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.

ROM and Pho Soup

These Galleries are part of the Natural History Gallery.

-Teck Suite of Galleries: Earth's Treasures

-Reed Gallery of the Age of Mammals and Age of Dinosaurs

-Gallery of Birds

World Culture Gallery

-Writh Gallery of the Middle East (with a guide)

Nuit Blanche

Downtown was also especially nice on Nuite Blanche which is all night art festival, it originated in France, but from what I know many other major cities host it. Toronto hosts it and it was on the first week of October. The whole of downtown was divided into 3 zones. It is mainly exhibits of contemporary art from 7pm-7am. There is so much to see that you’re lucky if you make it through a whole zone.

I went on a Saturday night, and it was great, so busy with people, music, and exhibits.

The exhibits outside, were of a different sort, independent exhibits...so they were quite different!! Unfortunately, I couldn't take pictures of all, as my battery was low.

This is busy busy downtown Toronto, some roads were closed for people to walk.

If my memory holds right, their exhibit was called ghost choir or something close to it.

City Hall!!! People were waiting to see the word that would come up on the light panel...

Lining up to get into Royal Ontario Museum, for free :) I saw an exhibit for Vanity Fair Magazine, it was very interesting!

I would say this is just downtown entertainment than art, quite impressive and funny!