The St. Joseph's Oratory

Every time I go out downtown, I usually see the Oratory. However, I didn't know that's what it was. Catherine suggested we go together, but we couldn't seem to get free time at the same time. So, finally this Wednesday we got the chance. I found the whole experience very moving. Especially when we were in the room where people could light candles for their loved ones. Hanging by the walls were hundreds of crutches, canes, and other supports. Catherine explained that these used to belong to the lame and disabled, but that they had climbed the stairs to the Oratory on their knees as a pilgrimage, and had been healed.
We also walked through the garden of the 14 stages of the cross. The sculptures stood out amongst the greenery, making them that much more impressive.
I'm so glad we went to the Oratory. I can look up at the green dome, and know what it represents and what effect it had on me.
xox

The Oratory

You can just make out the Julep (where we went to go see the cars)

Stages represented in the gardens:

Smoked Meat Pete's

Pete, of Smoked Meat Pete's, has founded an institution in Montréal. Everyone who knows Montréal, knows that we have the best (I say) smoked meat! The traditional: sandwich, pickle, slaw, and fries...soooo good! It was a spur of the moment idea to go. I have this list of things I was to see and eat, and places I want to go while I'm visiting. So far, it's going well. I said to Pam that I had to have Pete's while I was visiting, because I didn't get it last time I was here. Her response was: "Let's go tonight, then!". So we did. :D
xox

Alycia and me, chowing down!

Sandwich + slaw+ a pickle+ fries = yummy goodness!

Just For Laughs

Pretty much every summer throughout my childhood, I would sit in our air conditioned family room with a can of ginger beer after a swim meet, usually sunburned and smelling of chlorine and Solarcain, watching the recorded Just for Laughs on TV. Every time I see that on TV, I'm instantly reminded of those summer evenings. I often toyed with the idea that some day I would go and see one live. To my delight, this year my dream cam true. Daniel called me up out of the blue, and said how much do I want to see John Cleese at the Just for Laughs.....
It was amazing!!! The music was the same as on TV, the set, the voice...I couldn't believe it! I was actually there. On top of the excitement that I was going to see the formidable John Cleese in the flesh, I got to meet the hilarious Colin Mocherie. (I got his autograph too :P)
Throughout the entire evening, it felt surreal. Maybe I'll get tickets for next summer and take Ed along. That way, he can see a facet of Montréal adored by all!

xox

Daniel, Colin Mocherie, with Me.


The Just for Laughs Stage.

John Cleese, Himself!!!

"Women Fully Dressed"

John Cleese announced he was "commiting suicide" at the end of the show, to top Jason Alexander. These were the methods of choice: stoning; electric chair; firing squad; guillotine; and hanging.... :S

John Cleese thought it was important that he replace himself in terms of his tallent. Therefore, he held the "Cleese Idol" (hosted by the real Canadian Idol MC!).

Chez Cora (she's a real person!)

This the best breakfast/brunch place any where, in my opinion. Hearty portions, good fresh food, and cute little drawings on the menu. You can get fry ups, fruits plates, coffee, tea, fruit coqutails, anything you want. You could just get scrambled eggs if that's all you craved.
So today, Sunday, Catherine's choir cronies showed me what they do after church. There were 8 of us in total. I had an absolute blast! Catherine's friends were friendly, welcoming, hilarious, and generally made me feel like "one-of-the-gang". I so wish they had these in England...Cora, ever thought of expanding???
xox

The ever recognizable sign.

My sistor!!!

FOOD!!!!!!

Busy Sunday

This past Sunday, I started the day by singing with Catherine in the A&P choir. I got to meet all of her choral friends, and wear a choir gown with only my knickers underneath :0 It was less scary than I thought it would be. Hopefully, I can go there on a regular baisis, so as to get into a groove of my own.
After church I headed out to Pincourt, and Pam, Alycia and I went to go meet Phoebe, the puppy of one of our co-workers, Vickie. She was so cute. This little boxer kept Alyciawell excersised, and all of us entertained.
After the visit with Vickie, Pam, Alycia, and I went out to visit Granny and Grandpa Bachner for supper. Laura and Breina were there too. We had corn-on-the-cobb, ribs made with Laura'a rib recipe, potato salad, and green salad. Such a great summer supper :). We all dipped our feet in Breina's paddling pool, and spent time talking about Laura'a upcoming wedding in September.
I've only been here a week, but I feel lik it's been longer, in a good way.
There's a heat wave on here at the moment. Today, it was 41C with humidity....ugh. Hopefully, we'll have a big thunderstorm, and the air will clear a little.
xoxoxox

Alycia and Phoebe

Breina in the Paddling pool.

Breina, the little cutie!

Getting Lost....Sort of

This is a map of the area I walk in on Thursday morning. St. Jean/Brunswick I walked from the courner of St. Jean and Brunwick, West along De Saliberry, then ended up back on Brunswick.
I started off by taking a bus to Fairview, where I was to transfer buses and get off infront of my work. However...this wasn't to be the case. I left the house at 7:30am and only arrived at work at 10:30. In between this I left Cote-Vertu, got to Fairview, and transfered onto a bus that tookme right back out to Cote-Vertu. Not quite to where I started, but close enough. I then headed backout to the West-Island, and proceeded to walk from St. Jean all along De Saliberry, back down to Brunswick. It was hot, and humid, and I thoght I would for sure be fired. However, I managed to get a lift there and no, I was not fired. :)
Needless to say, I was glad to get into the air conditioned Salon, and I think I'll stick to the bus I took on my first day.

Random Shots of Downtown Montréal

Catherine had a service to sing for today, so I took the opportunity to go shopping and walk around downtown for a little bit, after the organ recital at A&P. I remember a few places from when I was very young: the Arts building at McGill where Daddy had his office, and the Red Path Museum where I'd spend ages staring at the Dinosaurs. It's good to see these places again, and to know some things don't change.
xox

The Red Path Museum

James McGill....remember the song, Ma?

The Gates leading up to the Arts Building.

General Montréal scenery

The Arts Building at McGill.

Classic Cars at the Julep

Every summer, muscles, classic, pimped up and other cars get together on various nights of the week in and around Montréal. They take part in a little competition, where the cars are voted for by the spectators, and the one with the most votes wins prizes. The closest one to Catherine is the one at the Julep. Anyone traveling downtown will see it from the highway. The Julep's main characteristic is that it's orange. It's basically a huge orange in a parking lot. Their specialité is their "julep" drink. I found out that it's a mix of milk and orange juice. The outcome is a drink that tastes like liquid orange creamcicles (the orange Campino). There were so many cars there, and I took way too many photos to post them all. I tried to select a few that would properly reflect the variety of cars there that evening. It rocked!!!
xox

Flying Across the Pond

I'm glad I chose a window seat for my flight, cause I caught some good climpses of the ground below on both sides of the big blue. I always love seeing the difference between the square fields of England, and the grids of North America.
xox

On the tarmac at Gatwick airport.

England, from above.

Up in the clouds.

Downtown Montrea, from way up in the sky.