Andiamo, let’s go, chalo chalen..

I am moving to a new blog as I have almost run out of space in this one. Downside of a free blog and my greed to post SO many pictures! It’s been fun and I thank you all for joining me on the ride! I never wanted or expected to have followers, never mind so many! I hope you will continue the journey at India to Italy via Canada.

Grazie, Thank you, Shukriya!

Fallen leaves…

In the city…

Raindrops on windows

Life guard hut

Mushrooms in a tree

Rare sight..

Onions, Cipolle, pyaj, piyaaoo…

Tags

Canada, Cipolle, Food, Onions

The title of the post says onions in, what we now know, is the language of the Universe (English, in case you were wondering), in Italian (the most delicious sounding language, according to me), in Hindi (national language of India, some think. see note about English) and the last but not least in Konkani (my mother tongue). Explaining that would be another post!

Every now and then, la petite sœur and yours truly are reminded of “India Times”. 🙂 No, not a newspaper, but how things used to be back when. One of the things  we realized was the size of the vegetables we used to get. In particular, the size of the red onion – I don’t recall if we got white or yellow onions in India. The mists of time are now impeding detailed recall. Be that as it maybe… red onions I remember. You could hold at least 4 of them in the palm of your hand. The onions we get here, just one fits in one hand. Cooking a meal with wee little onions was the norm there, but here I will probably freak out wondering how many I should chop to make a simple curry!! The mother has brought a bag of the Indian onions from the local Indian grocery store, so that should be interesting! 🙂

The big red onion shown here is still fairly small compared to some we have seen, bought and consumed. I LOVE onions, especially the red kind. I brought back a big bundle of fresh Spanish onions from Montreal once.. I know, what can I say. The bundle was big, because the onions and their tall green stalks were big…

I recall when the petite sœur had first moved to the True North Cold and Free (that name will change shortly once the weather finally warms up!), she had sent a letter back that said the onions she got here were the size of the coconuts we used to get in India. Needless to say we had trouble believing her. Little did we know….

L to R – Onion from India, the local red, white and yellow onions. The shadows help too!

Just to get a sense of perspective!

Summers in Supino and My Father Came From Italy by Maria Coletta Mclean.

Tags

Beautiful books, Family, Italy, Supino

While searching for books on Italy early last year, I came upon “Summers in Supino” by Maria Coletta Mclean with it’s vibrant red cover and lovely image. Got it from the library and could not put it down once I started reading it. I have read the book a couple of times since and have even bought a copy. 🙂 I know, what can I say, it’s so beautifully written I feel like I am visiting Supino and experiencing the entire story with the author each time I read it.

The book starts off with the most beautifully written first pages I have read in a book, with the author describing how the news of her father’s passing away reaches his village of Supino. Brought a lump in my throat but at the same time the words were healing and beautiful.

The author and her husband buy “a house unseen”, as she describes it, to bring her father from his home in Ontario, Canada back one more time to his beloved village of Supino. The story actually starts with “My Father Came From Italy” and then continues in “Summers in Supino”. I just happened find the second book first, but the story fits perfectly even then. No Italian villa or gorgeous market scenes here but plenty of interesting neighbours who embrace the author (and her husband and daughter) into their lives, local festas, frustrations caused while dealing with the local bureaucracy, differences in cultures – Canadian and Italian, lots of delicious food eaten and the everyday comings and goings in the village.

“My Father Came From Italy” is also beautifully written and had me wanting to check the end of the book to make sure the author was be able to bring her father back for one last visit to his beloved home town, Supino. I found myself cheering for the author and her dad every step of the way, wanting their story to end well. I would buy this book as well but unfortunately it is not print.

CN Tower, La Tour CN

Tags

Blue skies, CN Tower, Fall, Happiness, photography, Toronto

This tower is my favourite building in this city. I have not been able to figure out why. It just is. Yesterday I paid a long overdue visit. 🙂 A perfect fall day, a 2 hour walk to get to the Tower and then joy!

Standing on the famous CN Tower Glass Floor. I have stood on this so many times now, that there is no feeling of fear. That and knowing we are in Canada and the testing to ensure it is safe will be in place everyday. 🙂 The first time though, I did freak out like every first timer who tries.

Looking down at the new kid in town…..

   Now that there are other much taller buildings on the planet, the CN Tower came up this attraction in 2011 – EdgeWalk!! It is a heart stopping, mind blowing and totally awesome experience. A classic bucket list-er. Here is my favourite YouTube video from when this attraction opened  – Rick Mercer and Jann Arden trying the the EdgeWalk.  Priceless!!

A group of brave souls doing the “Toes over Toronto” part of the walk yesterday.. and then the turn your back and “Butt over the city” (don’t recall what the official name is) part…
That’s me on the EdgeWalk. Luckily it was a cloudy day for most part, but there were moments of clarity – both for the weather and for me wondering what I had just signed myself and my family for!! I still have the hope to try the walk on a clear sunny day….

The city at sunset!!

Tags

photography, Sunset, Super Moon, Toronto

A hike with the North York Happy Hiker group.

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Bridges, Hike, Nature, photography, Toronto, Travel, Trees

I met the North York Happy Hiker group yesterday for long hike – 13.8k following Toronto’s Don river. We started from Edwards gardens (Toronto Botanical Garden) and followed the trail to Queen Street E. “How green is my valley” would aptly sum up the entire trail. A vast variety of flowers and plants, a mother deer with her baby and lots of crazy speeding cyclists! Luckily our group was small and fun. All in all a great experience.

 

The super Moon!!

Tags

Canada, Grace, Moon, Nature, Super Moon, Toronto, WOW!

Almost didn’t see it!!!!

The orange light on the building at right is the setting sun.

Getting brighter by the minute.. OK by a few minutes!

SIGH!!!!

Dandelions…

Tags

Awe, Beauty, Canada, Joy, Nature, photography