L'Interessante Montreal

House of Jazz

Montreal is world renown as a true international city. Revered for their food, art and as an international community, Montreal presents itself as sophisticated. As a true foodie and artist, I looked forward to visiting this ever-hot city. It also offered me the chance to practice my French.

Travelling to Montreal brought me one step closer to my full Canadian experience. Since last summer, I have been making my way across Canada trying on each city like new heels I may like to own. I loved the laid back, seaside lifestyle of Victoria, B.C. I thought Vancouver was subtly the best city I have ever loved, with their stunning downtown. North Vancouver reminded me so much of Colorado, I looked at real estate. Very livable for me.

downtown eateries/ breweries

Montreal is reputed the foodie and international scene of the Canadian territories. The bi-lingual city offers an immediate feeling of culture and a savvy pretense.
The Francophiles here are prominent and English is the second language spoken in Montreal.
I visited in the winter, so the music, and social feel of the city were low-key. There were many venues,but not many were open or had much going on while I visited. Even the restaurants seemed to have limited hours, even on the weekends, most places were not open until lunch or dinner. This is surprising for a town known for their food.
Again, I attributed this to the season and the brutal snow and ice. (note: there were many signs "Danger: Chute de Glace" warning of ice falling from the rooftops in downtown. This is a serious warning, and the melting ice chunks could kill you.)

I was able to find poutine despite the limited hours of available restaurants. If you are not familiar with poutine, it is similar to cheese curds smothered in a delicious gravy.
Hearty, comfort food, perfect for the weather. Canada is known for it's poutine and it was mmm mmm good.

underground transit

This is a walk-able city, yet equipped with a transit system that is exemplary. It was extremely easy to get around downtown and to other outlying areas.
I felt extremely safe taking the train or the bus as well as walking around the area downtown.

The beauty of the city of Montreal is partially due to the mixture of old and new. The architecture and streets went from cobblestone and quaint brick buildings to charming townhouses and trendy, hip streets with wine shops and hookah bars. This mix gives the allure of a European city with New World values. It is interesting to move between the two concepts from street to street. Respecting the old but having access to the new. 

A true urban mecca on some level. Yet, actually meeting people, or more so the level of friendliness was unfortunately not what I have experienced in other Canadian cities. Montreal is far more urban, with a big city feel even though it is an extremely small city. Not much warmth between tourists and locals. Montreal wears the attitude of some of the up and coming American cities that have found sudden popularity. Cities like Denver and Austin, for example, that used to be chill and became popular with new microbreweries, live music and wonderful eateries - now these cities are filled with transplants who think they are adding to the energy when in fact they are sucking it dry, not adding anything...at all.

McGill University, Montreal

With McGill University located in the heart of downtown Montreal, the university atmosphere lends an air of intellectualism which may also add to some of the pretense of the city. The campus itself is very laid back and extremely quiet. I visited one of the bookstores on campus, expecting a campus buzz. You know that feeling, when you are surrounded by people whose minds are open to learning something, anything new? It was super quiet, nondescript even. I was able to purchase a book, grab a coffee, and sit and read in a surreal peace.
The university is a beautifully succinct campus, even though smack dab in the center of this metropolis.

The historic architecture is extremely interesting. I do not which I was more intrigued by; the old historic buildings with the history of Montreal depicting the standing culture of the city, or the newer architectural projects which have been introduced. Montreal has very innovative architects and scientists changing the scope of architecture, as well as science. It is fascinating.

downtown Montreal

 I happened upon a wedding at the Cathedral Notre Dame the weekend we arrived. It was so striking to see the wedding party dressed to the nines entering this beautiful cathedral. The processional was nothing but respectful of this historical building and the vows this couple chose to take here. The attendees of the wedding also quietly entered the building with the divine love and respect for the couple as well as the history that was being made in the building they were entering.

Notre Dame

Montreal Bio-dome

 There were two buildings I needed to see. I am always interested in the ecosystems of other countries, and had researched the Bio-dome prior to this trip. It is interesting to witness the future forward thinking shown in the design(s) and the concepts regarding the future of our populations and the environment. The Montreal Bio-dome was the first place I wanted to visit. I am completely impressed with the technology and potential for a more eco-friendly world.

The second structure was built by an Israeli/ Canadian architect named Moshe Safdie. Habitat 67 was originally designed as a thesis project. The intent was to project a housing development for overpopulated, fast growing, urban cities with a design that allowed for more of a suburban feel. The development(s) would include gardens and allow for more unit by unit privacy by the multi-tiered design. Still a brilliant idea, even if considered a failed experiment in Montreal due to the end price point for each unit.



Montreal is beyond interesting. I hope I get the chance to revisit the city again soon to appreciate more of the offerings of this diverse and intuitive hot spot.

ROAD TRIPPIN'

Summer time is the time for road trips, visiting family and friends, and taking long car trips across the country. I hate road trips. I hate driving, therefore a road trip is not on my agenda, BUT I respect the idea. I have done it before. We all grew up on family road trips and seeing the country from the back seat.
As an adult, I realize it is so much more.
This summer, I got the opportunity to take a couple road trips. One with my hubby, and one with my 20 year old, college aged daughter. Both trips were very important to me, simple because I was looking forward to spending the time together with people I rarely get to spend that amount of quality time with. Even in a car, I wanted it.
As much as I despise being in a car for more than 15-20 minutes, I couldn't wait to trek a few hours, or a few days with my family. I realized, these moments define what, and how, we remember summers with our loved ones.

My husband and I drove from Denver, to South Dakota. In search of Mount Rushmore, we headed out on a trek to seek the holy grail, so to speak. How could I have reached age 48 and not seen Mt. Rushmore? Who knows, but we decided it was the perfect destination for this trip.
Then we arrived...

Mt Rushmore

The fog had dropped and we could no more see George Washington from the viewing deck in South Dakota than we could see him (and his three compadres) from Denver. It was a wash. I hate to say it but, "That's why I hate road trips". What was the point?

So, we drove on, and towards our final goal of Washington D.C., found ourselves at Notre Dame.
A landmark to both of us. We love football. Anyone who loves football has some respect for Notre Dame and their football program. So, we stopped here, toured the campus, re-lived our college weekends in a campus pub, and moved on emotionally from the disappointment of Mt Rushmore.

We woke up the next day and decided to just haul ass to our destination. The fun was over. We were 50/50 at road trip satisfaction and now adjusting our age and stamina to our actual desire to be in a car/ truck even one minute longer, much less one more day, we put the peddle to the medal, and pushed towards the east coast.
Then, I woke up...
One sign. A miracle I even saw it. The dedication and memorial to United flight 93 which downed in Stoystown, Pennsylvania. 9-11. We were passing it. And, although 100 miles out of our way, I knew immediately, this is why we'd come.
Those moments of serendipity...kismet....when you realize why you are where you are, and how you got there no longer matters. Sometimes, it is exactly about the journey.
We'd found what we'd been looking for.
My entire career was based on one day of terror. A day I resigned myself to stand up for those who were still terrorized. Those that stood before me. Those that dedicated their life to flying free, and flying American.
We veered off course to our destiny.
My destiny.

I cannot explain in words the emotion that overtook me as we walked the grounds, viewed the crash site, listened to the audio from that fateful day. We were able to see all the names, some video, and the stories of the passengers, the flight crew, and even the unborn passenger whose mom's name is now etched in permanence in a memorial to all who flew that day and gave their lives.
I posted a note on the message board in honor of my peers and fellow Americans, "We will never forget. SWA FA S. S. K."
I fly now, for you.

The road trip I resisted so much had meaning, and every summer, I have new found respect for those who gather their families for the memories, and the trips... the adventures that will mean so much, some day, to those who take them.

We will never forget.

Part TWO:
My daughter and I took a short road trip (in theory) from Denver to St Louis. We only made it to Goodland before my car gave out. Kaput!
We spent 2.5 days together in Goodland KS, wondering, what do people do here?
Needless to say, we got an education in smalltownology. We also got an opportunity to spend some one on one, quality time together. Time we had not gotten since my daughter's senior year of high school, 3 years prior. I soaked it in.
I won't bore you with details of mom-daughter relationships, or boring small-town eatery woes, but I will say, again, I was blessed with an opportunity. A reminder to live in the moment. To embrace these times with your children. With your loved ones. With your small slice of life. Embrace it. And screw broken cars, and strange people and self-absorbtion. Be 100% with yourself and with your family all the time. It's all you have. Especially while road trippin'.
Peace~

Bill's shootin' shop

World's largest Van Gogh

Goodland, KS