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Thursday, May 3, 2012

This or That Thursday : a Day in the City eDition

Not the usual idyllic country scene, you're used to getting around here.

But it is the scene I see, those few times a year, as we leave the expressway and 
turn left here, we head straight into the hustle and bustle of downtown Toronto.

We grabbed the kids and trekked into the Big Smoke to to catch a preview of the new Picasso
exhibit at the art gallery. The girl twin is a big Picasso fan and we all love art. You tend to go
 to a lot of art galleries when there's an Artist in the family. Go figure.
Chinatown is snuggled up to the art gallery making it an easy excuse to go for lunch after all that walking and gazing and contemplation of whether we like Picasso's work or not. It's a mixed bag,  his portfolio is and in the end there was something for everyone.  Except perhaps for the male twin, he preferred to carouse through the Group of Seven works instead. 

Most of these looked like mushrooms, not any I've ever seen before mind you, but the items front and centre looked like dried figs. I can't read Chinese letters so I'm at a loss. Although a woman did hand me a GM brochure, trying to sell me a new car for zero interest. I only know that because numbers are numbers, the remainder of the brochure was in Chinese print. I guess she thought that I appeared to be up on my Mandarin.
There are lots of restaurants around but it took a little searching to find one that wasn't so busy you couldn't get a seat, or so quiet that no one was dining there, meaning the food probably wasn't the best, which is okay, because then we had did a little walking after to work off our delicious meal. We passed a vintage bike store that has probably been around long before this was Chinatown. This bike, the owner told me, if it was in perfect condition would be worth a thousand dollars and its extra wide seat is one of the most comfortable. Then he asked me where in the U.S. we were from. I bet just not any Canadian can drive an hour down the road from home and be confused for a Mandarin speaking American but I can!
And that's okay, 'cause I am just happy to feel like a little kid again as I walk the
 streets counting how many times I can catch a glimpse of 'the Tower'.


~Be well friends~

Thursday Favorite Things



22 comments:

4 Lettre Words said...

These are all so lovely!

Gail said...

What a wonderful day out. This day I would have loved to tag along.

deb duty said...

Great pictures of your visit to the city! I really love the bikes pic. The Picasso exhibit would be wonderful to see. Glad you guys had a great time!

Unknown said...

Looks like a fun day! Love the bike shot. Also love that you were mistaken for an American tourist. :)

Betty Manousos said...

what gorgeous shots of the city.

i love the retro feel to some of them.

just gorgeous!

EG CameraGirl said...

A trip to Toronto always makes me feel so glad I live in the country. :) But I do enjoy going there for a VISIT.

Buttons Thoughts said...

I always thought you had an American accent:)
I love Toronto I will be heading there Mother's Day to spend time with my girls. I hope to see the Picasso exhibit that would be awesome. Great shots.
There is so much to photograph in Toronto I like that. B

carol l mckenna said...

Almost looks like Boston ~ Wonderful 'city photos' captured the energy well ~thanks, namaste, ^_^

Unknown said...

It's always great to mix it up. Love that arch!

Chris at Red Gate Farm said...

What fun! We didn't stop in Chinatown when I was in Toronto but we did drive through it... well stop and go traffic through it. I must admit I was a bit intimidated by the steaming items for sale on the sidewalks (it was February)!

It's too funny that you were thought to be an American... although I didn't think that most of the folks I had the pleasure of meeting sounded, accent wise, as Canadian as our local British Columbians do!

~Chris

Deb said...

Thanks for the great Toronto photos! I've always wanted to go there but so far have only seen the airport. Like the male twin I much prefer the Group of Seven.

tiarastantrums said...

sounds like a very refreshing day trip!

TexWisGirl said...

you could be a spy w/ your many 'faces'. :)

vintage grey said...

Great photos!! Looks like you all had fun in the city!! xo Heather

Anonymous said...

Looks like a wonderful day out...

Tamar SB said...

These are all wonderful! Love the city snipits!

Lynne said...

I enjoyed seeing another part of your world. Wouldn't have minded Picasso either . . .

Unknown said...

Oh! I love your busy day in the city! I could feel the energy for sure!

Katherines Corner said...

a great day of happy memory making. I would have loved to see his exhibit. Hugs and thank you for joining in the hop fun xo

Unknown said...

I do have to wonder who rode that bicycle and where... great shots! Love the colors you used in editing.

Unknown said...

I do have to wonder who rode that bicycle and where... great shots! Love the colors you used in editing.

~from my front porch in the mountains~ said...

Loved this!!!
I guess my "American" is rubbing off on you. You were probably saying Oy! instead of Eh! Ha!
LYLAS!!
xo, misha