Urban Christmas

December 27, 2013 by Created by RCW

And now for some downtown Toronto shots from my walkabout before Christmas dinner.

: Just me and the streetcar driver when I started my journey downtown

: One of the many giant reindeer in Toronto’s Eaton Centre

: The view inside a Christmas tree in the Eatons Centre

: Sadly not just pigeons huddle over heat vents on the streets of Toronto

: Toronto City Hall, famed of several movies including at least one Resident Evil

: I loved the way the ice clung to the construction fence

: A large pond becomes a skating rink every winter in downtown Toronto

: A young girl learns how to skate at Nathan Philips Square

: Amidst the concrete jungle of downtown Toronto rises the clock tower of old City Hall

: Lights still deck some wreaths in the downtown core

Naturally Christmas Day

December 26, 2013 by Created by RCW

As I headed off for my Christmas feast in downtown Toronto, I took a bit of time to photograph some of the natural and urban wonders of my city.

Attached, are some of the natural attractions as Toronto chips its way out of the latest ice storm.

: Icicles yet dangle from withered branches now capped in white

: The winter is a time of brown and white in Toronto

: Thin layers of ice practically envelope the small leaves

: You can just make out some Xmas decorations

: The skeletal flowers of spring now bear small caps of snow

: Puffed out against the cold, the sparrow searches for food

Holiday Dinner at the Royal York

December 25, 2013 by Created by RCW

As much as it pains many people I know, for the last four years, I have spent my Christmas dinner at a local hotel, The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. The splendid buffet is held in the hotel’s Imperial Room, a small hall that once hosted musical legends (back in the day when you dressed up to go to a show).

For the first two years, I went with my wife Leela, whereas more recently, I have been sitting on my own (interestingly at the same table). That being said, when you’re surrounded by dozens of families, a troupe of carolers, a balloon artist and Santa Claus, are you truly alone?

The lesson I learned this year: Don’t watch people (adults as well as kids) use the chocolate fountain…you’re better off not knowing.

: Once the tallest building in Toronto, the old lady still has her charms

: An old-time clock sits in the middle of the hotel lobby

: Jacob Marley screams silently in his case

: A display of carved tallow themed on A Christmas Carol – here Bob Cratchitt

: The ghost of Christmas Present stares down the guests

: I liked the patterns the light fixture made on the wallpaper

: Skewers, fruits and marshmallows…what could go wrong?

: Roast beef and, of course, turkey are meats of the day

: With a separate buffet for the kids

Odds and sods at Toronto’s new aquarium

December 4, 2013 by Created by RCW

Okay…there is absolutely no theme to today’s photos from the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada except that there is no theme.

See also photos of: sharks, coral reef, jelly fish, interactive displays and dangerous fishes.

: One of the skeletons hanging from the ceiling, that mouth is 3 feet across

: Ready to do a spit take, this angler is looking for a next meal

: A small tank in the kids area was home to a variety of puffer fish

: An ominous looking fish that plums the depths

: A large cylindrical tank plays home to this busy school

: Another depths dweller, this guy looks like he hasn’t a friend in the world

: This little puffer almost seemed surprised to run into me

: This wolf eel slithered his way through the water among fish that seemed to fly on wings

Deep and dangerous at Toronto’s new aquarium

December 3, 2013 by Created by RCW

An assortment of photos that don’t necessarily follow a tight pattern from my trip to Ripleys Aquarium of Canada here in Toronto.

See also photos of the shark, coral reef, jelly fish, and interactive exhibits

: Fully admit that my favourite marine fish is the lion fish

: Fins flapping lazily, the cuttlefish goes through his blue period

: My camera caused no end of problems trying to capture these little guys

: So beautiful and yet so painful to the touch

: Love the binary nature of this photo

: The well named stone fish may appear inconspicuous but beware his still

: Always an avid eye watching you as you stare back

Touching moments at Toronto’s new aquarium

December 2, 2013 by Created by RCW

For some people, the absolute best part of the new Ripleys Aquarium of Canada is the opportunity to become part of the exhibit, either through its design or by literally being able to reach out and touch someone…er, thing.

: A young visitor clowns around with the fish

: Who is on display, as Leela stares down a lionfish and several stonefish

: Leela reaches out to tap a horseshoe crab

: Traffic piles up in the horseshoe crab exhibit

: Leela decides to take on one of the sharks

: Intrepid photographer makes on step for Plexiglas-kind

Jellies at Toronto’s new aquarium

December 1, 2013 by Created by RCW

Have to work on my photograph a little more to improve my photos of the jelly fish exhibit at Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada.

The scenes are so dark, I may need my tripod. Alternatively, this could be a good chance to play with my macro lens.

For my other aquarium photologs, visit:

Sharks at Toronto’s new aquarium

Coral reef at Toronto’s new aquarium

: The background lights gave the ethereal jellies an angry glow

: Deadly fingers reach into the water for prey

: A single light shone through the ghosts as they floated by

: As though wafting on a breeze, the jelly sank ever further

: Like an alien ship, the jelly pulsed by the glass

: Different tendrils performing different functions

: A caress as two jellies pass

: Two jellies miss a collision

: Mostly white or translucent, some were infused with red

: Hither and yon, the jellies swam across the scene

: A self-portrait against the reflecting wall

Coral reef at Toronto’s new aquarium

November 30, 2013 by Created by RCW

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada finally opened in Toronto.

Today, I am posting some photos from their coral reef exhibits.

: The large trio test the waters below the reef

: All you could hear from the children was “Dory!”

: The unicorn of fish

: Dorsal fin is down

: The sheer variety of fish, large and small was amazing

: Dorsal fin is up

Sharks at Toronto’s new aquarium

November 29, 2013 by Created by RCW

I love aquariums, both the smaller home version and the larger amusement park versions. Thus, after bemoaning the absence of one in Toronto (the largest frickin’ city in Canada), you can only imagine my enthusiasm when the Ripley’s company said they would build one in Toronto near two other major city landmarks, the CN Tower and the Rogers Centre.

Well, last month, the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada finally opened, and on Wednesday, I finally visited it.

Over the next few days, I will display some of the photos I took at the aquarium. Today, I’ll focus on the amazing walk-through shark tank.

: Who knows what lurks beyond the mouth of the coral cave

: Fish swim unphased in the crystal waters

: A regular coral rush hour

: Near and far, the sharks circle quietly

: Fan coral provides little protection

: Light beams through the water to illuminate the ray’s path

: A ray skims the floor as a shark lurks on high

: Mouth open because no one turns down a free meal

: The current splashes aerate the waters of the reef

: The curving walls provide rippling patterns

: She’ll be coming ’round the coral as she comes

Happy Thanksgiving, America

November 28, 2013 by Created by RCW

Still waiting for the conversation that begins:

Native American slowly walks up to POTUS and kind of shuffles his feet, looking everywhere but at POTUS.

POTUS: Hey sweetie, whassup?

NA: Hey Anglo. You know I think the world of you, right?

POTUS: Oh, oh.

NA: I was sooo excited when I invited you to move in.

POTUS: You made me so happy that day.

NA: Yeah, we were going to do so much stuff together. Discover the world. Make new friends. Redecorate the place. It was going to be great.

POTUS: Was?

NA: Yeah. *pause* Look, you’re a great people and all that…

POTUS: Spit it out.

NA: It just hasn’t worked out like I thought it would.

POTUS: What’re you talking about? We’re having the time of our lives!

NA: YOU! You’re having the time of YOUR life. You shut me out of everything.

POTUS: Sweetie. *attempts hug*

NA: Don’t touch me! This is hard for me to say, but it’s… it’s over between us.

POTUS: This is because of that football team in Washington, isn’t it?

NA: Don’t try to trivialize this!

POTUS: So, you just want me to move back in with my mother?

NA: I don’t care where you move. I just want my place back.

POTUS: Come on. Look at me. We can work this out.

NA: Fine! I didn’t want to tell you this. But I’ve… started to see the Chinese.

POTUS: What? *laughs*

NA: What’s so damned funny?

POTUS: I started seeing the Chinese, too!

NA: *laughs* Oh, my Earth Mother! Are we a pair or what?

They hug and when POTUS is at work the next day, NA throws his stuff onto the front lawn (in Canada).

(Image is property of owner and is used without permission, so deport me!)

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createdbyrcw

Seer of the invisible, scribe of the unwritten

Tag Archives: Canada

Urban Christmas

Naturally Christmas Day

Holiday Dinner at the Royal York

Odds and sods at Toronto’s new aquarium

Deep and dangerous at Toronto’s new aquarium

Touching moments at Toronto’s new aquarium

Jellies at Toronto’s new aquarium

Coral reef at Toronto’s new aquarium

Sharks at Toronto’s new aquarium

Happy Thanksgiving, America

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