McMichaels Gallery

If you are lucky enough to live in Toronto or invirons you simply must visit McMichaels Gallery in Kleinburg. 
Great works of the original "Group of Seven" as well as today's artists including wonderful creations by some of our First Nations painters are there on exhibit.
The artists shown at McMichael's are true artists ( in my humble opinion ) and not "Fingerschmierers" or "Paint Throwers".

Franklin Carmichael

"Bay of Islands"

(Oil on Canvass)

Franklin Carmichael

A.J.Casson

Little Island (1965)

(Oil on Canvass

Emily Carr

"Dancing Sunlight"

Oil on Canvass

Emily Carr

Christiane Pflug

"Interior at Night"

(oil and raisin on Canvass)

Alex Colville

"Milk Truck"

(Oil and Raisin on Hardboard)

Lawren S Harris

Mountain and Lake

(Oil on Canvass)

is not at McMichael's Gallery, but probably should be  :-))

Bert Reitter

Downtown TO

(Nikon D610 on Electronic Sensor)

What's the Score?

I, recently, had a conversation (via e-mail) with an American friend of mine, who, while a friend of Soccer is not exactly an aficionado. He let it be known, that he regrets the low scoring games.
How, he ventured, can a 1:0 or a 1:1 game be exciting?
Is it not exciting, I asked him, when, for instance, a goalkeeper, with an incredible lunge, prevents the ball from entering the goal just in the little space where the upright meets the crossbar? Is it not exciting when a midfield player takes the ball and with unbelievable dexterity brings it crossfield, passing it off to an attacker at the last moment, who takes one powerful shot and the ball either just misses one of the uprights, or bangs off the crossbar, back into the field of play?
The game ends 1:0 , or even 0:0 and still was a nailbiter from the opening whistle to the 90 minute mark (plus extra time).
However, in order to assuage my American friends disappointment, I herewith issue an official, in fact, a very official recommendation to FIFA, the governing body of Soccer-Football, to add to the existing rules the following:
Maybe, some of the Ideas of American Football could be incorporated into the "Beautiful Game."
Rule change #1.) 
If the ball (that is this round thingy which gets kicked around mercilessly by 22 big guys) crosses, in its complete circumference, the goal line between the two uprights and under the crossbar, and providing no breach of the rules has occurred prior to such crossing (Like off-side, tripping, pushing, etc etc, ) the scorekeeper shall record 12 points.
Rule change #2.)
If the ball sails over the crossbar, but between the upward extended imaginary extension of the uprights, 6 points shall be awarded and, finally, 
Rule change # 3.)
if the shot misses either of the uprights by just a 'smidgen', the award shall be 3 points only.
It will be the task of a special FIFA commission to determine and write a 25 page explanation of the concept of 'smidgen'.
With these rule changes in place, and additional scorekeepers at both goals, raising the total of game officials to six, or more than half a team, the score at the end of the game: Guatemala against the Ivory Coast  could easily be 246: 258.
And won't that be exciting?

Bertstravels
has played, coached and watched Soccer
all his life, and is totally happy with a 1:0 result.

Lake Simcoe

One of my favourite places: The south shore of Lake Simcoe. Too many reasons to list.

One cannot mention the word "overcrowded" 

in relation to the Beach and/or to the Lake itself.

In Stratford

The Place I visit each and every year.

The Shakespeare Festival Theatre

in Stratford on Avon, Ontario

Good Old "Bill"

This time I saw "The Tempest"

inside the Theatre it is mostly interesting.

Outside it is always interesting

Toronto Reflections

The latest trend:

Skyscrapers with Glass Fronts.

Even the CN Tower looks at himself in the mirror!

Toronto from on-high

Including the antenna, which was put in place via helicopter, 

the CN Tower reaches a height of 533 meters. 

For 34 years it remained the world's tallest structure.

These pictures were taken  from the 330 meter level on a partially sunny day.

The Gentlemen of WUSC

Sio, the Captain, is privileged to raise the glass

to everybody's Good Health  

The "Old Country Inn" 

in Unionville, the site of our annual meeting.

The Motto:

"Do you remember 1975?"

11 men high.

Actually just 10 men high and the Coach.

Some more "TALL B UILDINGS"

TORONTO CITY HALL

 No longer "New" but still modern looking.

One of the world's most impressive City Halls

The broken Zipper.

50, 60, 70 and 80 stories buildings make Toronto the City with the biggest growth.

You Torontonians may enjoy the following observation:

When I came to Toronto in 1957 (after 2 years in Ottawa) I started to work

in the 17 stories high "Westbury Hotel" on the corner Yonge and Wood Street.

From the Sky-Lounge on the roof, looking South, one could see the lake.

Meanwhile, back in Canada

I returned to Austria early.
But that's another story for another time.
In the meantime: Here is an intro to TO.

Each year there are more sky-scrapers added to the Silhouette of Toronto.

CANVAC 2018

I'll be gone for a little while.
In the meantime you will have to put up with these roses.
To quote Gertrude Stein: a rose is a rose is a rose.

These are Roses from our garden!

To quote Arnold Schwarzenegger: "I'll be back!"