In the Fall, Monticello is transformed into a festival of colours and the majestic view of the Blueridge Mountains that Jefferson enjoyed during his lifetime is there for you to enjoy.

Jefferson, the third President of the United States, designed this plantation. Monticello is not only a historic national landmark but also a UNESCO Heritage site together with the University of Virginia that Jefferson also designed.

Just outside of Charlottesville in the Piedmont region of Virginia, this 5,000 acres of land was first worked on by African slaves cultivating tobacco, a popular and lucrative export then. So, as you go in the place from the parking lot, there is the cemetery for the slaves. 

In the Fall, it is such a beautiful place especially with the maples changing colours  but beneath this beauty, the dark history of slavery lingers.

When Jefferson lived there, there were about 150 slaves working in the plantation. Today, there is a marked off are where the slaves were buried as you can see in the picture below.

Monticello during the time of Jefferson totalled to around 5000 acres planted in tobacco which was the cash crop at that time. Thus, the slaves to work on the plantation. There are still some of the dwellings of the slaves on the property along Mulberry Row. Mulberry Row was an experiment on silk making. It is along here that the slaves lived. 

Along Mulberry Row were the slave dwellings and one of these is shown below.

Monticello during the time of Jefferson was almost a self-contained plantation with most of its needs produced there and the services were attended to as well. So, there are trades workshops in the place to provide these services. Some of the slaves became skilled working in these.

Below is the garden which at the time of Jefferson not only provided for the plantation needs but also served as an experimental farm where he planted  plants he brought from his travel.

Jefferson also designed the basement area of the house where a wine cellar,  storage places and work areas were placed. Below are some of the pictures.

Archaelogy students continue to dig in the property and more will be discovered about Monticello. We await as it reveals more of its secrets.

​Most visitors and even city residents miss visiting the Toronto Islands. There are 15 islands in this chain dotting the western part of Lake Ontario not far from downtown. So, from downtown Toronto, you can take a ferry from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal which is at the foot of Bay St. and Queen's Quay. It will take you around 13 minutes to reach the island and the fee is $7.50 for adults and $5 for seniors and students.

Once there, you can walk or bike around the islands which are interconnected with pathways and boardwalks.

It was in Spring when I took this picture so the waves were stronger. 

We were lucky to have been brought to the Island by a member of the sailing club located there so we had a delicious breakfast in the club house and even better took the boat of the sailing club. This picture was taken in the balcony of the club and the background is downtown Toronto with the iconic CN Tower.

It was quite a privilege to have been brought there by someone who has lived on the island. We got to know what it is like to live there all year long. I was surprised to see how many houses and quaint cottages there are and how difficult it is to get a place here. You have to pay to maintain your name on the wait list and it could take forever to get one. A friend just took out her name on the list knowing that she would never be able to get a place in her lifetime.

Below is a picture of one of the cottages on the island. It looks very idyllic especially in the Spring.

Toronto Islands is a 150-year old community with about with about 600 people living in 262 houses and cottages.

Toronto Islands offer interesting places to explore. In fact, if you want to do it leisurely, you can stay overnight or for a few days and enjoy the peace and quiet of the islands, a stark contrast from the busy downtown core of Toronto. There are pathways, boardwalks and bike paths connecting the islands. It is totally car free.

For those who have kids, the Amusement Park in the Centre Island would be your best destination. It offers all kinds of rides including swan boats going around a small lagoon, a petting zoo, a maze and a beach.

One of the places you can hang out in is Ward's Island. The most visited place may just be the Rectory Cafe as many people from downtown Toronto come to enjoy dining al fresco on very delicious and tasty food without paying exorbitant prices. We had lunch here when we visited and thoroughly enjoyed the food. 

Below is the Willow Square, a community initiative based on the work of Maggie Howarth, a renowned pebble mosaic artist. The island residents did this to express their life, their history and their natural world. It is the heart of the community. 

From the uninspiring rail yards, New York City has developed a towering sculpture that has attracted shopping malls, restaurants with celebrity chefs and millions of visitors. 

This towering sculpture called "The Vessel" offers a magnificent view of New York. It's meant to be climbed with a group of your friends. There's an elevator for those who have mobility issues.

Explore The Shed and enjoy some artistic inventions. Or, go sky high at The Edge where you can enjoy a view of New York from a hundred stories up.

It is best to go there late in the afternoon to enjoy the rosy sunsets with the Hudson River. Maybe, make a day of it, and enjoy the Public Square and Gardens, the smartest park in New York. You can also stay in one of the hotels or even live there in one of the residences.

Below is the map showing the location of Hudson Yards.

While there, go to the Mercado in the basement and enjoy a jug of sangria with your friends. Below, the Lady is mixing a sangria for our table. With your sangria, have some patatas bravos, jamon iberico and some of your favourite Spanish tapas.

One of the most iconic buildings in the city of Toronto, this seat of the Toronto municipal government is sometimes referred to as the New City Hall. This is actually the fourth in the history of the municipal government. 

Located at Nathan Philips Square, this was recently the venue for the Raptors 2019 Victory Parade. Toronto's New Year celebrations are also held here.

Below is a picture taken from the front of the city hall and it shows the old city hall which is now a court house. 

As the site of Toronto's first Chinatown, the public space (below) in front of the City Hall is popular to many visitors from all over the world who enjoy having a taste of the street hot dogs and have a selfie in the reflecting pool and the Toronto arch.

With 45,000 sq. meters of physical space, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of the biggest galleries in North America. It has over 80,000 works of art to engage whatever interest you have as these collections span from the first century to the present. There are varied forms as well but I think the sculptures are amazing. 

What is even more amazing is the way this art museum was designed. Inside spaces connect to the outside as you can see in the pictures below. Because of this, the visitor finds the art pieces with amazing background. One does not feel cooped up in a museum on a beautiful day.

Address: 317 Dundas St. West
​Hours: 10:30-9:00 pm
​For more info, go to: ago.net