After The Storm

 

It wasn't just snowmen like Frank that were covered in snow after our big storm last week. These stairs needed a bit of work before they were useable. Lucky it was light snow.

External Stairs

 

This is a very common sight all over the province of Quebec, especially in the cities like Montreal. Small buildings have external stairs which are the main access to the upper units - not as fire escapes. It would be interesting to know if the purpose is to save internal space that staircases would take up. I have no idea of the answer.

Stairway

 

I passed by this stairway in Merida Mexico a few times and each time I felt that it led to somewhere exotic but I never ventured up as we were always on our way to somewhere else.

Climbing The Stairs

 

Ahead of those cars stopped at the lights at Davenport Rd you can barely make out the switchback of stairs leading up the hill and eventually to the entrance of Casa Loma which is visible through the trees on the left. There are 110 steps leading to to the top so it is good exercise.

I will be away from my computer for a week but have scheduled posts and will visit everyone when I get back online.

From The Top Of The Stairs

When you reach the top of yesterday's stairs and turn around this is your view looking down along Spadina through the lovely trees of the annex neighbourhood and through downtown until you hit Lake Ontario.  Most of the tourists going to Casa Loma come up this way and then turn around to take this shot with the CN Tower in a starring role.

Going Up

I was walking along Davenport Rd and spotted this guy heading up the stairs to Casa Loma and was impressed by all the greenery around him. There are 110 steps to the top and he is about 25% of the way up. I'll show you the view from up top tomorrow.

He Loves Me, He Loves Me ....!

Scattered among the larger old buildings in the Liberty Village neighbourhood you can often find quirky little structures like this one. It is actually attached to a much larger place behind it and they are both in danger of being replaced by condos. I love the whimsy of this one in particular the cute signs on the stairs. This view has been used in several movie scenes.

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

They're Back!

 The tourists seem to be trickling back into the city. This is a shot of the stairs leading up to Casa Loma which for the last 18 months have been fairly empty. At this point they have walked up about 90 steps and have about 15 more to go so it is a good place to stop and read the signs.

Partly Open

This is an archive shot looking towards downtown from the top of the steps at Casa Loma. This week Toronto entered stage 2 of the openings since covid hit us which means people can get their hair cut and go to restaurant patios. I'm going to stay isolated for a little longer!

Stairway To The Casa

This is the stairway leading up to Casa Loma from Davenport Rd and just after a snowfall you can really see the stairs. There are 110 of them so tourists heading up to the Casa and to Spadina House get a bit of exercise on their way.

Stairway To Shoes

This is the staircase from inside the Bata Shoe Museum leading to the three floors of exhibit space. This whole area is lit by a wall of glass facing south so it is always bright. You can see the woman in the middle of the pic waving at the camera.

Stylish Stairs

I was wandering around the downtown U of Toronto campus a couple of weeks ago and took this pic inside Hart House showing some of its Gothic Revival charm. Hart House is a student activity centre which was completed in 1919 and continues to be a vital part of the university.

Photo Shoot

While heading up the steep stairs that lead to Casa Loma I came upon this photo shoot. The guy on the right was shooting the fellow on the left in various poses including having him climb up to the top of that pillar he is leaning on. The other fellow seemed to be an assistant. I'm not sure what the pics were for.

Almost At The Top

At this point of the stairway leading up to Casa Loma and Spadina House you have climbed about 100 steps but there are only a dozen left to go. I thought this was a nice scene to greet you and urge you on to the top. The oak trees were just starting to leaf out when I took this pic a week ago. These trees were neighbours of the one I showed a couple of weeks ago that had been destroyed in the wind storm.

Race You To The Top

These are the stairs leading from Davenport Rd up to Casa Loma. It is a steep hill and even the double decker tour buses that operate around town won't drive up the hill - you get on and off at the bottom and then walk. I thought the red bush at the half way mark looked beautiful against all the green around it. 100 steps to the top!

September Theme: Photographing The Photographer

The September theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is "Photographing The Photographer" and I offer this pic taken along the stairway leading up to Casa Loma. Not only is the guy taking a pic of the young woman but their friend is taking a pic of them both on her device. The location is a bit unusual since most people take a pic from the other side of this landing in order to get the CN Tower in the background rather than the trees which will be in this one.
Taking part in the theme. Click HERE to see more photraphers from around the world.

Baldwin Steps

This is a pic of the public walkway that leads up the steep hill to Casa Loma at the top. The hill itself was part of the shoreline of an ancient lake and the name Baldwin refers to the family who owned this property before it became public. The big steps on the left are for sitting while the 110 steps to the right lead you to the top. In the 1960s this area was to be taken over by a 6 lane highway which would have run through the centre of the Annex neighbourhood but was cancelled in 1971 after probably the largest resistance our city has ever seen with protests everywhere!

Stairs

I took this pic at the end of what had been a warm November for us and you can see that there were still some flowers hanging around. These stairs lead up to one of the porches at Spadina House and I have seen them used as a stage for many wedding pics during the summer months.

Leafy Stairs

I'm back in one of the ravines along the Humber River. I didn't head up these stairs so have no idea where they end up. Might be fun to check out in the winter when there is snow - or it may be too slippery!

Theme Day - "Look Down"

The July theme day for the City Daily Photo Blog community is 'Look Down'. We all tend to look up but might be missing a few things along the way. This is the view down from a roof into a small space between buildings with the stairs on the left making such a cool pattern.
To see more examples of Look Down from around the world, click HERE.