For my birthday trip this year I had planned to goto Iceland and then continue across Norway. Originally I had wanted to do Russia but with the Crimea and Ukraine tensions I thought getting a visa would be tricky and they may be hostile to westerners.Iceland had long interested me. In Junior school we had to do projects on four different European countries. After choosing West Germany and France I also chose Iceland. I remember writing about geysirs but having no...

There were two festivals taking place in my neighbourhood this weekend. The Ukrainian on Bloor west in previous entry. Also the Polish Festival in Roncesvalles. I had planned to goto both as they were nearby testing out my new camera.Unlike the Ukrainian Festival I had just left the Polish Festival was a load of **** and hardly compared. Like the Italian festival a few weeks back, it was basically just a big street festival with no ethnic character.In comparison ...

This weekend Toronto held a Ukrainian festival in Bloor West Village. There was to be a parade Saturday at 11am. I used to goto these events every weekend in Korea so was feeling left out from my regular weekend dose of festivals. I also wanted to try out my new camera before my big Scandinavia trip next week.There was rain, I didn't know of the parade would go ahead or if I should just stay at home but I ended up going. At one end was a mock 'maidan' display wit...

This weekend was the annual Caribana Parade. I've never gone to it before due to traffic problems, road closures, and being out of the way on Lakeshore Ave.However, this year my condo building is right at the foot of the parade on Lakeshore Ave so I planned on checking it out.I arrived late afternoon as I was trying to buy a new camera. Pics are from my old camera as the new one was still in the box.The parade moves very slowly and lasts over several hours. After...

This weekend another Toronto festival was taking place in Little Italy along College St. The Taste of Little Italy was meant to be a celebration of Italian culture but lacked any cohesive theme and seemed to be a mish mash free for all.College St was closed from Bathurst to Ossington and streetcars rerouted. This made for a wide avenue for pedestrians and stalls.There were many fairground stalls and different food vendors. There was no overall Italian feel except...