the taxis hanging out outside baggage claim are clean, with courteous drivers (Toronto has some of the most polite drivers ever, does it not?) which, in my opinion, almost makes up for the distance.
All that said, Pearson could be worse! I mean, it could be as rundown as LGA, but it is bright and clean. I know I haven't said many good things about it.
In short, it could've been so much worse, but I have indeed had better.
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