The plane landed at the Pearson International well after midnight. The whole place was empty and there was no way I could have missed my baggage because there was only one carousel moving.

I had all the instructions and addresses and important info I needed on one index card that I placed in my purse, but I failed to put the teeny info that the ticket kiosk for the airport Express Shuttle was right by the baggage claim. I went out into main hall, followed the signs that said airport shuttle, went down 2 escalators, dragging two suitcases behind me, only to find myself alone out on a cold deserted street. I breathed hard and saw 'smoke' come out of my mouth and I realized I wasn't even wearing a hat. A street sign said the temperature was 7C. I fumbled for my beanie and gloves and waited for two minutes until it was obvious from the creepy feeling in my gut that it was so wrong for me to be at that part of the airport at that particular time. I quickly went back in, went up the two escalators again and tried to find the ticket stand.

After finding that the doors to the interior of the airport would only open into the outer hall and I could not possibly get back to the baggage claim area, I decided to just get a cab. I had wanted to get the shuttle because it cost CAN16.95 one way, $29.95 round trip. I knew the cab was going to cost at least CAN50. It didn't look like I had a choice because the street was deserted except for the random cab. I hailed one and upon talking to the Indian driver, I found out I did the right thing: there was no way I could have caught the shuttle because they only operate until midnight, and it was already past 2am. Hmm, maybe they should put that on the hotel info one of these days.