My Oyster

Travel Serendipity...

For me, one of the best parts of travel is stumbling across something unexpected but wonderful.  Serendipity.  "The accidental discovery of something pleasant, valuable, or useful".

Today in Montreal we had a bit of Travel Serendipity.  We set out after lunch to look for the sizable Haitian community here - and some Haitian cuisine for dessert.  We took a long Metro ride out of the center city to where we thought we might find Montreal's "Little Haiti" - but we were, alas, still way off.

Lucky for us, we did come out of the Metro right at the (1976) Olympic Park and the Botanical Garden - both of which were very cool.  We probably would not have made the trek out to see either if we were not searching for some fried plaintains.  But we are really glad we stumbled across them.

The pic above is us at one of the beautiful spots in the Jardin Botanique.

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from today...

Nature...

Part of the Japanese garden at the Jardin Botanique.  There were also Chinese and First Nations gardens.  They were all beautiful and big.   

Beauty...

These hybrid roses reeled me in from several yards away. 

Fun...

Us on the gold medal platform - just like Nadia Comaneci.  

Spirit...

At the entrance to the Chinese garden, these three stones from the Tai Lake region in China are a traditional greeting representing happiness, prosperity, and longevity. 

Just liked it...

This is at lunch and pretty much reflects how Jean and I approach our adentures.  He likes to read up in the guide books and I like to play with the camera.

And more photos here at my Flickr account.

Fine Arts, Fine Dining, The Good Life in Montreal...

We needed to slow things down a bit today, so we got off the bikes, got on the Metro and headed indoors.  We spent most of the afternoon downtown at the Beaux Arts and Fine Arts museums.  Both are great.  The pic above is part of the exhibit of beaux arts furniture - which I love.

We got home in time to rest a bit and head to dinner at Joe Beef - right around the corner from where we are staying.  We had heard great things about the restaurant and its chef.  It is small (room for only 27) but very good.  And innovative.  I had lobster sausage and grits for an appetizer and Quebec trout for my plat principal.  Jean had an amazing scallop and pulled pork combo.  Yum.  

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from today...

Nature...

Joe Beef get much of their produce and herbs from the garden that is next to their patio seating - where we ate.  You could taste the freshness. 

Beauty...

Love me some peonies.  By Henri Fantin-Latour at the Fine Arts Museum. 

Fun...

A crisp white wine on a crisp, sunny summer evening.  That is fun.  

Spirit...

The Museum of Fine Arts has a new exhibit on Napoleon.  Lots of his stuff - including his boots, shirt, and funny looking hat.  You could kind of feel him in the room. 

Just liked it...

Jean examining this modern art.  I don't get much of the mod stuff.  His comment after turning around - "it's hard to paint straight lines".  Amen.

And more photos here at my Flickr account.

Biking and Hiking the Mont-Royal...

Oscar Wilde once derided the Mont-Royal as a hill, not a mountain.  I don't think he ever spent 12 hours biking and walking up and down and across it.  Jean and I did today. 

Despite the hills, Montreal is a very bike-friendly city.  Washington, DC could learn a lot here.  Innovative bike paths & lanes.  Courteous drivers.  Tons of shared cycles.

Today we toured the oldest neighborhood in Montreal and one of the trendiest.  Vieux Montreal and Plateau Mont-Royal.  We saw a lot.  We ate a lot.  Good fun.  

And here are my Five Favorite Fotos from today...

Nature...

We had to do some duck and cover today to avoid Mother Nature while we were out biking.  I liked this sign with the clouds rolling by after one shower. 

Beauty...

Jean had to tear me away from this park, the Carre St. Louis, in the Plateau Mont-Royal neighborhood.  It has everthing I need - gurgling fountain, people watching, manicured gardens. 

Fun...

OK, so this is probably interesting to just me and Jean (and not so much for him either) but I thought it was kind of cool to stumble onto an intersection with both our names - en Francais!   

Spirit...

I have been in loads of churches - but the Notre Dame Basilica here in Montreal is a standout.  The radiating blue ceiling and sanctuary were beautiful. 

Just liked it...

A little pop of color on a side street off the Carre St. Louis.  Just what we needed between storms.

And more photos here at my Flickr account.

Montreal Does Green Space Right...

 

We are glad we brought our bikes to Montreal.  We were on them all day today.

The pic above is Jean and I during a break along the Lachine Canal.  Miles and miles (or kms) of bike trail along an old canal from the early indsutrial period (built in 1825).  What was a path through factories and warehouses is now a path through converted condos and loft apartments.  And it is right outside our door.

We biked that for a couple hours - and still did not do it all - then made our way (uphill) to the Parc du Mont-Royal for the Tam-Tam.  That is Montreal's drum circle on Sunday afternoons.  I love a good drum circle.  Always festive.  The Parc is beautiful and we will go back to explore it more.  It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted (Central Park, National Zoo, Prospect Park, etc.) 

We both commented at dinner that we feel like we have been here for days and it has really only been 24 hours.  Wow.   

Here are my Five Favorite Fotos from today...  

Nature...

Our bikes parked along the canal.  They really made industrial areas pretty back then.

Beauty...

This guy was just hanging out at the Parc du Mont-Royal.  I think he knows he is a hottie. 

Fun...

You never know what you will find in a park.  That is why I love them.  This is the first time I have seen knights in armor and battle re-enactments though.   

Spirit...

If you have never been to a drum circle, check one out.  They are an amazing and unlikely combination of both the energetic and serene. 

Just liked it...

This is part of the base of the famous, "towering angel" statue on Mont-Royal.  I had a good time watching these two kids trying to get to her.

And more photos here at my Flickr account.

Road Trip!

This summer Jean and I decided to stay a little closer to home for our vacation.  All "signs" were pointing us to Montreal.

I had never been.  His first language is French and he has relatives here.  We liked the idea of driving and stopping along the way.  We liked being able to bring our bikes along.  We found a great couple with a cool apartment (loft in the old warehouse district) to exchange with us.  C'est parfait, non? 

So all Beveryly Hillbillies style - we loaded up the car and hit the road on Friday night after work.  Just in time to hit rush hour traffic up the east coast.  

We spent Friday night in Hyde Park, NY.  I have always wanted to see the FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt houses and the Hudson Valley is beautiful.  Saturday we did a little bike touring in Hyde Park, visited some friends, and then drove up through the Adirondacks to Montreal.  9 hours of driving - not bad. 

Here are my Five Favorite Fotos from today...

Nature...

Us behind FDR's home on the Hudson River.  The park had just opened and we were the only ones there.  The rolling hills and shades of blue, green, and yellow were perfect. 

Beauty...

I am a big Eleanor fan.  I had read a lot about Val-Kill, her home on the Roosevelt estate, and it always sounded so serene and special.  It is a beautiful spot. 

Fun...

For dinner we walked along Rue St. Catherine in the Quartier Latin.  Lots of people and activity.

Spirit...

Eleanor and Franklin are both buried here, in the rose garden at the family estate in Hyde Park.  Because Jean and I were the only ones there, it felt like we were having an early morning visit with them. 

Just liked it...

Jean is great to travel with.  He loves to research the area and plan things to do and he is excellent at it.  I liked this shot of him studying the guide book on the subway - with the sign above him en francais.

And more photos, including of the apartment exchange, here at my Flickr account.