Categories
Experiences History, Culture, and Politics Only in Quebec

Patriot’s Day Weekend

(aka ‘Victoria Day” in the R.O.C.)

(R.O.C. = Rest of Canada, whose federal holidays Québec likes to rename and rebrand as Québec-centric celebrations.)

Victoria Day, which celebrates the birthday of Queen Vicky, isn’t so popular here in Québec due to the many years of oppression of the Québec French by the English ruling class.… [Read More]

Categories
Pictures Très Intéressant

Crabapple Evolution

From the front-facing window and small balcony at the apartment, there’s a view of the street below and the shaded courtyard of the house across. When we first arrived, the trees were mostly bare or just beginning to leaf out.… [Read More]

Categories
Only in Montréal

Just Don’t!

Because our travel day to Montréal is long and tiring, and because checking in to a new rental requires a lot of attention and energy, we stay in a hotel the night we land in MTL to rest, and then move into our rental the next day.… [Read More]

Categories
Food

The Maple Report Returns!

Maple Butter and Taffy Cones by L’Erable au Fils du Temps

These looked intriguing, not only because I presume anything in an ice-cream cone is likely to be good, but because they are being marketed as a collation énergétique (“power snack”).… [Read More]

Categories
Pictures

Spring Colo(u)rs

Did I just mention that one of the advantages of our north/south migration is experiencing some seasons twice? Well, here’s some Springtime evidence of that.

At the botanical gardens, the magnolias are in bloom, and the Japanese garden has a variety of fruit trees still with blossoms: cherries, crabapples, and plum trees.… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences Musings and Observations

Do You Remember “Sexy Elevator”?

Sure you do, from our 2022 rental building:

That voice! Sexy Elevator!

Now, in 2024, we have Banshee Bathroom Fan:

Banshee Bathroom Fan, or “Boggart of the Bog”

The shrieking usually goes away after a couple minutes, but: le sigh.[Read More]

Categories
Food Only in Montréal

Why Did The Chicken Car Cross The Road?

To get to the parking spot on the other side!

This is a delivery vehicle for St. Hubert, a massive restaurant chain and frozen/ready-to-eat food enterprise here in Québec (not unlike Marie Callender’s in the States, with less emphasis on dessert pies).… [Read More]

Categories
Experiences Only in Montréal Places

We’re Being Gaslamped

Montréal plays a lot of different cities in film/TV

What the hecque?? We get on the plane to Québec and land in San Diego’s Historic Gaslamp Quarter???

The Gay Gaslamp Village Quarter??
[Read More]
Categories
Experiences Pictures Places

The Apartment

This year, finding a furnished apartment was much more difficult than past years. Whether it’s the “end of the pandemic” or the housing crisis or some other reason, it was not easy to find a furnished apartment that would be willing to give us a 5-month lease.… [Read More]

Categories
Uncategorized

Nous sommes de retour

When we first decided to embark on this adventure, it seemed like half a year was a long time to spend in a place. But how quickly the winter just flew by!… [Read More]