JB's world: April 2007

Quebec

I caught the express bus from Montreal to Quebec, the skies were grey and bad weather was approaching. I stayed at the YWCA which was a redocarated 100 year building, my room was art deco style. Next morning I looked out my window to snow everywhere.

I struggled down the street with the ice blowing in my face and found a bakers shop with the largest almond croissant I have ever seen. Over a cup of coffee I pondered what I should do for the day, walking was impossible, even to the bus stop.

I gt a taxi to take my luggage back to the station and see if there was an earlier train. There was, but the cost to change my ticket was $45. I decided to get another taxi to the art museum and thought that would be a warm place for a while. Unfortunately it is closed on Monday to the general public. I got inside the building as a school group was taking a tour. The staff gave me a tourist book which saved the day.

I rang Quebec City Tours and organised a tour of the city for 2 hours, I was the only client. I saw all the sites of the city from a comfortable heated vehicle, with an interesting tour guide. I only had to get out to buy a souvenir T shirt. I was the only customer the shop had that day. There was also a tour to Island of Orleans, Montmorency Falls and St Anne's church. Another person was taking this tour so I thought why not. This is a view of the water way from the Island. You can see no one had walked through the snow. The roads on the Island were so heavy with snow drifts its a wonder we made it through. In the summer the raspberries grow and maple syrup is collected. There are beautiful summer homes for people who want to get away from the city.

The wind nearly blew me over as I walked to the viewing point for the waterfall. But knowing me I had to have a close look. I wished I had stayed in the vehicle. The winter ice was starting to break up into large chunks in the river. I had had no food during the tours and enjoyed a plate of pasta before I caught the train from Quebec to Montreal and then the overnight bus from Montreat to New York. I really had enjoyed my sights of Quebec and there would be much to see when the weather was better. During the bad weather New York had 8 inches of rain. I wished some had been diverted to Australia.

Montreal continued

I had met with a friend from St Andrews who now lives in Montreal and had a coffee and chat. It was late afternoon when I went to walk to the chalet on top of the Mont Royal and the stairs from the street near me where closed for the winter. I asked a lady for directions and she didn't know how I could walk up so she drove me, she had lived in Sydney for a month. She dropped me off beside a frozen lake and told me to follow the path where people were walking, it was cold believe me. Finally I got to the view of Montreal and asked someone to take my photo to prove I was there.

I walked down these steps to get back to the city, I was nearly half way down when I thought I should take a photo. and there were more. I had dinner at the place where we had coffee in the afternoon.(Sevens - where all the Montreal people eat and drink) Good Pasta and salad, I would have liked sweets but the main meal helpings are oversize.

On Sunday morning before I left for Quebec I went to the Maurice Dennis exhibition at the Musee des Beaux Arts. I knew nothing about him but his paintings were wonderful, they also had nice modernist paintings and a pencil drawing exhibition as well. I would go back to Montreal again as a lot of the attractions are closed during the off season.

Montreal (with a carpet of cigarette butts)

I arrived to snow falling, wind and rain. Luckily it was only a 5 minute walk to my YWCA the Y Hotel right in the centre of town. Next day the snow had stopped and I walked to the old centre, looked at the sites and visited a historical house, On the train a lady had told me about a wool shop and after a long walk I found it, wished I had a large suitcase to bring some back. Then I walked back to my hotel, it was 5 o'clock so I walked again through China Town and further and it was a long walk back. I tried to find somewhere to eat but nothing appealed, finally I found a turkish place with food I would like, but when I went upstairs it was a Hooka pipe place and so smokey I could hardly read the menu. At least these smokers were't leaving cigarette butts on the streets. I got take out and left.

Next day I walked along streets rather like Brunswick Street in Melbourne and there was this interesting shop window display.

St Catherines street is the main shopping street above ground, and starts out with fashion and ends up with sex shops. This display was somewhere in between.

Wouldn't like to sit on these chairs!

There is lots of art in the streets. I think this person found the Montreal weather too cold.

The Train to Montreal

It was wet and rainy turning to snow the further north we went. I have never seen so much water, some frozen some steely grey but beautiful. I loved the duck prints in the soft ice as they tried to take off when they heard the train whistle blow.

A winter wonderland in spring. The scenery made up for the delays to let freight trains pass and the dreadful food. At least the seats were bigger than airplane, and I could carry on my knitting and scissors!

With so much snow, Oskar would have loved the diggers, I saw hundreds parked in yards along the way

I was pleased to see my favourite coffee shop, Joes at Waverley Place near 6th avenue had a postcard ready for my arrival. I met another Australian there as well.

I took Nina and Camille to the beadshops on 6th avenue between 36th and 38th streets and couldn't resist some beads to make a necklace and earrings for me.

The girls wanted me to crochet bags for their new Nintendos. Nina really stretched my creativity wanting black and white check.

Found this unusual car number plate seat outside a bar in Red Hook as I walked to the Fairways market,if its food, you name it and they have it.

More Flower Show

The interior of Maceys, this year had an environmental theme with animals, the perfume of the flowers and the amazing variety from bulbs to cactii and potted shrubs. Its a must see if you come to New York in April and like flowers

Macey's Flower Show

I often seem to be here for the flower show to end all shop flower shows. It must cost a fortune for the plants, these photos are the outside windows, (with the reflection of the buildings opposite)

Only in New York

Walking the streets is so interesting, found this place in a side street as I walked to one of my favourite wool shops. How long did it take to do the walls and also the paved area inside the fence line?

I attend a Friday morning knitting group and a Tuesday poetry group. They loved my little poem,

Alone

Lost in the rush of life
It lay on the sidewalk
Wet and bedraggled
Among the leaves and papers
I thought of the little girl
Who would never again
Know the warmth
Of that red wool glove
And for the glove itself
Who had lost its partner.

New York and School Camp

after a good flight and reasonable airline food, Cami was waiting at JFK. We had dinner and then it was time to unpack the goodies. Aunty Chris has such good taste in picking up the bargains for the girls. Cami the model. They are both fighting over the brown pants we got from Allens, wish there was a second pair as they take day turns in wearing them.

Hardly had time to get over the jetlag and it was off to school camp. A two hour bus ride. No breakdowns this year and much warmer. Laurice was there with Cami but in a different group with better cabins. Tower climbing with Nina at the top, only two of her group of nine made it to the top.

Nina and I were at the confidence course activity which is right near the 3rd class tower climb. Cami had reached the top with her group earlier, but it was time for Laurice to prove she could do what the girls did and she did.

The fifth grade had cabins with bunk beds and our cabin was the furthest from the shower block and dining room and the furthest to carry our bags to the bus. Great exercise being chaperone to the girls and amazing countryside.

The group outside our cabin

I have never seen a frozen lake before, this is the view from the dining room. it was so warm one day the girls were all in t-shirts and some even got sunburnt. Different to last year when it was warm coats and gloves and scarf.