Week 4 - We’ve been here a month, now?

We're feeling settled into our work

This week, I feel like we are here and we are “home”.  It’s still nice to wake up in the morning and ask, “What should we do today?” rather than, “What do we have to do today?”

An easy week of going to the gym (for John) and when it wasn’t raining, I walked down to the Fullum Pool to swim (actually swim a few laps and walk laps in the water – it is sooo nice!). We are walking less to find things and are taking the bus often to go to the McGill Library for John and shopping for me.



McGill University



Two trips this week to McGill University and McGill College Ave:  John to the library and I walk down Avenue McGill College to the shopping malls that seem to be in huge “bank” buildings.  On the first trip this week, I found the art store, Deserres, in the Place Montréal Trust (a huge shopping mall on the corner of Ave. McGill College and St. Catherine St.)  I was looking for a store front on the street.  No wonder I didn’t find it last week.  Deserres, for those who are interested, is an art store that is an upscale Michael’s or Beverly’s.  Lots of scrapbooking stuff, children’s crafts as well as canvases, oil paints, watercolor and silk screen materials – not many printmaking things, but they have what I need.



On our second trip this week while John is in the library, I look for a light weight windbreaker or hoody for the rain showers.  I can’t seems to find an inexpensive, plain, light weight jacket in any of the stores in the shopping malls. I’ll have to get along with my warm jacket or a shawl when it rains for now.

Quebec Flags handed out at the Parade

The highlight this week for me was the “ Fête Nationale” Parade – Friday, June 24, 2011.   Fête Nationale is a big deal here in Quebec.  From what I can understand, it’s a celebration started by the Francophones of the province of QC.  On the news the evening before Fête Nationale a survey showed that only 14% of Canada actually celebrates the holiday - so, it seems that it’s mostly celebrated here in QC – being here in Montreal, one would never know that – everywhere you looked this day, there were QC flags – hanging on balconies, blue and white hats and caps, costumes made of the QC flag, umbrellas with the fleur de lis – fleur de lis tattoos painted on children’s faces (adults, too, to be fair).

Fête Nationale



The Giants waiting at Parc Baldwin

Since we sleep in most days, when got up, breakfasted and dressed, we noticed the police blocking off our street and no parking signs all along Rue Sherbrooke.  The Fête Nationale parade’s starting point is just at the park down the street two short blocks.  It is pouring rain, but the parade is still going to happen in just one hour! (We see this on the noontime news.) People are walking by with blue and white QC flags and hats and umbrellas. John is not interested in parades so, I grab my umbrella and jacket and I walk to the park where things are lining up for the parade along Rue Sherbrooke.  The parade is not like any I’ve seen before.  A Bride and Groom on stilts, dressed in white start the parade, followed by 12 foot-plus high figures that represent the founders of Quebec & Montreal.  I have no idea who the first person is that appears, but he walks (with the help of 4 people working his arms and legs) down the street making a speech about something, but I hear “Quebec” often as the giant figure and the loud speakers pass by.  After this man, many other “heros” from Quebec’s beginnings and recent history are escorted by bands, drill teams and street performers.  John was sorry he didn’t come with me when we watched the parade later on TV – “I thought it was going to be a little parade with kids on their tricyles – guess I was wrong.”  I think I would have learned more about QC if I understood the French speeches that were projected on the loud speakers as the giant figures glided by.



A Walking Orator



Mouvement Quebec Francais
bring up the end of the parade

On Sunday, we decided we would go downtown and check out Chinatown and have dinner.  We take the bus to the street I think will lead us to Chinatown.  We went a block too far and walked right into the Jazz Festival venue.  (The Jazz Festival venue takes up about 4-5 blocks square and lasts for 10 days.)  We walk around and enjoy the street performers that are strolling around.  We plan to go back for the free concerts during the week.

Chinatown

We then leave the Jazz and walk over to Chinatown just a couple of blocks away.  It’s not as big as SF or NYC, but it still has that same feel – funky shops, and a walking street filled with storefronts and kiosks hawking cheap souvenirs and one place that sells Dragon Hair candy, a cotton candy like confection wrapped around some chopped nuts.  We find a restaurant on this street that looks clean enough for John and we have dinner – I have a very good Chow Mein over deep fried noodles, John has an Asian Fried Rice with pork and shrimp.  Not a bad dinner and now know a little more about the area on the west side of town.

This last week was a very productive week and we are getting around pretty easily now.  We’ve made plans to go to Quebec City in a couple of weeks, going to start our French classes and we got tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s Totem at the end of the month of July.  Our schedule around here is starting to fill up.  We might have to stay a little longer to fit everything in that we want to do…

PreTakeOff Activities

The Kindle Offer…

   Not wanting to carry around heavy books on this Sabbatical Year, John wanted to purchase a Kindle.  After a lot of research, he did find that the Kindle (not the iPad, Nook or SonyReader) was the right size, weight, reading screen and had the kind of books he needed for his research.

   So about a month before we were to leave for our trip, he proceeds to order his Kindle, a cover and all the attachments needed for our extended travels.

   A few days later, I come home from my errands and there is a pile of packages and envelopes at our apartment door.  I add them to my grocery bags and carry them into the apartment and hand them over to John, who didn’t hear UPS ring the doorbell. “Wow,” he says, “That seems like a lot of packages for one Kindle.”

   Upon opening the packages, there are: two Kindles, two chargers, two different kinds of covers, and an adapter for the charger(s).  Lots of directions, receipts, paper, padded envelopes, boxes and fillers contribute to the confusion of it all.  After a phone call, as to whether some of it can be returned, John proceeds to find the return forms, then he copies the correct receipts, he prints/copies it all out, and packages it all up for mailing. Then he asks me, “Do you want this extra Kindle and cover?”  I say, “How much do I have to pay you, or will you give it to me for my birthday?”  He says, “About $140.00 - I wasn’t planning on spending that much money on your birthday present.” So I say, “Let me think about it, I will pay you for ½ if I decide I want it.  I’ll let you know before you leave for work tomorrow.”

    Of course, the next morning, I say, “Yes, I want the Kindle” and he says, “Happy Birthday.” (He didn't really want me to pay for it, after all.)  And that’s how I accidentally got the Kindle for my birthday.

More PreTakeOff Activies to come sporatically...

Week 3 - Enjoying the Condo and Montreal

Rooftop toast to the moon rising above Pont Jacques-Cartier

A lovely balmy evening, we began the 3rd week by making sandwiches and taking some bottles of beer to the rooftop of the condo to plan the next few days.



Walking Rue St. Paul

 We take the bus to the Old Port and Old Montreal.  We find great old buildings, the rushing St. Lawrence River and the blue and yellow tents of Cirque du Soleil.  The weather is warm and sticky, but the breeze off the river is lovely.  After seeing what is there, we plan to return with tickets for the Cirque and for a Friday light show at the Notre Dame Basillica.  And this is just the beginning of all that there is to see and do in this city.



Another day, for a long walk/exploration, we ramble through the neighborhoods going east with our final destination being the Olympic Park and Maisonneuve.  A 3 mile trek on Rue Sherbrooke walking by streets of brick streethouses and shade trees on the way to the Park.  The Olympic Park is full of interesting buildings: the Biodome, the Ski-jump tower, olympic swimming pool, the soccor field, the sports arena, and . . . the multiplex movie theater.  Maisonneuve is a lovely park with the Insectarium and Botanical Gardens.  Walking back on Rue Rachel, we find the large grocery shopping stores - Loblaws and Provigo and use them for cooling off on the hot 3 mile walk back home.



There are Flamingos?
It's a must destination.



Olympic Park














Father's Day rolls around - John asks, "What are you going to do for me for Father's Day?"  I reply, "You are not my father!"


Yum, poutine and beer

I do feel a little sorry for him, so I use it as an excuse to find the best place to have poutine.  According to Ian, the condo owner, La Banquise Resto is the place to go for poutine.  It's just on the other side of Parc La Fontaine, so we walk through the park for poutine.  Mmmm - french fries covered with gravy and cheese curds - I loved it, John was not impressed.  I'll go back again without John.



The best thing this week was the discovery of the public pool on Rachel and Fullum - Piscine Fullum - Only 2 blocks away.  A huge L shaped pool with the lap swimming and diving on the short leg of the L.  The rest of the pool is divided in 1/2 for whatever.  It's outside, has a little bit of grass area with chairs and picnic tables, and a large children's pool.  It's very well kept and a beautiful place to swim!  I plan to go as much as I can, especially with this kind of weather, which is only going to get warmer.

We are feeling like this is a good place for research, rest and relaxation. We are planning more adventures for the next few weeks here in Montreal for there is so much more to see and do. 

Week 2 - still getting things together

On the way to the grocery store

Here it is week 2, let's see what have we "accomplished" this week..

Starting to feel settled:

Grocery store 2 blocks away, depenneur 1 1/2 blocks away (for the metro card and liquor)

Finished 2 books: Into the Woods by Tana French and The Birth House by Ami Mckay - Now, reading Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver – it feels luxurious being able to spend so much time reading. – especially, on my Kindle that John accidentally bought me for my birthday.

Also getting inspiration for my woodblocks reading “Japanese Woodblock Printing” by Rebecca Salter (Thanks, Tobi for the book)



La Verre Bouteille





Found a bistro up the street – La Verre Bouteille– Gabrielle was our very helpful waitress



La Verre Bouteille food/snack



Found the schedule for the bus to McGill, went to McGill to find the library.



Mont Royal street fair







 Street Fair this weekend on Mont­-Royal bought a couple of new tops.
It was hot and humid, then it rained, rained, rained. 




Tried to Skype Dave in Tokyo, ended up having to call on the phone (he got a new job with UBS)

 Checked out a couple of French classes at the YMCA and another public school – was more than we wanted to spend.



"The Illuminated Crowd"
Avenue McGill College

 Tuesday, June 14, 2011, we found a French class that fit our (John’s) schedule and pocket book – every Sat. am for 10 weeks starting July 2.

After that, John went to the McGill Library and then I went from there to St Catherine St. for window shopping and discovery

Then home --- we bought a roasted chicken, made sandwiches and took them to the roof patio with beers. Admired the city, north, south, east and west.  Lovely view – perfect weather today/tonight.

Week 1 in Montreal - The Beginning...

Tuesday, June 7, 2011: It's been a week now  that we've been in this little, sweet, lovely apartment.

Apartment - the "balcony"

 

Bixi Bikes At Parc Mont-Royal

We've walked the neighborhood and Parc La Fontaine every day, learned how to use the Metro and the Bixi bikes, found the grocery and produce market(s), drug store and, oh, yes, the BANK(S)...

Papineau Station - the Metro

Trying to pay our rent has been the most challenging task so far.  John thought we could just write a check to deposit to the "landlord's" account.  Of course, there were many "conditions" for depositing from a US checking account to a Canadian checking account - after many phone calls to and from the bank to Ian (the landlord, who is in Saskatchewan) and Ian to the bank, we've decided to just withdraw the cash from the ATM and deposit the rent in daily deposits (since we can only withdraw so much a day).  An excuse to get out of the apartment, I guess.

We've yet to find a French class, but seem to be able to get along okay.  It would be much easier if we knew what all the signs said, tho.  We will find one soon. In the meantime, we struggle along with our little dictionary and the TV programs.

The "neighborhood"

The weather has been pleasant and varied - seems like it's different every day.  Humid and warm, windy and cold, windy and warm, cool with chance of sprinkles.  Today it's warm humid and the sprinkles are threatening. We are finding our Kindles quite a nice way of entertaining ourselves either in the apartment or on a bench in Parc La Fontaine.

Nothing really earth shattering is really happening, we are settling in to this new way of life.  Groceries every day for meals (can only carry so much at a time), walking whereever we want to go or take the Bixi bikes accross town or the bus and subway to go father.  I think we are in the right place to prepare us for "living abroad" where no one speaks english.

More to come...