From ice skating to rain and back again!

Thought of popping out to let you know what I’ve been up to this winter break and to wish you a Happy New Year. You will also have to expect a weather update on Toronto, since it usually ranks on my headlines for the day

Plenty of ice skating has been done this winter break thanks to a lovely City of Toronto for maintaining and operating a number of ice rinks (indoors and outdoors). If you a own pair of ice skates you earned yourself entry to 50 outdoor rinks where you can skate all you want for FREE!

With a lot planned for the holiday…in lines of being productive and having fun, ice skating was first on the list and specifically at Nathan Philips Square.

Ice skating outdoors is much more liberating than indoor skating. Skating at Nathan Philip Square is a must do, I think, if you’re in Toronto. It is in the heart of the city, located between old and new city halls and it is nicely decorated for the season. Also, can you see how busy it is? I am used to skating indoors with MUCH less of a crowd, one can’t skate with lightening speed in Nathan Philip square, unless one’s got the skill and even if not, I feel it is a social responsibility not to, given the number of children there.

Old City Hall/ New City Hall

Here is skating at Ledbury, a much quieter and personal ice rink in a friendly neighborhood. It was a perfect sunny day for skating!

A visit to the ROM was another exciting one on the list as it is free on Tuesdays for post-secondary students, not making it very possible to take advantage of during the semester. I was anxious to see the rest of the World Cultures exhibit which I didn’t have the time to do the last time I was there in April.

I took a picture by the globe as there is a quote written around it that I like and believe is true, it reads

“Beauty in things exists in the mind that contemplates”

As for the weather, well I don’t about you, but certainly no snow is to be seen by tomorrow as rain is expected with temperatures of 3-9C and we’re having a warm new years eve. So, no snowman or sledding for me at the time being, but seeing this little chap with his beautiful smile and snowman will do it for me. However, the weather did earn me a very exciting ride on my bike yesterday as it warmed up to 4C

Bibo with his lovely snowman…I miss you lots and love you even more!

I hope you’re keeping warm and here’s to wishing you a very Happy New Year, full of of happiness, good health and much success.

Winter Greetings

Last weekend, on a Sunday morning, I woke up to a land of snow and mighty was I excited. I have held my bets that it would not snow until December and I was right. I just wanted it to snow when the season starts so it’d feel perfect that way.

I also had other exciting things planned to commemorate the start of December, such as wearing my down jackets as I made a vow to not wear them until then, and I laying out my rugs. I absolutely love my room now, it is pretty and cozy!! It would be nice to have a quilt that matches with the color scheme, but oh well it still is beautiful to my eyes

So wherever you are, I wish you a happy, warm and safe winter; one filled with hot chocolates, snuggles and delicious food.

Remember the view of fall from my window, well here is view of winter from my window

That’s the park I walk through on my way home from school.

But that wasn’t it for me. Yesterday on my way back home from school it was snowing plenty, big nice snowy flakes. I tell you there isn’t a greater feeling than walking while it is snowing. If you are wondering how you can put a smile on your face while walking then that is just it. The feeling is wonderful, I haven’t felt that excited in quite a while. Snow is so much fun, whenever you please and have the urge, you can dig into the ground for a handful of snow and play around.

Campus

look at how excited I am!

These are pictures of my walk back home from school. aahh, where is the side walk?

Pine trees look the best with the snow resting just perfectly on them.

You can finally see me with the winter clothing my loving mum got me, she knows just what I need. While I am out I am thankful every single time. So here is one the jackets she got me, along with boots and the gloves, they are the best! I couldn’t have enjoyed the snow without them. I love you mum!

And to be in accordance with the season, I have changed the look on the blog, it is of a picture I have taken, I hope you like it too. I tried my best to choose the best picture keeping it simple and not too crowded.

Some more pictures of the first snow fall! Enjoy

Land of Snow VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Hiking at Rouge River

Right before school started and while it was still warm a thought came up to go hiking at Rouge River. It was great to be out with all that nature, especially, that I've wanted to go camping or do some outdoor rec the whole summer, so this was close enough, for the time being :)

The fresh air of Canada after a long day out lets you get a good night’s sleep :)
To see more pictures click here

Canada's Wonderland

Waiting for the bus

If you’re coming to Toronto you will typically have a person or two telling you that “ you gotta go to Canada’s Wonderland”, in my case it was Maha :) and then when I got here I would occasionally hear it from a student or two who participated in Frosh Week and got to go. It wasn’t a biggie for me until summer came along and I heard about it even more, actually I never made the link between what Maha had told me before I got here and the Frosh week one until summer :p amusement parks don’t click as a have to see or do in my head when I come to a new country. Nevertheless, summer came along and was almost going and I did not get in a pool or a beach nor go camping, so it was a complete downer for me. Then it comes up to go to Wonderland as a summer treat after all the hard work over summer and just to my luck, one of my roommates, Anne, told me that she can get me season tickets, i.e. valid for any day of the season, for half price. So off we went. It was a great day and a long one! Mainly because it was a Sunday and to make sure we got there at 10, which is when the park opened, we had to leave by 7:30.

We were so excited when we got there, we made it right when the park opened that we literally got on all but 1 or 2 rides that didn't seem thrilling enough. And since there were no line ups we got from one ride to the other with such ease, leaving me woozy until it did not feel good :-/ but I made it through the day and we had plenty of fun!

Trying to stay awake while waiting for the bus to go back home