What a Beautiful City - Part Deux

Today was a great day.  I was picked up at 10:00 by Brigitte Peytier, a friend of my Vancouver friend Drew Snider.  First of all, how cool of her to give up her entire day to show a woman she's never met, a city she has called home for just 2 years.

Brigitte is from the South of France, in the Bordeaux region.  She is headmistress of a French school in Montreal and was a wonderful guide.  The first stop was Mont Royal, the big hill in the center of the city.  It's  a great big park with lots of overlooks.   The photo above is the view to the South and East.  My hotel is somewhere in that cluster of buildings.    And beyond the tall buildings is the St. Lawrence River.

We then hiked up to the very top of the mountain, which wasn't too hard, since the incline wasn't very steep.  A beautiful walk, and Brigitte and I talked politics along the way. 

The river is on three sides of the island of Montreal.  At one point, the river turns into some kind-of dangerous rapids.    You'll notice the Zodiac in the upper right portion of the rapids.  Lots of folks ride them.  Looks like fun.

I was able to get that close-up photo because Brigitte took me to Parc des Rapides, a small peninsula way off the beaten path, which is a wildlife preserve.  

We saw ducks, bugs, and that's about it. But what a beautiful place.  Not a tourist (except for me) in sight!   
Voila Brigitte!

We drove around the city a bit and I noticed these homes all over.  The stairs to the 2nd and 3rd floors of all these apartment buildings are on the outside.  Not the inside.  Now mind you, this city gets more than 10 feet of snow a year.  And it gets COLD too.  Winters can be -40 celsius.  You do the conversion.  Whatever way you spell it, it's frickin' cold!  Somebody has to clear the ice and snow off those steps.  And somebody has to walk up them, with the groceries.

Here's the good part.  Apartments in these neighborhoods rent for 500 to 600 dollars a month.  

I found out later that the reason they built the steps outside rather than inside, is that an old Quebec law taxed people on the size of their homes, and they would pay lower taxes if the square footage taken by the stairs was out of the equation.  That's a big commitment to saving money.

As we continued our drive to Old Montreal, we came across a film crew.  I'm not sure what they were filming, but the black car on the right-hand side of the photo was the focus.  They were also wetting down the pillars behind the car, to get a better shot.  And lots of cars that would drive by during the filming would back up to their starting point every time the director shouted "cut". 

I also got to spend more time in Vieux Montreal, and even attended the French Mass at the Notre Dame Cathedral.  I took a small video of the alter with the huge pipe organ playing full blast.  I'm having a difficult time uploading it for some reason, so you'll have to trust me on that, until I figure out the logistics.

We wandered the streets of Old Montreal for a couple of hours.  I'll post those photos separately.  It was so beautiful.  

I had dinner, alone, in the hotel restaurant.  Sunday nights, they do a buffet.  It was delicious.

I have no plans for tomorrow.  But Tuesday, I'm taking a bus trip to Quebec City.  It's a 3 hour drive to North America's only walled city.  I'm looking forward to it!

More later.

Voila Poutine!

Well, I said I'd do it, so true to my word, my dinner, Saturday night, was soup, and a serving of Poutine Quebecois.  That's the traditional fries, cheese curds and BEEF gravy.

Notice how one half of the fries have almost no gravy?  Guess which side I ate?  I admit I tried the gravy, but it simply did not appeal to me.  The restaurant I went to, Dunn's, is famous for its' smoked meat (Dan, you'd LOVE it...) and the Poutine.

I think they seasoned the gravy with some nutmeg.  At any rate, it was simply disgusting.

I nibbled on the side without gravy, and had some of the cheese curds.  But about 15 minutes into dinner,  the fries were completely soggy with the gravy.

I think Colleen put it best in her comment when she called them "Barf Fries".  I concur.  But hey, I said I'd try them.

What a Beautiful City -- Part 1

Nobody parks for free in Montreal!  These bicycle pay station racks are all over the place.  

Before my bus tour, I had a couple of hours to walk around and explore the neighborhood.

My hotel, Le Chateau Champlain Marriott is on Place du Canada, in the downtown area.  I first headed to the west, and found the planetarium, but not much else.  The city slopes downward toward the St. Lawrence River, which is on three sides of the island.  

As I walked back up towards the Hotel, and the downtown shopping district, I encountered some sort of picketing at the Fairmont Hotel.

I'm not sure why they were gathered.  I don't think it was a protest, however,  Some were loudly singing "Ole, Ole Ole Ole.....We are the Champions...Ole".  I've heard that song sung during and after soccer matches.  So maybe it has something to do with soccer.

Anyway, after walking around Dominion Place for a while it was time for the Gray Line Tour. 

If you've never taken one, I highly recommend it.  It's always my first stop in a new city.  The guides are always excellent.  And Antonio did not disappoint.  For three hours, he kept up an amusing and informative commentary about the city and its' history.

We drove to Vieux Montreal, the old part of the city.  

First, we passed through Chinatown, which is pretty small, but was packed.  It extends about ten blocks.  The other side of the street was more crowded, but my fellow bus passengers were blocking the view.  No cars are allowed in Chinatown.  

A huge attraction in Old Montreal is the Notre Dame Cathedral.  The outside is beautiful. 

  The inside is supposed to be even more incredible, but a wedding kept us on the outside.

Speaking of weddings, Antonio told us that Celine Dion and Rene Whateverhisnameis were married here. 

The rest of Old Montreal is simply beautiful.  It's neo-classical architecture and old-style French buildings.  Lots of restaurants and shops, ivy-covered hotels, and very elegant.

Notice the authentic gas lamp on the right-hand side of the photo. They actually work!
I will definitely be returning to this neighborhood to spend several hours.  

Pretty Classy

I took a photo of the view from my room.  Then I turned around and saw the print on the wall next to the bed:

It's the same view!  I thought that was really cool.  Since the skyscraper behind St. Catherine's Cathedral is also in the photo, it must not have been painted that long ago.

I've stayed in some nice places, but I can honestly say, I've never stayed in a room with artwork of the view!

I have the option of moving to a higher floor on Monday.  We'll see.  Even though I'm on the 4th floor, it's been fairly quiet.  I don't mind a little city noise.  It reminds me of home.

You mean you're ALONE???

This is not my breakfast.  It's close, but I was so hungry that I ate the eggs, bagel and EXCELLENT potatoes before I could photograph them.  Still drinking the coffee.

The potatoes, by the way, were like mini potato latkes, with a bit of chive in them.  Very good.

Sufficiently fortified, I want to write something I neglected last night.  When I arrived at Canadian Customs, I was grilled, for what seemed an extremely long time, about why I was traveling alone.  

Solo male travelers came and went, at the booth to my left, none with these questions.  I was asked (by a female Customs agent) if I was married, if I would be meeting my husband in Canada, why I was traveling alone, would I be meeting anyone to travel with, where I would be staying, would I meet anyone to visit during the trip etc. etc.  

I realize many of the questions are asked of anyone.  But trust me.  I have traveled alone to Tahiti, Australia, Belize, and many cities in the U.S. before, never with this intense level of grilling.

I think she was truly surprised that I was not going to a conference, meeting a husband etc.

......who knows.  Maybe I WILL meet a husband here...   :)

Off to begin my day.

I have ARRIVED

Oh Canada!

This photo was taken about an hour into my wait for my friend Drew.  I waited, and waited, but the aforementioned lunch never happened.

Oh well.  On to MONTREAL!

The flight on Air Canada was very pleasant.  I even had an entire row to myself.  The movie, "Kung Fu Panda" was just silly.  So Mr. iPod went into action.  

Upon arrival...

I took this ancient and spray-painted former city bus to my hotel, the Marriott Chateau Champlain in beautiful downtown Montreal.  My room is on the 4th floor and overlooks a small park.  

And the room is small, but pretty.

I've ordered an early room service breakfast as a treat, since I never got that lunch, they only served snacks you had to pay for on the plane (Pringles and cashews didn't cut it, baby) and room service dinner stopped just after I got to my room.

HUNGRY!  

Tomorrow, the Gray Line sightseeing tour.  I promise a much more interesting post.

Waiting in Vancouver

Well, I'm sitting here at Domestic Arrivals, at the Vancouver International Airport, waiting for my friend Drew to meet me for lunch.    And guess what?  They have FREE WI-FI here!

So....why not blog?

The flight from Seattle to Vancouver was completely easy and uneventful.  No significant lines at security, and no big lines at customs when the tiny Air Canada Dash-8 arrived.  However, it's a LONG walk to customs from the tiny plane gate.  

I needed the exercise.   

Drew's not supposed to meet me until almost noon, so I'll explore a little bit.  Just wanted to find my destination before I took off.

Drew Snider is a PR executive at Vancouver's transit agency....they operate light rail and busses.   He's a former radio talk-show host and news guy from Victoria and Vancouver. 

It's a 4-hour layover, so it'll be nice to meet up with my friend.

OK, I've got to stop blogging now.  There's  4-year old girl loudly singing Christmas carols about 4 feet away.  It was cute when she sang Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, but she's into her 5th chorus of "Jingle Bells" now.  Must change my seat.

More later.

Smile! You're on Candid Camera!!!

Guess who's appearing on YouTube?? :)

Pride of Ownership

This painting dominates the east wall of my living room.  It was painted by my sister Anne and has always been a favorite.

Her use of color is lovely, although I'm afraid the photo doesn't do it justice.  

This painting makes me feel like I'm being swept into the center, by the colors.  I'll try to take the photo again in the daylight. Maybe then the intensity of the pinks, oranges and yellows will come out.  

The "Finer" Things in Life

Cheap Red Wine. For some reason, I really enjoy Cheap Red Wine.

I have gone out with more sophisticated friends who have invited me to try their $65 bottle of Chez Whateverthehellthisis or the $78 Whitecrapotasticswill and I have tried to enjoy the bouquet. Really.

I have tried to pick up the floral notes, the oak notes, taste the fine earth where the grapes have been grown.

But when you get right down to it, nothing beats my Cheap Red Wine. Especially Yellowtail Shiraz. If you let it sit in the glass for about 30 minutes before you drink it, man, it's great.

And, at only $6.95 a bottle (used to be $5.95 before everyone ELSE found out about it) it's quite a bargain.

Heck, I only drink on Fridays. And even then, usually not more than a couple of glasses.

Allow me this indulgence.

And God Bless Cheap Red Wine.

Somebody needs a Haircut!

I'm playing around with my new camera.  (Thank you, Eric, for all of your help!!!).  I've found I can only download photos on my blog if I copy the photo from iPhoto onto the desktop, and add it to the blog from there.  Please let me know if you know of a way to download the photos directly from iPhoto.

And yes, Dudley STILL needs a haircut!!!!

Looking to the Future

What's out there? What's going to happen? I can only anticipate. Sometimes the future just sneaks up on you.

Getting Ready

I have a ritual when I'm getting ready for a vacation. It starts, unfortunately, with the laundry. Well...I must be growing up, because It's actually DONE! No piles sitting around the house waiting to be folded for days and days. Nope. Not this time. All the clothes were washed over the weekend, and folded last night.

Now I just have to put them away and figure out which ones I'm taking to Montreal. Just 3 days from now, I'll be on a plane to Vancouver, where I wait for 4 hours before flying to Montreal. I've got a nice lunch planned with a friend there who handles PR for their mass-transit system. So, a few hours to chill before the flight.

Still to be done, contact the hotel and let them know I'm checking in late, check on airport-to-hotel transportation (the number's in my guidebooks) actual packing, bill paying, and a zillion other tiny details.

Passport: check. E-ticket: check. Computer: checking.

The first day I'm in Montreal, I've booked a Gray Line tour of the city, to see what other areas I'd like to explore more during the week.

And, my Vancouver friend has hooked me up with one of his Montreal friends. We're planning on exploring Mont Royal Park, the St. Lawrence River, taking a brunch and maybe a club at night on Sunday. I also want to see several museums, the BioDome, and other attractions. And the bagels are supposed to be incredible.

Bagels: check!

I Just Got TAGGED @$&U%&#$&!!!!

I'm cutting down the ivy from next door that's been covering my fence, and I went to get my yard waste bin. You can see the tagging on the side. It's happening all over Greenwood. Thank goodness it's so small. But I'm concerned. I'm just a few houses up from Aurora, and I keep the lights on over the garage. So somebody, either in broad daylight, or under the lights of my garage, had the GALL to tag my recycling bin!!!!

Digital Camera Experimenting

Well, I'm experimenting with taking digital photos and downloading them onto my blog, something all of you have been doing forever. Bear with me. I'm new at this part of it.

So....I was looking for a disposable digital camera with no luck. But, Walgreen's had an Argus 3.2 megapixel camera for only $29.00, so I thought, "what the heck, I'd spend that much on a couple disposable cameras anyway".

Unless it's a completely stationary object, however, the photos don't turn out. I think I need to spend a little more, Please give me any suggestions! Is there anything decent for less than $150? I see almost everything is now 8.1 megapixel.

Anyway, a little description. That's my fine audio technica 3035 microphone, which is great for the female voice. Behind it is my Digidesign M-Box, which is literally Pro-Tools audio editing in a tiny box. I'm STILL trying to get it to convert audio files to mp.3's however.

And....if you look really closely at my iBook, you'll notice a good friend.

We Remember When...

One of the funniest things that happened during Miss Colleen's tenure as the KOMO 1000 News Afternoon Editor was her ritual, when she remembered, to remove her retainers before giving a breaking news report.

I wonder how she does it now. Does it happen just before a live shot, or, at some point, will it happen DURING a live shot? I can imagine an extra-long look at a still, while said retainers are removed.

(just kidding you, Colleen!) I found this photo and was dying to post it!

Happy Saturday.

Mind Lice

It's been a month now, and I can't get this song out of my head!


Usually, songs that stick in my head have a meaning. But what the heck is this Noun song all about? Or, maybe it's connected to another thought in my brain.

Or maybe it's just random mind lice.

Overslept!

If you know anything about me, you know I am a habitual early-riser. Usually, I'm up and at 'em by 5:30. I feed the pooches, read the newspaper, catch up with e-mail, check around for other news, and read blogs of my friends.

NOT TODAY!!!!!

There is such a heavy dose of fall in the air that I fed the pooches and promptly went back to bed! I told the dogs I was going to meditate, as is my practice. They know those words, and come to my room with me and settle down, sausage-style, on either side of me. As soon as I started to release my mantra, I went into a deep, deep sleep.

When I looked at the clock, it was 8:50! Holy Toledo! I had missed a standing Thursday morning appointment. We've been meeting every Thursday morning at 7:45 for years. Today, I stood her up. Wow.

I've sent a huge note of apology.

And you know what? All I want to do is go back to bed.

Wake up, sleepyhead!

Irises in Monet's Garden

Monet is the King of the Impressionists. No, he's not my favorite, but nobody blends pastel flowers and water as well as he did. This was painted in 1900 and it's hanging at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris.

I just got sick of looking at the cheese curds. Your thoughts?

Poutine on the Ritz

This, believe it or not, is the signature dish of Montreal. It's French Fries covered with cheese curds, and smothered with piping hot gravy. It's called "Poutine".

My stomach kind of turns over when I look at it. And it sounds kind of gross. But everyone I've spoken to who has been to Montreal swears by it. They even dress it up with fois gras at fancy restaurants and call it gourmet. It's supposed to be heavenly.

Yes, I'm going to try it. Even though it's BEEF gravy, and I'm a pescatarian (vegetarian who eats fish). I'm going to Montreal, and I want to experience it!

The other things that are supposed to be amazing are the bagels, boiled in water sweetened with honey before they are baked, and smoked meats.

I plan on trying the bagels and skipping the meats.

I'm getting so excited! (and hungry)

Vicki +Christina+Barcelona+Wine - Values = Woody Allen's Latest Film

And THAT'S pretty much my review. My friend Terry really wanted to see this, as it's a vehicle for that eye-candy and excellent actor known as Javiar Bardin, and equally attractive and accomplished Scarlet Johansson and Penelope Cruz.

And don't forget Barcelona. Another city I'd love to visit, this city in Spain is a beautiful backdrop for Woody Allen's latest tale of angst.

Here's my problem with it. The film centers around two girlfriends, spending a couple of months at a home in Barcelona belonging to a cousin of one of the women. During a visit to an art gallery, they encounter a smoldering Spanish artist who asks the women if they'd like to fly to a small village with him in a rented plane. Yes, he's a pilot too.

There wouldn't be much of a story if they said "no".

But, several times in the movie, values are compromised, promises and hearts are broken, fights break out and when you really get to the bottom of it, it's because everybody ALWAYS is drinking too much.

They never mention it, but the Spanish wine is as big a character in this film as any of the actors. Sex happens over wine. Propositions happen over wine. Fights happen after too much wine, and on and on it goes.

Nobody ever stops to say, "Gee, what would I choose if I were SOBER?"

You know, I'm not a prohibitionist. (By the way, Travis and Kristin, the Prohibition Party's candidate for President lives on Vashon Island....I smell STORY!!)

OK,, back to my impressions: Maybe I'm a bit of a prude.....I certainly stand by my values. But it seemed as if Woody Allen were making excuses for his own unforgivable behavior by blaming it on the wine. Or am I reading too much into it.

I usually like Woody Allen films. They take an intellectual twist that most other films lack. I guess that's what I was hoping for.

And there were interesting moments. But the wine clouded so much thinking, that I just got angry at all the characters.

Even handsome Javiar Bardin.

And, since we're on the subject: "A Girl With a Pearl Earring"

I'm sure you thought of this painting the minute you saw the titles of the other two. This masterpiece, also by Vermeer, hangs in The Hague, and has also been called the "Mona Lisa of the North". Her expression, and of course, the luxurious use of light are hallmarks of this artist who painted in the mid 1600's.

By the way, the image below, of actress Scarlett Johanssen was made to publicize her role in the independent film "Girl With A Pearl Earring".

Yes, somebody was so captivated with the painting that they created an entire fantasy about the young woman.

The movie depicts this young girl as a cleaning woman in the Vermeer household. There is much stress in the home because the painter is working on getting another commission. That's how he pays his bills.

It's beautifully shot. Every scene is like a painting itself. The lighting designer must have been at the top of his game to make it all come together. Watch it with the sound off. The pictures are enough.

Another--Woman With a Pearl Necklace

This is by the great master, Vermeer. Perhaps Mary Cassatt titled the portrait of her sister (below) as a tribute to this man's work.

At any rate, it's always a joy to embrace this Master's use of light and expression. Enjoy.

Woman with a Pearl Necklace

It's been a while since I posted a painting by my favorite Impressionist, Mary Cassatt. To me, this one just evokes the youthful joy of a summertime social event, probably a light opera or the symphony.

And summer is demonstrated by her short sleeves, the peach color of her frock, and the colors of the room.

She looks so happy. I love the light, joyous feelings this work evokes.

Big Chuck & Lil' John

Travis' post about his Portland local TV kids host got me thinking about Cleveland's "Big Chuck and Lil' John Show". It's been on in one incarnation or another since the 1960's.

These guys are nearly 70 now. Big Chuck is a tall Polish guy who worked in TV post-production. Lil' John is a local jewelry store owner and advertiser on WJW-TV who also happens to be a midget. Put them together and it's local comedy gold. Or just plain cornball. You decide.

Their shows these days consist of the two in their late-night TV chairs, introducing bits they taped, or filmed, as the case may be, in the 60's and 70's. The clip below is a great example of that. It was a parody of the old "Ben Kasey" (sp?) TV show, which hasn't aired in, what? 40 years? That doesn't stop them. And, they always have the same insane laugh after a bit, just to let you know that it's over.

My ex was a huge fan of the show, having grown up in Cleveland. So, we brought brewery employees or local community theater friends to several tapings. Andy would even bring Big Chuck and Lil' John beer from the brewery. We got to know them a little, and he even appeared on the show a couple of times.

The Reason I'm Going

This is the part of Montreal called "Vieux Montreal" (old Montreal), and it's more than 300 years old. This old part of town, near the banks of the river is the original town center. It looks like it's out of Europe.

And they speak French. I don't, and I always get it confused with Spanish. I find myself practicing things like "Bon Jour, Como Esta Ustedes? "And " Bon Soir, mi Amigo". I may run into trouble here. BUT, it's like going to Europe while staying in North America.

They use Dollars. No pesky Euro exchange rate.

And, I've always wanted to see it. I look forward to sitting at a sidewalk cafe with a croissant and coffee and watching the crowds. I also look forward to the museums and the adventure.

More to come!

Montreal Subway Baby

This is a map of Montreal's underground subway system. I'm happily planning my trip there late this month and early next month, and am going to use the Metro system for most of my travel.

The subway system started in the 1960's, and was widely hailed for its' quiet, efficient trains. My hotel, as I understand it, is somewhere near the middle of the orange line, on the bottom third of the system.

This is just one of the many aspects of this old city I am excited to explore.

Under my Fingernail

This is Vincent Van Gogh's "Self Portrait With A Straw Hat". Ordinarily,. I would spend time discussing the artist's choices of color, the brush strokes, the way he was trying to express himself.

But not this time. This is a confession.

In the summer of 1977, I took my first high-school trip to New York City. One of the first stops was the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We had 2 whole hours to explore the collections. I knew nothing about art, but I had seen this painting in magazines and books.

It drew me in. I stared and stared at it. I just wanted to be a part of all those colors.

I got closer. There were no guards in the room, and no electronic security systems around the painting. I leaned forward and took a deep breath.

I put my finger up to the painting, and touched it. What Vincent Van Gogh painted all those years ago was now a part of my cellular structure.

A little piece of yellow paint came off and it stuck under my fingernail.

It stayed there all day, as we saw "Pippen" in a matinee on Broadway, at Mama Leone's Italian Restaurant for dinner, and later that night, at the New York State Theater, as we saw the Metropolitan Opera perform "Carmen". I fell asleep during the 3rd act. But the paint chip was still there.

When the bus dropped us off at our high school in Pennsylvania, around 4 in the morning, the paint chip was gone.

I never told anyone until I was in my 30's. And the person I told was horrified that I defaced a work of art.

Didn't think of it that way at the time. I just wanted to be a part of that beauty.

What does he MEAN???

I think I've figured out much of 'lil Dudley's communication, but I have a LOT to learn.

Here's what I know. When he comes up to me and barks, we need to begin the game of 20 Questions.

"Do you have to go potty?" --- one bark in response.

"Do you want to get your bone?" ---again, one bark in response.

"Do you want your supper?" ---- bark bark bark HOOWWWWWWW
Got it. That means YES.

That means ONE bark means NO!

But what about when I ask him a question and he sneezes and shakes? It means SOMETHING....but what?

A Google search says shaking, when a dog isn't wet, is a stress response. But to WHAT? Is it a number 1 request? Number 2? Dudster, please come clean.

Perhaps a haiku will express my frustration.

You sit there and shake
My questions have gone adrift.
What is it you want?

Back at it

Fever broke late yesterday afternoon. And while I'm not as chipper as Mr. Happy Heart-guy there, I'm a bit better.

So what's up with YOU?