Salute to the Canadian Wheel Chair Basketball Team - A Great Performance at the Para Pan Am Game!

Being out of town while the Pan Am games were on in Toronto,  we missed the opportunity of attending many of the games and events.

In order to show our support for the athletes, we made sure we got tickets and watched at least a couple of the para Pan Am games.

Introducing the para athletes from Brazil and Mexico at the Quarter Final game

Para athletes from both teams playing hard!

I heard a lot of the para games, but never watched one in person.

We bought tickets online for the wheel chair basket ball games. However, we had no idea which country would be playing.


We  watched two quarter finals.
The first game was Brazil vs Mexico.

Para Pan Am Wheel Chair Basketball Quarter final - Brazil vs Mexico 

Both games we watched were held at the beautiful and modern sports facility at the Ryerson Sports Centre at the Maple Leaf Garden in downtown Toronto.

The Wheel Chair Basketball Quarter Finals - held at the modern and beautiful Ryerson Athletic Centre

Team Mexico had good spirit and fought well in the game

At the end, Mexico lost to Brazil.

The players from the Brazilian Team worked really well as a team. They coordinated well and obviously had good strategies.

 I noticed that there was always someone from the Brazilian Team waiting under the net and ready to catch the ball passed by one of his teammates and shot the ball into the basket.

The timing and the precision was awesome!
 It was a pleasure to watch!

Brazil has won one hundred and seven gold medals so far in this competition, topping all other countries while Canada is second in the medal standing.








After the Brazil vs Mexico game, we watched the quarter final with Canada playing against Puerto Rico!

Team Canada entering the stadium for the quarter final

There was a lot of excitement in the air as the athletes from the Canadian Wheel Chair Basketball Team entered the arena !

Fans decking out to cheer for Team Canada!

Lots of Canadian fans showed up wrapping themselves with Canadian flags or wearing them on their heads to cheer on our team.

Cheering for Team Canada

 

Audience cheered for our athletes.
We were very proud of them and Canada!
We all enjoyed the games and had a great time.

The Wheelchair basketball game was exciting and fast paced!

Our first time watching a wheel chair basketball game.















These games were just as exciting and fast paced as the regular basketball games!

Sometimes, wheelchairs collided and athletes fell to the ground.

Helping the fallen athlete to get back up

 If the athlete could, he would turn around and quickly got up on his own.

If not, others rushed up and helped the fallen athlete to get back into the wheel chair.



 

The fans were applauding, screaming and cheering throughout the games supporting the athletes

It was inspiring to see the para athletes putting their tremendous efforts, enthusiasm and dedication to these games!

We have so much to learn from the athletes' courage and positive attitude!

R.T.
Para Pan Am Games
Maple Leaf Garden
Toronto

Soaking Up the Pan AM Games Fever in Nathan Philip Square, Toronto

Counting down the days to the Pan Am Games in Nathan Philip Square

The 2015 Pan Am games took place in July, 2015 while the Para Pan Am games will be finished tomorrow.

It was the largest international sporting event Toronto has ever hosted!

Panamania Fever of the games in Toronto!

Toronto bid the game in 2009 and after more than six years of planning, building and organizing, the games were finally here.

The Pan Am games brought together over seven thousand athletes competing in fifty- one sports.

Panamania was here!

Pachi, the Pan Am mascot, perching on a street corner near Dundas Square in downtown Toronto

Before the games started, there were both negative and positive feelings about the games.

 Many Torontonians felt excited and pride ready to welcome visitors and athletes from around the Americas. However, there were also many negative talks about the huge cost and the inconveniences brought by the games.

For example - the HOV lanes (High Occupancy Vehicle)  - special driving lanes reserved on major highways for game vehicles, taxis, vehicles with three or more people were in effect during the Pan Am games.

With one less lane on the highways, it has caused traffic backup and much frustration among drivers.

People of Toronto and visitors to the city enjoying the festivities in the square 

But as the opening day of the games drew closer, anticipation started to build and excitement filled the air in the city!

Nathan Philip Square - the hub of  musical and cultural performances during the Pan Am games, Toronto

The games organizers, together with the City of Toronto and the province of Ontario collaborated and brought to the city of Toronto thirty five days for music, performances and cultural events in various parts of the Greater Toronto Area!

There was no better place to hang out than the Nathan Philip Square during the Pan Am games!

Soaking up the atmosphere - watching fireworks at City Hall, Toronto

 There was something every night at the Square!

 People sitting, talking; visitors strolling around; families with kids, moms, dads, grandparents soaking up the festive and celebratory atmosphere!

It was fantastic being a part of this wonderful experience!

R.T.
Soaking up the Pan Am Games Atmosphere
Nathan Philips Square - The Pan Am Square
Toronto, Ontario

A Great Colonial Experience at Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S.A.

Williamsburg, Virginia

Williamsburg, Virginia

Williamsburg - A historical place in U.S. well worth a visit!

We were north of Richmond, Virginia, for a week at a Christian camp.

Since we were close to a few famous attractions, we took a day off from camp and visited a historical place my husband has always wanted to see – Williamsburg.

Williamsburg - A well preserved area where visitors could walk freely without worrying about avoiding vehicles

 It was a scorching 34 degree ( but it felt like 40 degree !) on the day we visited Williamsburg.

Trying to avoid the heat, we arrived at the Visitors’ Centre early in the day. 

Visiting the Governor's Manor

 It has been great travelling with friends on this trip. However, Carl is not as interested in history as we are, so we have to compromise a little on this visit.

Instead of purchasing the full day admission ticket  ( U.S. $ 40.00 per person) to Williamsburg, we bought a Sampler Ticket at a little more than U.S. $20.00 for each of us. 

A Bedroom in Colonial Williamsburg

With a Sampler Ticket for each one of us, we were allowed to visit two houses, the public jail and two trades shop to learn what life was like during the colonial time in Virginia.

A Dove House, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA

Learned  we did!

We saw a big bird house structure sitting in the backyard of the first house we visited. Curious, I asked what it was for.

Doves were raised for food in Colonial times

The lady at the house informed us that doves were often raised for food in Colonial Virginia as they were ready to be eaten in about two to three weeks!

Doves - fast growing and a great source of protein. I never thought of that.

Basket weaving - an essential skill at Colonial Virginia time

We take for granted how easy we could have a shopping bag in our society.

Visiting the basket making workshop, I asked the lady who was making a basket how much would a basket cost at that time.

She replied." You could not buy a basket then. If you needed a basket to hold or carry things, you would have to make one yourself."

Visitors could purchase an all day pass or a Sampler Ticket while visiting Williamsburg

 

Williamsburg is a well preserved colonial town with streets lined with well kept colonial houses, gardens, various shops, a bakery, tavern, a church, an apothecary etc.

Costumed staff stationed at various venues and explained things to visitors

Numerous costumed staff walked the historical streets, manned the shops explaining what life was like in a bygone era and answering questions patiently from visitors.

This was an interesting and interactive game for visitors.

As an educator, I get excited whenever I see interactive activities for kids and visitors.

We saw a few of these games.

An African stone game for visitors to Williamsburg

  









 In one of the houses we visited, there were some old fashioned wooden games set out for kids and visitors to play.

A costumed little visitor tried the game with a staffer

Visitors could rent costumes and wear them for the duration of their visit to this historic town.

This little visitor did just that! She was playing one of those popular colonial games with a costumed character!

Trying my hands at one of those colonial  games

Though without a costume, I tried my hands at one of those games too!

Lots of games and activities provided throughout our time at Williamsburg

There were games on the street and visitors were invited to take part to play as well!

How I wished we brought our kids here when they were small! ( They might not have had these games then.)

 Our curious and game loving children would have definitely enjoyed these challenging games!

We attended a short prayer service in this Williamsburg church

We attended a short church prayer time at the church. 

We found out that the men sat on one side of the church while all the women and children sat on the other side and that the wealthy were at the front pews while the poor people at the back!

Segregation was always there in the U.S. 

A Silversmith Shop

One of the trades shop we visited was a silver smith shop where silver utensils were made. 

It was a great experience visiting Williamsburg!

R.T
Travelling in Virginia, USA






During colonial time, people could actually bring their silver and have the silversmith made their jewelry or silverware item for them.

Watching a short drama played out on the outside stage

 Despite the heat, costumed staff donned their period costumes and performed their roles with enthusiasm at Williamsburg.

 Buying the Sampler Ticket turned out to be an excellent decision as the weather was just too hot in the afternoon for us to walk around.

There are lots to see and do here! Williamsburg is a great place to visit if you are interested in American history! Great fun place for the whole family!

R.T.
Williamsburg
Virginia, USA

History Came Alive for Me at the Virginia State Capitol

History Came Alive for Me at the Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A.

Library staff explained to visitors patiently about where to go

After visiting the Library of Virginia to see an exhibition, we were interested to see other famous sites here in Richmond, capital of Virginia.

However, the staff at the Library was very helpful in giving us the information.








They gave us very detail information of what to see and how to get to the Virginia State Capitol.

The Capitol Square is located at the intersections of 9th and Broad Street right in downtown Richmond.

The Library is only a stone throw away from the Capitol Square. It was close and easy for us to walk  there.

There are many beautiful and historical buildings in the square.

Capitol Square, Richmond, is a beautiful park!

The Statue of Washington greeting visitors to the Capitol Square, Richmond, Virginia

Though we did not plan on visiting this beautiful landmark on this trip due to time constrain, we were glad that we did!

Designed by Thomas Jefferson while he was ambassador to France at the time, the Capitol is a magnificent building!

Virginia State Capitol, Richmond, Virginia

Entrance to the Capitol

Virginia State Capitol s a must see for visitors to Richmond!

Extension was added to the State Capitol

Thomas Jefferson Statue, Virginia Capitol

We got to the Capitol building a little past  2p.m. on a Tuesday afternoon.

 The statue of Thomas Jefferson greeted us at the entrance. He was the one who designed the State Capitol of Virginia.

The Capitol design model sent by Jefferson from France to Virginia

While he was ambassador to France, Jefferson was asked to design the capitol building. He did and sent a model from France to Virginia.

We joined an hour long guided tour in the Capitol

Though we missed the beginning of the tour, we were able to catch up with the group in front of the marble statue of George Washington in the two story high rotunda.




Statue of Washington, Capitol Rotunda

This free one hour long guided tour gave us some excellent information about the Capitol,  the many important statues within the buildings and some significant historical events about Virginia.

We learned that Jean-Antoine Houdon, the artist, visited George Washington ( a general at the time) at Mount Vernon, took detailed measurements of him and made sketches.

He even coated Washington’s face with oil and covered it in plaster to make a life mask. The completed statue is 6’2’’ and considered a perfect likeness of the American president.

Old Hall of the House of Delegates, Virginia Capitol

We visited the Old Hall of the House of Delegates where the Bills of Rights were ratified into the U.S. Constitution.

Statue of Robert Lee stands at where he assumed the command of the forces

Right at the entrance to the hall, there stood Robert E. Lee’s statue where he assumed the command of the Virginia forces.

The pilgrim ships that landed in Virginia!

I am no history buff and often found history boring and unexciting when I was in grade school.

The hour long guided tour was informative and interesting! Free admission!

Knowledgeable and an excellent storyteller, the lady tour guide made the State Capitol and American history came alive for me!

A painting depicting Virginia's independence from the British

There were many interesting and famous paintings and statues in the various rooms at the Capitol.



If we had gone  in there by ourselves it  would not have meant anything to us.










But with the guided tour, it was different. The most interesting part of the tour occurred for me when the tour guide pointed to the portraits of John Smith and Pocahontas !

How interesting was that! 

Portrait of  Pocahontas

A non- American and ignorant of American history, I only learned of Pocahontas' existence through a Disney movie. I thought she was a cartoon character that Disney made up for kids.

Wow! I learned something  today and it felt good!!!

The War Memorial overlooking the James River in Richmond, Virginia

We also had the opportunity to visit the Virginia War  Memorial.

.

Virginia War Memorial, Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A.

The sculpture and architecture of the War Memorial were inspiring!

The outdoor stage - War Memorial, Virginia

However, we got to the War Memorial at 5p.m. and they were closed.

We did not have an opportunity to go inside for information, but we did walk around the ground.

Admiring the statue at the Virginia War Memorial

Built in honour of Virginians who scarified their lives at the various wars, the  sculpture and architecture of the Virginia War Memorial were awesome and inspiring!

We have learned a lot about U.S. history on our visit to Richmond,
Virginia this time.

It was well worth a visit and our time!



R.T.

The Virginia State Capitol

Richmond, Virginia

U.S.A.