Writing my story, one day at a time....

[wandering-canada]

Aga Khan Museum - Toronto, ON, Canada

Designing Architect: Fumihiko Maki Price: $20 - Adult / $12 - Student Free Admission on: Wednesday from 4pm to 8pm  Tip: Free tickets via (Museum + Arts Pass)

Museum Home Page: Link Wiki Page: Link Google Maps: Link Facebook Full Album: Link  This beautiful museum located in the not-so-center of the city of Toronto is a great site to visit for those looking to get some culture into their weekend, (Muslim/Islamic/Iranian) to be exact just be a prepared for a short car ride or a thirty minute bus ride from Eglinton (TTC) to the museum.  

Funded by the current Aga Khan (Prince Karim Aga Khan IV) and brought to life by Pritzker Prize winner Fumihiko Maki. The museum truly makes its presence known immediately upon arrival by the grand and modern design with great integration of the surrounding park to add a picturesque shot from almost any angle. Taking advantage of a sunny weekend in Toronto I had a chance to visit the museum and take some great shots while traveling with a fellow couchsurfers (Janyce). Enjoy the pictures and feel free to ask any questions! 

"The aim of the Aga Khan Museum will be to offer unique insights and new perspectives into Islamic civilizations and the cultural threads that weave through history binding us all together. My hope is that the Museum will also be a centre of education and of learning, and that it will act as a catalyst for mutual understanding and tolerance.- His Highness the Aga Khan" 

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Church Of The Holy Protection - Toronto, Canada Address: 30 Leeds St, Toronto, ON M6G 3R8 Wiki: Home_Page Church Website: Home_Page Much overdue on my post for Canada but alas getting back into the groove of things in my new country! I am back Tumblr! Many pictures pending upload over the month and many new places to explore. My first few months have been quiet due to personal obligations but photography has only been slightly neglected. Visited this beautifully designed Ukrainian church this weekend after finally convincing myself to take a detour from my normal route and even manage to get a short blooper of a pizza delivery guy to the site, “Even god loves pizza it seems”.  Pending: Visiting inside and capturing some shots of the paintings!  Torontonian please feel free to recommend some other places to visit! 

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“When anxious, uneasy and bad thoughts come, I go to the sea, and the sea drowns them out with its great wide sounds, cleanses me with its noise, and imposes a rhythm upon everything in me that is bewildered and confused.” -  Rainer Maria Rilke

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“Compassion hurts. When you feel connected to everything, you also feel responsible for everything. And you cannot turn away. Your destiny is bound with the destinies of others. You must either learn to carry the Universe or be crushed by it. You must grow strong enough to love the world, yet empty enough to sit down at the same table with its worst horrors.”  - Andrew Boyd

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“Few people know how to take a walk. The qualifications are endurance, plain clothes, old shoes, an eye for nature, good humor, vast curiosity, good speech, good silence and nothing too much.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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"The beauty of photography is that a moment in time is carefully preserved in a small frame which may serve as a window into the past to rekindle and remind..but alas, a mirror is only a mirror and picture only a picture. Sometimes though..that may just be enough."  - Len R. Cruz

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Happy New Years to all my followers!

Happy NYE everyone! Thank you for following, reblogging and liking my pictures this past year! Can’t wait to start sharing my new pictures from Toronto with you all!  Great work on surviving 2016! and hope you make it another year :P 2017 here we come! 

[wandering-canada]

Biblioteca de México José Vasconcelos - Library of Mexico  Plaza de la Ciudadela #4, Col. Centro. 06400, Alameda, Mexico City, Mexico Inaugurated in 1946 by President Manuel Avila Camacho in large part for the efforts of the Minister of Public Education at the time, Jose Vasconcelos and whose name was eventually added to the library in 2000 for his contribution in helping establish the site and has come to be known Biblioteca de México José Vasconcelos.  

The library has a rich history dating back to its creation around 1807 (209 years to this date). Originally intended as a site for the tobacco factory of Spain but due to the course of history and the turbulence in Mexico, eventually became a prison, an artillery depot, weapon storage and other purposes by the Mexican military. The site did not start being rebuilt until 1944 when President Camacho started granting parts of the building to different offices of the government and would eventually help it become what it is today.

The library now houses one of the largest collections of books, newspaper, articles and some even dating back to the 15th century. Additional services offered by library include books in braille, video collection, digital services room, children reading areas and host public events and cultural events throughout the year. (During my short visit I was fortunate enough to witness an ongoing Chess competition of students from all over the country).

Truly another treasure in the heart of Mexico City with a range of purposes for anyone visiting or living in the area. If one should be visiting the area is also located by the Ciudadela market which sells thousand of work from all over the country in case you are looking for gifts or souvenirs or traditional items for your house.

Don't miss a chance to visit and enjoy the Library of Mexico!

Hours:Monday - Sunday (8:30am - 7:30) Cost: Free Public Transport: Metro/Metrobus: Juarez and Balderas Links:  Home Page / Facebook Page / English Article / Spanish Article 

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Photo credit to: Bora - Instagram 

Visiting Toronto - Nov 24th - Dec 12th 

Good Day Tumblr! I am coming to visit Toronto at the end of this month and really hoping for some advise on places to visit and photograph, must see events or locations and of course to have a little fun with locals and would be happy to meet fellow photographers, travelers or friendly locals who have time to show me around.

Feel free to message me via Tumblr or Facebook  Cant wait to explore Toronto! See you all soon! 

- Len from Mexico City

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Dia de los Muertos - Mexico City  A few shots of a local “ofrenda” on Day of Dead that is celebrated at the end of Oct/Nov each year in Mexico and are accompanied by late night music, thousand of colorful decorations of flowers, food and art all over the country. During these days homes are decorated with their personal “ofrendas” to their loved ones that have past and serve not only as a cultural day but also a form of uniting and bringing family together in celebration. Purpose of festival: A day of remembrance and homage to those that have passed and is considered as a day when they are allowed to return to the world of the living. Held: Oct 31st - Nov 2nd Reason to love: Lots of cultural events, costume and food/partying all over the country. 

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¨Big Fucken Rocket - SpaceX¨ Link (click): Story  `The 2031 and 2033 and 2035 oppositions will bring substantially more people to the new New World. By this point, the budding Martian city will be a part of our lives. We’ll follow the Twitter feeds of some of our favorite journalists on Mars to keep up with what’s happening there. We’ll all get hooked on Mars’s first hit reality shows. And some of us will start thinking, “Should I sign up to go to Mars one of these years before I get too old?` - Elon Musk 

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Leon Trotsky Museum  Leon Trotsky (Lev Davidovich Bronshtein) November 7th, 1879 - August 21st, 1940

Another weekend stroll through one of my favorite parts of Mexico City in Centro Coyoacan allowed a visit to a much ignored museum that I had yet to visit in my many years living here, the home of Revolutionary Leon Trotsky.

Trotsky moved to Mexico in 1937 after much support from Diego Rivera and permission from President Lazaro Cardenas who helped petition for his entrance into Mexico after turbulent political issues arose that sought to deny asylum to Trotsky. The museum is Located a few blocks from the ever popular home of Frida Kahlo (Casa Azul). The home/museum is filled with numerous photographs, paintings and propaganda that detail the life of one of Russians most popular leader from his early life to the late years in Mexico City where he met his untimely death by assassination from a Stalin supporter. English Wiki: Link  Spanish Wiki: Link Small Biography YouTube: Link 

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Huatulco, Oaxaca - Mexico  A new month and a new adventure to my beloved homeland. Taking a few days out from my new job I was able to escape to the beautiful city of Huatulco, located on the coastal area of Oaxaca, Mexico.

The city sits but a few hours from Mexico City via airplane or for an even more economical options, an overnight bus. This beautiful coastal town is one of the more developing towns in the recent decade who has gone through numerous change to establish itself as one of the top tourist towns in Oaxaca. The city contains various bays and nearly thirty six beaches, many yet unchanged by locals or businesses to offer a truly peaceful experience.

Having spent a few days exploring the city and its beaches was truly relaxing, clear water, delicious food and friendly locals. Truly a great escape for those looking for something new and low-key and if you aren't satisfied enough, the coastal area offers easy route up to explore Puerto Escondido, Puerto San Angel etc all beautiful beach town in their own rights.

Safe trip and fun exploration! - Len R. Cruz

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Centro Coyoacan - Mexico City Facebook: Full Album Located in the southern part of the city is one of the more bohemian areas that you will find while exploring the maze that is DF. The area is beautifully preserved from the colonial period and each street and building has been through its ordeal to maintain its beauty. Called Centro Coyoacan by the locals, this section is full of artisan works (two main markets), various museums (including Museo de Frida Kahlo). Highly recommend to visit the area on the weekend when it truly comes alive with music, food, locals and entertainers to get a real sense of why this is one of the most loved part of the city.

Recommended places to see if in the area: Museo Nacional de Culturas Populares La Cineteca Nacional CENART

Must have foods: Churros and a cup of coffee or hot chocolate from El Jarocho! (Personal favorite)

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Museum of Evolution - Puebla  Museo De La Evolución 

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International Baroque Museum - Puebla Museo Internacional Barroco

Home Page: Museo Internacional Barroco (Spanish & English)  Cost: 50 mexican Pesos - Free to Puebla residents

Located in the area of Atlixcayotl Puebla is the recently completed Museum for Baroque Arts and housed in another one of kind building by renowned Architect Toyo Ito. The I.B.M was completed in February of 2016 and is another unique structure in the ever evolving city of Puebla. The museum has a modern design that incorporates the lights, space and location of the cite to bring a wonderful experiences to the senses when walking through the museum and its interior structure. A great museum to visit when in the city of Puebla on top of its already rich culture, food and arts.

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Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca - Mexico

Located in the western section of Oaxaca state towards the mountain is the colorful city of Heroica Ciudad de Tlaxiaco, a quiet city that has gain recognition due to its famous daughter "Lila Downs". The small town is full of the many qualities that one can expect to find of a traditional town in Mexico. The streets are lined with farmers & locals and small business that come out daily to sell the products of their labors; vegetables, flowers, animal products or hand crafted items and of course delicious and varying fruits. A humble town full of friendly locals and various foods waiting to be explored for a fraction of cost that one may find in larger cities.

Come for a visit, try the food and buy some hand crafted items and you won't leave sorry, or maybe stop in for the local's "Aguardiente" a unique alcohol crafted within the nearby states or Oaxaca's most famous dish "Tlayudas". What are you waiting for, we are waiting for you!