Montreal (September 19-21)

Montreal was a wonderful place to visit. Just the kind of place we like: history, galleries, shopping, endless walking, interesting restaurants, clean, safe, controlled hassle (i.e. park your car and set off on foot). Plus this town makes an Arizonan feel like you've left your home territory - completely different feel. Enjoyed the French language dimension.

Our hotel (Hotel XIX Seicle) was located in the Old Port area of town - which, as one might expect, is one of the oldest areas in Montreal and situated right alongside the St. Lawrence River. This part of town shows its age in countless charming ways, and I don't think this was all tourist-oriented restoration. Or if it was, I didn't care. Narrow streets, old buildings, thick walls, cobblestones. The buzz of French conversation everywhere (along with street signs, menus, etc.) Rue St. Paul was the hub of activity in this part of town; plenty of tourists but not to the point of annoyance.

Our Saturday mostly was spent enroute; upon arriving at the hotel, we did walk the area a bit, did not have much of a feel for the restaurants. Eventually sipped a bit, and decided to stay and eat at Movaido - good food, big crowd, very appealing jazz.

The hotel breakfast on Sunday (with repeat on Monday) was a pleasant surprise. It is labeled as "continental" - conjuring up images of awful waffle mix that you pour out of a paper carton; processed pastries, instant oatmeal. But food receives a different emphasis here; they offered pretty much everything we like - excellent coffee, breads, pastries, fruits, cheeses, ham, juices, etc.

Sunday featured beautiful weather. My excellent companion and I did our walking thing; covered a big chunk of the area from mid-morning to early afternoon, then a bunch more in the Old Port area toward evening. Well over five miles for the day. Covered big chunks of McGill University; stopped at St. Patrick's church (will write about this separately); mingled with fans going to the Alouettes (CFL) game at Molson Stadium; headed for the MontRoyal Park area but missed the entrance so circled back; stopped into a museum; walked past the Bell Centre (later saw preseason Canadiens game televised from there).

Back to Old Port area. Late lunch at Holder - chicken tartarine, eggs benedict, local beverages. Circled Rue St. Paul a bit, then rested at hole. The quite a bit more walking - down to the pier area overlooking the St. Lawrence. Walked up toward Jacques Cartier place and the Cathedral; just a gorgeous evening, including wonderful weather.

Then to a restaurant named Pyrenees for dinner (named for the region(s) from which menu items are based). PJ dressed up nicely and this place was really quite wonderful. We had a great appetizer - snails in a puff pastry; I had the cassoulet (supposedly a Toulouse recipe), PJ had the filet. A drawn-out process in a busy, buzzy restaurant; just as we like it. Proprietor comp'd a Muscat after-dinner drink (I'm a sucker for those little gestures).

Had a repeat of our breakfast; walked a bit and toured the Cathedral (Notre Dame Montreal); then a delightful lunch at Le Boulenguer. Ordered off the "table d'hote" menu - a beef/carrot stew for me, PJ had salmon and red cabbage. Followed by desserts (poached pear for PJ, some cake for me) and coffee. As in the evening before, a delightful old building, warmly decorated, ridiculously thick walls.

Next: Quebec . . .

We liked Quebec province

Back in town after a short trip to Montreal and Quebec City.

These are wonderful destinations. Still hearing echoes of French conversation. Will post on various trip topics shortly.

Also need to remark that autumn in AZ is a fine thing.

Choral Union - year five

Much change as year five begins in ASU Choral Union.

1. Conductor is on sabbatical.
2. Rehearsal accompanist left.
3. Perhaps related to #1, quite a bit of turnover in the choir.
4. PJr and Nedda have faded out of the picture, allegedly to study.

So CPG and I continue on. All seems to be going smoothly.

Fall concert is on November 1; we're mostly doing works by Anton Bruckner (Austrian). I always like his works, but didn't realize he was composing in the late 19th century (assumed it was earlier). Info on Bruckner is here.

1885 - 2009

I was sorry in a nostalgic sort of way to see this item regarding an August 25th meeting of the Kossuth County (Iowa) Board of Supervisors:

"The board also held a public hearing on the possibility of closing the bridge straight north of St. Joseph on 110th Street.

The bridge, constructed in 1885, has served its purpose for well over 100 years.

Miller said replacing the bridge would cost the county over $750,000, and with the department working on a tight budget, they couldn't find the money in the near future.

The board unanimously voted to close the bridge. Signs will be posted within the next two weeks to close the roadway access to the bridge to the public."

Photos are courtesy of EMG (with his assistant Emily Haag), circa 2004 I believe. I like the fall color and composition.

Old bridges evoke old days; this bridge particularly makes me imagine old St. Joe. We drove this route many, many times over the years. It sits right north of St. Joe, and therefore very close to the EJ Gales farm on the hill (per satellite image below).

Hard to imagine the type of traffic the builders were planning for in 1885 - no doubt they tried to think ahead. No doubt they couldn't imagine the monster vehicles lumbering around the area in the 21st century.

In the satellite view below, EMG's house is the first house south of 105th street on the west side of the road (Highway 169, aka S. Phillips Street). 110th street heads east off of Highway 169 just a bit north of St. Joe; you can move the image around (and zoom in) to see where the bridge spans the river. The EJ Gales hill farm is just west of St. Joe on 105th Street.

This bridge was in place five years before (my Grandpa) Mike Bormann was born; or 15 years prior to EJ Gales arriving on the scene.

Now it's done, too.



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