First and foremost, my favourite places begin with Banff National Park. The photo below shows Mt Rundle set behind the Vermilion Lakes. My next visit there will be to attend a writers workshop at the Banff School of Fine Arts.
[1]My second favourite place is the National Art Gallery in London, England where I spent two Sunday afternoons per month when I worked overseas almost ten years ago. It was a good place to view the masterpiece works of art, see the special exhibits that came from Europe which included the Dutch impressionists, and sit on benches near a portrait or a scene of any particular piece. They were all wonderful.
[2]The National Gallery, located on the north side of Trafalgar Square, has over 2,300 paintings, most on permanent display. The collection ranges from early works by cimabue, in the 13th-century, to 19th-century Impressionists, but its particular strengths are in Dutch, early Renaissance Italian, and 17th -century Spanish painting.
The gallery has flourished to international reknown since its inception in the early 19th-century. In 1824 George IV persauded a reluctant government to buy 38 major paintings, including works by Raphael and Rembrandt, and these became the start of a national collction. The collection grew over the years as rich benefactors contributed works and money.
One of my favourite painters is George Stubbs and this painting of Whistlejacket was on exhibit while I was in England. The National Art Gallery rotates their paintings for display as they have more paintings than available space.
[3]A third favourite place I go for relaxation is the Bruce Trail System which runs along the Niagara Escarpment.
[4- Niagara Escarpment near Campbellville]
[5-Niagara Escarpment - Bruce Trail with hawk soaring - click to enlarge]
[6-Bruce Trail on the Niagara Escarpment]
These photos are taken on the Bruce Trail near the Town of Campbellville (northwest of Toronto).
The Bruce Trail System is the longest public trail system in Ontario from Queenston to Wiarton of 845 km of main trail. My favourite hiking spot is from Milton to Beamsville where the trail hugs the ancient shoreline of Lake Iroquoia, an area famous for waterfalls.
Photo Credits: [1]-Cuppojoe CC=nc-sa-flickr, [2]-wallyg CC=nc-nd-flickr, [3]-courtesy of wikipedia, [4][5]-bobcatnorth CC=nc-sa-flickr, [6]-Stephen Downes CC=nc-flickr.
