at the Francofolies on Saturday and eating GREAT French food (lamb and duck) with LOTS of red wine! In some ways, we were both ready to return to Pittsfield after a week away, but it takes me about a week to really unwind during vacation so I am glad I have another week (and more at the end of August, too.) Sunday was a day of transitions: after checking out of the hotel we went up Mount Royal to experience the "Tam Tams." Since the early 70s, Montrealers trek to the statue of Jacques Cartier, bring their drums and groove together for about 7 hours. It is part hippie love-fest, part pagan dance groove, part "let's dig the sunlight while it still lasts before six months of darkness" and part "free spirit" community building. It was a sweet groove during the two hours we spent watching people, dancing to the ever-building drum choir and checking in with the various artisans who set up around the periphery.
Saying "a bien tot" to Montreal, we set out - had some "pain au chocolat" - another proof that there is a God - and headed through customs. Ninety minutes later we were in Burlington, VT for what turned out to be their annual "Feast of Fools" d
ay! What timing! More buskers and street acrobats, lots of people in this very cool old town and another noodle bar to die for. Not wanting to leave, but having another four hours to drive, we returned to our "schlep" back home and got here just about 10 pm.
ay! What timing! More buskers and street acrobats, lots of people in this very cool old town and another noodle bar to die for. Not wanting to leave, but having another four hours to drive, we returned to our "schlep" back home and got here just about 10 pm.It was good to be back in our own beds... where we both slept like rocks. Part two of my vacation begins today as Di had to return to work this morning. I did a baptism at church for some friends in from California this morning, but now I'm back into the "summer time" mode and living IS easy! I've got hours of guitar practicing to get back into... and some new novels by China Mielville, too. Probably a trip or two to the local art museums, gardening and I promised myself I would start my French cooking assignments as well.
What's more Josh Ritter is going to be at MassMOCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art) on Saturday for an all day festival. And there is a Georgia O'Keefe exhibit happening at the Clark, too.
Blessings to you all... more as this week unfolds.
Blessings to you all... more as this week unfolds.
2 comments:
Joyce and I honeymooned at Lac Cameron up near the Laurentians. I remember our having to speak French for an entire day as we ate at a local restaurant and shopped at a quincaillerie (hardware store)(try saying the French rapidly 5 times...).
One day, we drove into Montreal, and that night saw Black Uhuru and King Sunny Ade. What a trip!
Glad you enjoyed our hospitalite canadien, RJ!
It was a total blast: loved it all!
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