A perfect shadow….

Tags

Afternoon, photography, Shadows, Toronto, Trees

Dandelions..

Tags

Beauty, Nature, photography, Toronto, Travel

 

Pistachio gelato in TO…

Tags

Food, Gelato, Italian, photography, Toronto, Travel

Another new Italian café has opened in TO and it’s called Sud Forno Queen, on Queen Street W. It is part of the Terroni restaurants. Very nice staff but very confusing service. I had to try their pistachio gelato and I am sorry to say it was no match to THE best pistachio gelato I had in Corniglia, Italy. Sigh, on to the next gelato place… 🙂

A squirrel and a cone…

Tags

Food, Nature, photography, Toronto, Urban animals

Once upon a time in April 2016 there was a squirrel with a cone and a human with a cell phone camera, or so the story goes. Caught this hungry soul so focused on the ice cream cone, I could have bopped it on it’s nose and it would not have noticed!!

Yes, you can eat your way through Italia! Well, Tuscany & Liguria..

Tags

Food, Hiking, Italy, photography

Some food samples – visual ones. For the actual taste you will have to take a trip to Italy!

In Mercato Centrale in “downtown” as in the historic heart of Florence. Eat your heart out St. Lawrence!

Also in the same market, wood fire pizza made while you wait. A couple of minutes only!

After walking for a couple of hours from San Gimignano and helping ourselves to some delicious grapes growing along the way…

We reach this setting…

And eat this food!

  To end that delicious meal –

Another day, another hike and another fruit!!
The BEST fig ever. I don’t believe I even washed it. Never crossed my mind. Sun warmed and delicious.

Pappardelle with cinghiale (wild boar) ragu. It was delicious!

I had been dreaming of eating this dish! Linguine alle vongole! Yummy!

Pecorino cheese – made with sheep’s milk. I think this is my new favourite.

Yup, onion pizza!! Made with these onions.

Italians love to do this – a salad that reflects the colours of their flag!

Aperol spritz! Oh my! My friend and hiking buddy had one of these, and of course seeing the brilliant colour, I had to try one. Just as delicious as it looks pretty!

Same story as before.. another day, another long hike….

Food at Agririfugio Molini, a hard to reach tiny place in San Fruttuoso, Parco di Portofino. Bed & Breakfast/Hostel/Restaurant using their own home grown produce!!

THE BEST PISTACHIO GELATO EVER! No contest! In Corniglia, Cinque Terre.

And then there was this!!! In a nice, fancy but family run restaurant uphill from the town of Moneglia. Every table got one or two of these. The giant shrimp were delicious, once you got past their beady eyes.

Define wildlife..

Tags

Canada, Nature, photography, Wildlife

A sign that you live in a city within a whole lot of parks! Definition of wildlife changes. 🙂

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….

An inside joke!

Tags

HA!!, Life, photography, Toronto

Walking along the main street close to home and happening to look up, what do I see!!! Like one needs more reminders!

The city at sunset!!

Tags

photography, Sunset, Super Moon, Toronto

A hike with the North York Happy Hiker group.

Tags

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.