A lone Maple is reflected
in the water of a quiet stream.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
Sunday, October 27, 2013
The EATON CENTER
Downtown Toronto's largest and most elegant
shopping facility.
230 stores and restaurants are grouped
on three levels under a sweeping, curved glass roof.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
In Stratford on Avon, Ontario.
In Stratford we saw two wonderful plays: "Romeo and Juliette" and on the very next day, "Fiddler on the Roof".
We spent two nights in a classy B&B, the "Mornington Rose" and on the third day, Sunday, we drove back to Toronto. This trip takes you through the heart of Ontario's Mennonite country.
The Mennonites, or Anabaptists, persecuted in Europe because of their religious believes, (they rejected Roman Catholicism, and were totally pacifistic) finally, after having been driven from one European country (Principality, Dukedom etc) finally found religious freedom in America. Many settled in Canada, specifically in Central Southern Ontario.
Many of them still pursue a simple life style, and are successful farmers, in spite of rejecting modern contrivances, using horse and buggy instead of motor cars. I understand, however, that they now permit themselves to use motorized farming tools, such as tractors but still do not use automobiles for personal, non-farming use.
On our way we met with many of them returning from Sunday service. I could not resist stopping my car and taking photographs of these people from another time
We spent two nights in a classy B&B, the "Mornington Rose" and on the third day, Sunday, we drove back to Toronto. This trip takes you through the heart of Ontario's Mennonite country.
The Mennonites, or Anabaptists, persecuted in Europe because of their religious believes, (they rejected Roman Catholicism, and were totally pacifistic) finally, after having been driven from one European country (Principality, Dukedom etc) finally found religious freedom in America. Many settled in Canada, specifically in Central Southern Ontario.
Many of them still pursue a simple life style, and are successful farmers, in spite of rejecting modern contrivances, using horse and buggy instead of motor cars. I understand, however, that they now permit themselves to use motorized farming tools, such as tractors but still do not use automobiles for personal, non-farming use.
On our way we met with many of them returning from Sunday service. I could not resist stopping my car and taking photographs of these people from another time
... in Mennonite Country...
Parking Lot in front of the Assembly Hall
After Sunday Service, on the way home....
..a small "bus" takes home the family and neighbours.
Friday, October 25, 2013
HIGH LITES
During this 5 week trip there were, of course, many high lites...
There was Lang Lang playing Mozart, there was Perlman playing Tchaikovsky,
there was "Romeo and Juliet" as well as "Fiddler on the Roof", both fabulous performances in Stratford, Ont.
there was Arowhon Pines in Algonquin Park, there was Vancouver, there was dinner in the Restaurant at the 330 meter level of the CN tower, with brightly lit Toronto beneath us...
None of the above compares in "High Lite" quality with dinner in Unionville with 11 members of the "Willowdale United" soccer club, with whom we visited Austria for a 3 weeks exhibition tour in 1975..... fully 38 years ago. Since the average age then was about 22 years that makes them all about 60 years old. Down below is the picture taken a few days ago. Now I ask you: "Do these guys look 60 ?"
Well, maybe the Coach, (he's the fellow sitting on the floor in the second team picture)...
maybe he looks 60 +... the rest of them haven't aged a day, since they defeated the second best, Austria had to offer.
At first I thought I should list the names... you know: left to right... but then I reconsidered:
Those who care, know all the names... and those who don't care, well, they don't care about the names... so you nameless lot: you were a terrific team and you still are terrific men with whom to play this game, nay, whom to know, was an honour and a pleasure for
yours truly: Bertstravels.
There was Lang Lang playing Mozart, there was Perlman playing Tchaikovsky,
there was "Romeo and Juliet" as well as "Fiddler on the Roof", both fabulous performances in Stratford, Ont.
there was Arowhon Pines in Algonquin Park, there was Vancouver, there was dinner in the Restaurant at the 330 meter level of the CN tower, with brightly lit Toronto beneath us...
None of the above compares in "High Lite" quality with dinner in Unionville with 11 members of the "Willowdale United" soccer club, with whom we visited Austria for a 3 weeks exhibition tour in 1975..... fully 38 years ago. Since the average age then was about 22 years that makes them all about 60 years old. Down below is the picture taken a few days ago. Now I ask you: "Do these guys look 60 ?"
Well, maybe the Coach, (he's the fellow sitting on the floor in the second team picture)...
maybe he looks 60 +... the rest of them haven't aged a day, since they defeated the second best, Austria had to offer.
At first I thought I should list the names... you know: left to right... but then I reconsidered:
Those who care, know all the names... and those who don't care, well, they don't care about the names... so you nameless lot: you were a terrific team and you still are terrific men with whom to play this game, nay, whom to know, was an honour and a pleasure for
yours truly: Bertstravels.
Willowdale United Soccer Club.
There are, count them, eleven members present.
Just enough to field a full team.
If we could field this team tomorrow,
Man U and Real Madrid watch out.
What's a team without a coach ?
both sides of the table.
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