Week 5 - We've been here for a full month, now!

Prints and Prep

We planned to go to Jazz Fest but John’s allergy cough keeps us at home, so, I print and get things together so I can start my little woodblocks.

Ian is in town, so he stops by so we can go to the bank and get the rent payment situation settled.  He is as affable and delightful as his emails and "guidebook" indicates. We also, discover that he is leaving for Istanbul on Sunday, spending 5-6 weeks there, then to Germany to begin his research on his PhD project, he will be gone at least until Oct. 1st.  Sooo, we are now staying through September instead of leaving on Sept. 1.  We are very happy to be able to stay a little longer in this interesting city and this charming little apartment/condo.

A working phonebooth
Not something we see
in the states

July 1, Canada Day, Moving Day – interesting holiday(s).  A celebration (Canada Day) similar to our July 4, a day to aappreciate the freedoms and rewards of the country. Oh, and "Moving Day" seems to be a day that everyone's lease is up and it's time to move, so there are moving trucks and unwanted furniture on the curbsides for the "garbage trucks" to pick up on every block as we see on our daily walk.  On our walk, we go to Loblows, a mega grocery store to buy oj, pizza and a dress(?), we just wanted to see what was there and had to buy some things. On our way back, John finds a phone booth…
That night we listen to fireworks for Canada Day – can’t figure out where they are but we can hear them.

 Saturday is our first French class.  Ben Hassel is our energetic, enthusiastic teacher and 4 others (from McGill University) fill up the big air conditioned room.  We, of course, are the "pain-in-the-ass" grown-ups that ask too many questions, want special explanations and seem too enthusiastic for the serious (and quiet) young people from McGill.

After the 2 hour morning class, we walk down to the Jazz Fest venue and enjoy a hot dog and beer while listening to one of the concerts. After the concert there are street performers, lounge awnings and gift kiosks to enjoy.  In the late evening we watch the fireworks competition from rooftop (every Saturday, thru the month of July, a different country sponsors fireworks - thus, a fireworks competition...)

Free concert

Fireworks by Chekoslavakia

Le Village

Sunday, it’s hot and muggy, so we turn on the air conditioning and read and work on our computers writing (John), manipulating photos (me) and studying our French.  John goes to the gym, I start figuring out what to do for dinner.  When John returns, we go for our Sunday walk down towards the bridge and find ourselves in Le Village on St. Catherine Street.  It’s the center of the gay community with lots of streetside cafes, street vendors (lots of art) and some street performers – an unexpected and delightful surprise for our Sunday evening stroll.

Piscine Fullum

Monday, even tho it rained last night, hard and long, it’s still hot and muggy!  It’s mid-morning and even tho the sun is shining, there are still big puddles on the street.  I’m going to the pool this afternoon for sure!

Tomorrow, we leave for QC City via Enterprise Car Rentals!

Watch for the report on this trip next week.