The mission was fairly simple: To prepare for my upcoming One of a Kind Show by transporting my stock and equipment in advance. I figured that, while I was at it, I would take some photos to add Toronto to my collection just in time for the show.
The allotted time for this mission: one single day.
The allotted time for this mission: one single day.
Those who know me well would tell you that I am always quite ambitious when I travel. I always strive to see and feel a whole range of places, and to enjoy diverse experiences that would make a great collection of memories. Sometimes, this leads to walking for twenty hours, to the point where my legs despise me. I have come to love that sense of discovery, that longing to see a city's multiple faces and moods.
But to do that in a day in Toronto - a sprawling metropolis known for its numerous neighborhoods all with their distinctive character - was ambitious even by my standards. And, before going any further, let me please mention that this was THE COLDEST DAY in Toronto. It was the type of day where my bones just rattled beneath my layers of clothes and warm winter coat. The wind was bitter, relentless, unforgiving. I endangered my hands with each and every photo I took, and it was a challenge to keep the camera steady in the wind, or to even see through the viewfinder with all the tears in my frozen eyes. The heart-stopping cold is actually the first thought that comes to mind when I look through all the day's pictures.
So, time and weather were not quite on my side. Thankfully, though, my crew of lovely friends were on my side, and I am so grateful to them for helping me see as much as possible in a day, and never once telling me I was crazy for scurrying around the city in minus 20 Celsius temperatures, or for planning on producing Toronto fine-art prints and coasters days before the show!
So, time and weather were not quite on my side. Thankfully, though, my crew of lovely friends were on my side, and I am so grateful to them for helping me see as much as possible in a day, and never once telling me I was crazy for scurrying around the city in minus 20 Celsius temperatures, or for planning on producing Toronto fine-art prints and coasters days before the show!
In planning the day's goals, I settled for something between "seeing all the neighborhoods" and "seeing the CN tower" (though, let me confess, I was genuinely eager to see the CN tower, too!)
The result was a ton of running around, a ton of shutter-presses, and one very positive impression of a city I am eager to discover further.
As I was staying with our dear friends in Milton, I started my Toronto adventure in the western part of the city. Around High Park, the houses were grand and the streets were quiet. I could only imagine how much prettier the area would look once the trees filled in the missing green from the scene. Steps away from the residential tranquility was the heart of the Roncesvalles village - its main boulevard bustling with locals, street cars and interesting cafés. I noticed my eye was immediately drawn to street signs, stop lights, crosswalks and the tangled webs of street car wires - an urban sight that differed from what my eyes are used to in Montreal.
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Next, we got a glimpse of neighborhoods like Parkdale, Bloordale and Little Portugal, enjoying how the urban feel (and the lampposts) changed from one neighborhood to the next. In Liberty Village, the CN tower teasingly came into view in the distance, contrasting with the industrial feel of the area.
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We headed to Exhibition Place (where the OOAK show will take place) and braved the biting cold as we walked along the waterfront in Coronation Park and the harborfront to theimpressive CN tower.
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After lunch, we were among the crowds of young people enjoying the bustle of Queen Street West. The vibe got decidedly more eclectic west of Spadina Avenue.
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Heading east, we spent some time in the downtown core, in Old Toronto and the artsy St-Lawrence market area, truly appreciating the peaceful co-existence of historic and modern architecture, just like in Montreal.
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As the sun began to dip in the sky, we headed to the Distillery District to take in the industrial mood of the area. I loved it there and spent quite some time among the brick buildings and colored doors. When my body was irreparably frozen, we stepped into some shops and had an artisanal hot chocolate.
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The hours flowed (too) quickly, but I thoroughly enjoyed my first-ever full day in Toronto. I vowed to spend more time and effort discovering its character, and promised to book a leisurely trip soon (the OOAK doesn't count!).
Dare I say my mission was accomplished, as I now have a Toronto collection in my shop as well as on Etsy! Two sets of Toronto coasters are also ready to be revealed to you VERY SOON! The Toronto wall-art collection (on canvas, wood, metal or acrylic) has not yet been added to the shop, but you could custom order any of the fine-art prints in a different medium or size just by sending me an e-mail.
If you're in Toronto between March 29-April 2nd, come find me at the One of a Kind Show and Sale in the Marketplace section, booth P44E. I'd love to meet you! You can purchase discounted tickets HERE with the promo code ETYUMPWG.
From my heart to yours!
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