Chalkboard Fun

 

A cafe on Bathurst St always has a funny saying on its chalkboard out front. I liked this one.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

A White House

 

This house was spotted near Casa Loma and really stood out in that neighbourhood with its white walls and tile roof. It looks small but actually goes back far. We still had a bit of snow in the shadows when I took this a few weeks ago.

Blue On Monday

 

This blue mural has appeared atop a wall of faded and tagged old graffiti and really stands out for its intense colours. I think the artist name is ROAM.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

A Sea Of Blue

 

Out for a walk this week I spotted this sea of blue Scilla running up and along a hill on Davenport Rd. This is probably just a quarter of the area with flowers. I was so surprised and pleased to see them.

Hungry Squirrel

 

It is hard to see but this squirrel has a mouth full of blossoms from the Elm tree behind our place. The squirrels have been feasting on these blossoms for a couple of weeks now so they must taste really good.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click Here to see more creatures from around the world.

Restoration Continues

 

This my last post from the Mayan ruins at Uxmal in Mexico where they continue working on uncovering things and restoring them. The tall pyramid in the background in this shot is partly uncovered and some restoration has been done. In the foreground a structure is being restored. It was a fascinating place to visit.

Uxmal Again

 

This is a shot to show what the setting of the Mayan ruins at Uxmal was like. The tall pyramid in the background is actually the other side of the one I showed yesterday. The whole setting was lovely and we arrived early in the morning so it wasn't crowded with people.

Mayan Ruins

 

I am going back to Mexico for my posts for the next few days. While in Merida, we travelled to see the Mayan ruins at Uxmal. This the first sight you have of the ruins when you enter and it is called the Pyramid Of The Magician. You can see the scale of it if you look at the people on the lower right. It was awe-inspiring. One interesting thing was that if you stood on the lawn and clapped your hands it would echo back at you.

Cool Sign

 

This is the sign at the front of yesterday's restaurant. I liked the clean lines of the sign and the contrast with the colourful mural on the side.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world. I am one day early for the sign meme so check it out tomorrow.

New Place In Town

 

This is not yet another shot from Mexico but is actually a mural on the side of a new Mexican restaurant on Bloor St W in the Annex neighbourhood. I could find no artist name on it. It looks like there will be a nice patio there for when the weather gets better. I plan on trying the place out soon.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

Dog On High

 

I  thought that I would give you an idea of how tall the posts were that supported yesterday's dog sculpture by Stephen Cruise. You can see another of the sculptures, this one a chicken, in the background. The posts must be at least 25 ft tall or possibly more.

Sweet Pup

 

This is one of several sculptures by artist Stephen Cruise that are on tall posts running along beside the streetcar right of way along Spadina Ave south of Bloor St. I have always liked this one and have enjoyed watching the patina develop over the years. I'll show you its location tomorrow.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Curves

 

I've always liked this apartment building in the Annex neighbourhood with its curvy balconies. I would love to see the inside of one of the units.

Wonderful Restoration

 

This lovely home is located just around the corner from yesterday's restaurant pic. I love how the original features have been restored. It's a beauty.

Magic

 

Magic Noodle really stands out in its block along Harbord St near the U of Toronto campus.I haven't tried it yet but it looks interesting. I like contrast of the buildings. I'm not sure about that small addition on the building  on the right though.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Leaves

 

A rare pleasant day called for a walk so I headed out for a bit. Walking along Bloor St W at Spadina I spotted these metal leaves attached to the grates over a ventilation shaft for the subway. I loved that someone thought of this and how it changed the whole atmosphere of the area from boring to something special. I couldn't find an artist signature.

Need Sunglasses?

 

We have had a few days when you needed sunglasses but not many when you could sit outside. We had one good day a week ago when I actually saw some people sitting outside a cafe by this tropical looking mural. I could find no artist info on this one.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

Finally

 

I actually spotted some spring flowers this past week. They were in a south facing garden enjoying the sun on one of the few nice days we had.

They Are Back

 

The Robins are back from their winter holidays in the south. I have been seeing large flocks of them in a local park but caught this pic in the Annex neighbourhood. This Robin looks a bit bedraggled but he was finding lots to eat in this lawn so will soon be fit again. My regular Robin who visits my birdbath on the deck has been back and bathing on days when it hasn't been raining.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Rosary

 

I took a tour of a few homes in Merida Mexico and behind the brick walls and bars on the windows there were beautiful things. This home with 20 ft ceilings had this large rosary made from henequen (sisal) by the artist Marcela Diaz whose work I showed you yesterday. This was in one of the bedrooms.

Art In Merida

 

The railway museum in Merida Mexico has a temporary space that features various exhibits. While I was there the exhibit was a show of work by local artist Marcela Diaz who was born in Merida and has shown work worldwide. Her work mainly consists  of large textile sculptures  made with native Yucatan plants such as henequen (sisal). She often features feminine symbols such as these crocheted dresses. I like her work.

Railway Museum

 

This was the sign at the entrance to the railway museum in Merida Mexico. It was quite interesting to tour as it gave a good history of the development of the railway in the state of the Yucatan. I liked the style of the stencilled letters on the sign.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

See The Train?

 

This stained glass window was seen near the entrance to the railway museum in Merida Mexico. At first glance it appears to be abstract but if you look inside the white circle you can see a stylized train entering the picture. I quite liked it.

Bird In A Cage

 

This wonderful bird was spotted in Merida Mexico, stencilled behind the bars over the window of a house. I was told that there were several of these stencils around town but I only saw this one. It was perfect positioning. There was no artist info. Although small, I think it qualifies as a mural.

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

Columns

 

There is a very long linear park in Merida Mexico that runs for many blocks and is full of interesting things like a railway museum and a really large outdoor food court. There is a really long walkway that is shaded and and features all of these columns. It makes for a cooler spot for a walk or run on warm days.

Spring Arrivals

 

We have had awful weather lately but last week one afternoon there was a bit of sunshine and I looked out through the window to see this pair of House Finches in the trees by the roof deck. They were there for about 45 minutes just grooming and resting. I have seen them a few times since and hope that they may stay around for a while. They are always together.

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Fishy Lady

 

I spotted this painting of a lady surrounded by fish while I was in Merida Mexico. The artist signed is as C. San but I have no info about them. I like the painting.

Outdoor Cafe

 

The weather here in Toronto has been wet & awful so I haven't been out much for wanders. In the meantime this is the decor in an outdoor cafe in Merida Mexico where the weather was warm and sunny for the whole time that I was there. Spring will soon be here I hope.

Cafe

It was the 1958 Impala up above this cafe in Merida Mexico that caught my attention. That was the first year that the Impala was built and I don't think I have ever seen one before. This was a morning pic but by evening this place was packed and the sign was highlighted with neon.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.
 

April Theme: Stripes

 

The April theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is Stripes and for this theme I am showing a pic of a set of bars over a window in Merida Mexico. I loved the graphic style of these ones.

Taking part in the Stripes theme.Click HERE to see more stripes from around the world.