I took a bit of a break from blogging over the last week as I was on holiday in Toronto. Yet, the whole time I kept contemplating what my next post would be about. After some thought, I have decided to go with a photostream of my adventures during my vacation.

Photography has been an interest of mine for years. However, like many people who love the medium, I am no professional. Though I have considered purchasing a fancy DSLR camera, it is a bit out of my reach at the moment, so I’ve stuck with my Nikon and Ricoh point-and-shoot cameras instead.

What I find interesting nowadays is despite carrying around a real camera almost everywhere I go, I tend to grab my smart phone first when I want to capture a moment or an image. Cell phone cameras have come a long way over the years, and with the addition of all the apps that are available, even those who have little experience with photography can create share-worthy photos. A good eye for composition still helps, but the ability to crop and apply filters gives everyone the ability to become an artist in their own right.

While there are many apps out there that are probably as good as Instagram, I did stick with that particular app for my entire trip. My apologies for not noting which filter I applied for each photo as I didn’t keep track myself (I will be sure to do so next time). On the plus side, you can likely gauge some of them based off of the frames that you see. Some of the images have also been brightened or blurred for greater effect. All of the images were shot using my HTC Incredible S Android phone.

I hope you enjoy the ride and perhaps consider your own trip to Toronto, the NYC of Canada!

If you like my pictures, follow me on Instagram at: crystalcarwin.

(Click individual photos for enlarged images and to leave comments)

Fabulous party dresses at Fashion Crimes on Queen Street West in Toronto

The “Kiss Kiss” booth at the Drake Underground

The amazing Kate Miller-Heidke performing at the Drake Underground on June 27

Graffiti on the side of building while walking down Church Street towards Adelaide Street in Toronto

Notes from visitors at Osgoode Hall about what fences mean to them. Osgoode Hall has a beautifully ornate fence that protects an equally peaceful garden right in the downtown core of the city.

The Great Library at Osgoode Hall

Library stacks at Osgoode Hall

Mural of Nails at City Hall

Amazing Balmain shoes from The Room at HBC in downtown Toronto

Eaton Centre

Every dish at Guu SakaBar at Bloor & Bathurst is delicious

Salmon tataki at Guu

Desserts from Guu, clockwise from top: sesame ice cream, sake tiramisu, green tea cheesecake

Sunset on our way back to Bloor Street from Little Italy

Koreatown

At the Bata Shoe Museum: adorable early 20th century Chinese children’s booties made to look like dragons to protect them from harm

Display about shoes made for dolls and prototypes, and shoes in stories throughout history at the Bata Shoe Museum

Display of women’s shoes throughout history at the Bata Shoe Museum

The exterior of the Royal Ontario Museum

An attempt at a self portrait using my reflection in the exterior of the ROM

Part of the biodiversity exhibit at the ROM

The nicest Club Monaco I’ve ever seen. It’s situated in what looks to be a historic building on Bloor Street right across from the ROM.

A very elaborate looking daycare across from the bus station at Ossington & Bloor in Toronto

The schedule board at Lower Ossington Theatre. We went to see their production of Avenue Q, an Off-Broadway show from New York.

Flags in Union Station

Union Station

Pride week celebrations down Church Street in Toronto

Trattoria Nervosa, a great little Italian restaurant, in Yorkville

Standing in front of the fountain in Yorkville Park

Yorkville Park

A man working at a club/bar on Church Street hanging bananas on their balcony and patio in preparation for the last day of Pride Week in Toronto

My friend looking pensive while riding a streetcar to get to the beach

Coffee bean roasting machine at te aro coffee roasters in Leslieville

Ducks in the marina at Ashbridge’s Bay Park

Boats sitting in the docks at Ashbridge’s Bay Park

A Canada goose in the marina of Ashbridge’s Bay Park

Boats along the marina walkway of Ashbridge’s Bay Park. The CN Tower is visible in the background.

The home of the streetcars along Queen Street East

Looks like TD Bank’s float at the Pride Parade on July 1 in Toronto

Drummers in the Pride Parade

Male cheer team in the Pride Parade

At the AGO: Zhang Huan’s 2007 piece, ‘Airplanes’, is his take on Chinese propaganda using the medium of ash on linen

At the AGO: one piece from Zhang Huan’s Memory Door Series depicts the unearthing of a Buddha sculpture and the cultural and spiritual revival in China and Tibet after the death of Chairman Mao

View of the CN Tower from the 2nd floor windows of the AGO

Ian Baxter&’s polaroids on model at the AGO

Ian Baxter&’s TV display at the AGO

AGO visitor art inspired by Ian Baxter&’s work

The view from the 5th floor of the spiral staircase in the AGO

A defunct psychic house on Parliament Street heading towards the Distillery District

The pedestrian entrance into the Distillery District

Distillery District

Weird ‘War of the Worlds’ type sculpture and old barrels in the Distillery District

Artwork in front of Balzac’s coffee shop in the Distillery District

An old beat up truck to the side of Balzac’s coffee shop in Toronto’s Distillery District

Reflection of the Distillery District in The Gallery’s sign

Enoch Turner Schoolhouse built in 1843; the oldest standing school building in the city

Front lawn of a house not far from the Distillery District

Beautiful ceramic vases at Anthropologie

Artwork in the square of the Shops at Don Mills

The ‘I love Canada because…’ chalkboard inside the domestic gate area of the Pearson International Airport in Toronto. I really wish this group of kids didn’t go ahead and erase a bunch of the notes just before I took the picture.

The view outside my seat window on the plane while waiting to head home