Becikvert, Montreal

I have told many people that you can borrow (for free, in case it wasn't clear) one of these bikes from 10AM to 6PM from the Mont Royal Metro Station (Montreal) everyday of the summer. Yes, it sounds too good to be true. It is actually true. 

The Little Library on a Street, Washington, DC

This is on 13th Street, near Logan Circle, in DC. 

Ancient Ethiopian Crosses

I saw similar crosses hanging down Ethiopian women's necks. I also saw them dangling on their chests when they do the traditional dance, "eskista". The above were a decor at my friend's apartment and they work well as a wall-hanging, too. 

Reflection of the Empire State Building, New York

I was not even going to see the Empire State Building. It must have been the camera hanging on my neck and my question to the bus driver that gave it away that I was a visitor. Or he just thought I would be interested. A gentleman got off the bus right behind me. He said he was going to show me something. He walked with me a few steps and pointed to a building a little further down the crowded street, on the right side of us. It was the reflection of the Empire State Building. I could tell from the way he talked about it that he appreciated the view very much. In fact, he took a picture of it as I did. Snap, snap. 

That was an awesome piece of information he shared. I thought to myself: no amount Googling or no Apps could tell you that. I count on incidents like this to justify my not relying so much on the Internet. Talking to people is so interesting. They might tell you interesting things, too. Like where to look for reflections. 

The Coolest Mural and How I Found It in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

This is one of my favorite murals. And this is how I discovered it. I came out of the Brooklyn Public Library near Prospect Park with a bike map on a Sunday afternoon. I was not cycling even though the weather was just perfect for it: clement as late April weather is; full of sunshine; warm but cool enough you could wear an unbuttoned fall jacket. I just needed to have a physical map that showed the entire New York City. I had a number of reasons for this. 1. My Canadian phone company has given me a small amount of data in my travel package so I have to use Google Map sparingly. 2. The battery in my two-year old iPhone has been weakening and has rendered my phone unreliable for exploration. 3. I like to see the features on a map in something bigger than the palm of my hand. 4. I love to mark on my maps and leave notes. 5. I just love physical maps, plain and simple.  

So anyway I came out with my map and spread it on a short wall right on top of the steps down. I was trying to figure out the best route to my destination. A gentleman was standing to the left of me. He asked if I was going somewhere. I told him, "Williamsburg". My architect friend had told me I might like the neighborhood. We got down to task with this nice gentleman finding the best way to get there. We did. (Whoever told you New Yorkers weren't nice haven't met this gentleman and other nice people I ran into.) Then he told me to look for a graffiti on Bedford Avenue and 11th Street (I think) if I wanted a free entertainment. He looked it up on his cellphone and showed me what graffiti. Attractive picture. Sure, I wanted to see it.   

I didn't go to Williamsburg that afternoon. Well, technically, I did. But I remained on the southern bordered of the neighborhood. Not by design but I just have a knack for getting lost! When you are "exploring", you have the luxury of doing that; so I did. No stress, I could come back the next day, right? But I thought what I saw was it until I met my architect friend's friend who owns a vegetarian restaurant in the gentrifying neighborhood of Bushwick.   

I went back the next day. This time, I found Williamsburg "proper". I forgot about the graffiti, though. I explored the neighborhood: I went in to stores; had lunch somewhere there; and took pictures. As I was winding down my perusing of Bedford Avenue, I turned to go back up and there it was. The graffiti. I loved it. Like everything else, though, it looked better in a picture.  

     

At Victoria Metro Station, Montreal

This is a seat at the Victoria Metro Station in Montreal. I took the photo in 2013. It was very early in the morning in the first week of July when I went there for the Festival International de Jazz de Montreal. (So looking forward to the festival this summer!)

Check out the the white and turquoise tiles on the left side. So subtly creating visual variety to break the monotone of the black and grey tiles. I would say, it could have gone a bit bolder and still maintain the subtle-ness.  

There was nothing around to capture in the photo to give a sense of the scale visually. But just so you know, the seat it about 40cm-high. 

The elegance in its minimalism caught me eyes. 

A Big Tree, a Small Tunnel, and a Lone Saxophonist, Manhattan

In Central Park, on a beautiful day in late April, 2015. 

Roof Truss, Innisfil

This is a roof - truss system in the Innisfill, Ontario town hall. The wood and metal look nice with the pendant light. 

The 504 Streetcar, Toronto

This is the 504 streetcar. It runs between the Dundas West and Broadway Subway Stations along Roncesvalles Avenue and King Street. The Toronto streetcar is the slowest means of transportation I have ever used. The 504 is the slowest of all. To give you a sense of how slow if you have never been on it: I am a cyclist; I cycle with average speed; I am faster than the 504. Get it?

It looks pretty, though. It has a nice proportion, slim and long. Comfortable, too, to sit inside and glide along with it if you are sight-seeing and time is not an an issue, provided the car is not crowded.  

    

The Village Vanguard, NYC

A Living Room