A weekend in Montreal

 Within the past two months, I've spent two weekends here in Montreal. That's the most weekend time I've spent here since 2020.

This weekend, I did some things in the city that gave/give me joy. I just tried to enjoy the city. And I tried to live in the moment and take it in. Sounds like a good way to go through life in general, but it's taken me a bit to be able to do that here, and it's still a work in progress. Don't get me wrong, Montreal has a lot of things going for it, but I have to reframe some significant experiences.

Anyway, I went to Jean Talon market today. And instead of hopping on the STM, which would have been my regular practice, I walked there. The walk is very reasonable and only discovered when a couple weeks ago, I had some friends come to visit creating a couple positive memories for me. This is what I need here. In addition to a night in Old Montreal, we also met up in Little Italy and I'd made my way home by foot. It doesn't seem like a big deal, but meeting up with them those two nights and being 'out' in the city more than I usually would was really therapeutic for me.

So I walked, I wandered, and I looked at people, nature, and the city. I picked up some items from Marché Oriental and then headed over to Jean Talon. Noticing changes and what remained constant. I meandered through, looking for the best 'deals'. I contemplated my shopping list and what the rest of the day and week might hold.

As I have often done, I bought two cheeses from La Fromagerie Hamel - a hard and a soft.

1. Laliberte - Laliberté est un fromage triple crème fait de lait de vache pasteurisé et de crème. Sa belle croûte fleurie renferme une pâte fondante aux arômes exquis de champignons à la crème. Son nom est emprunté à celui du sculpteur Alfred Laliberté, né à Ste-Elizabeth-de-Warwick.

2. Alfred fermier - Ce fromage porte fièrement le nom de notre ancêtre, Alfred (le fermier) Bolduc. Il s’agit d’un fromage fermier, au lait cru biologique de vache, à pâte pressée cuite, affiné sur planches de bois. Sa croûte jaune orangée dégage une agréable odeur boisée. Il se démarque particulièrement par sa texture souple et la complexité de ses arômes de fruits, de caramel et de miel.

And I enjoyed both with a baguette and des tomates and continue to have a good day.

Little wins

Today, I got some ice cream. I even got it in a waffle cone. Roasted white chocolate and it's yummy. 

I also went to the public library to work. I haven't done that since early 2020.

Lays Chips Roasted Bree Milk Tea Flavour

Here's another one for you. The English label on the bag says "Roasted Bree Milk Tea Flavour", but the picture and a little bit of googling makes me think that it's crème brûlée. I like crème brûlée. I actually like it a lot. Crème brûlée and milk tea...I'm not so sure about. Also, given the outcome of the other chips that I recently tried, I'm a little worried. But I feel like snacking so here goes.

Shoving my nose into the bag, it smells sweet. Caramel-ish? It doesn't smell bad. I would eat a dessert that smelled like that. But this is a chip. Maybe I'm thrown off because I've been conditioned to think that chips are salty. And then I have to contend with these two bags.

The flavour...what the heck is this? It's not offensive, so that's good. Similar to the other bag, it doesn't taste how it smells. This one has a very mild taste, but yet again, I can't place it. There's a strange mouth feel - bitter (maybe the tea)? No, that's not it. Metallic? Chemically? Something that's coating the tongue? It's very bizarre.

They're not horrendous though, am I'm still eating them. I don't think they're as good as the classic North American flavours (actually, and the British flavours that I sampled), but it's hard to say if that's a sweet versus salty influence. Are there potato items that are sweet? Maybe I'm just not used to the sweet and potato combination.

I'll finish this bag. It's sort of hitting the spot. I don't think it tastes like crème brûlée and/or milk tea in particular, but how many chip flavours actually taste like what they're supposed to be if you think about it. Or, I could just have a weak palate. I think these are kind of salty, actually. And there definitely is a flavour to them. I think I'm getting that earthy 'tea' flavour as an aftertaste. I suppose the sweet-ish flavour I'm initially getting is the "bree" or crème brûlée? It's just not totally coming through.

I'd say, try this one. And see if you can figure out the flavour. I mean, I'd say try the other one too, because I think it's worth trying everything, but this one, at least I can enjoy.

Lays Chips Iced Coffee Oolong Milk Tea Flavour

I like exploring. I was exploring cheese for awhile (I'd still like to keep exploring cheeses), but the fact that I can explore chip flavours such as this kind of shows the difference in what's accessible and available to me now. I mean, I definitely didn't explore as much as I could have for the past 6 years, but I did explore in some ways but I'm skeptical that even if I'd put forth more effort, I would have come across these chips.

Anyway, the English label (I'm illiterate in Chinese) that was added on the chip bag indicates that these are Iced Coffee Oolong Milk Tea Flavour. Before I saw the label, I wondered if it was grass jelly (because of the jelly cubes in the bowl), but I guess not. Do people put coffee and tea together? Is that a thing?

I don't know if I've had coffee flavoured, or tea flavoured chips before. I'm assuming that they will be sort of sweet? I don't know if I've had sweet chips before.

Ok. Well, that was weird. I just opened the bag, and was immediately hit with a coffee smell...maybe with a dash of tea (?!?), but definitely coffee. The chips...they taste like nothing I've ever had before. They don't taste like coffee. They don't taste like tea. They don't taste like the smell that I got when I opened the bag (in fact, when I shove my nose back into the bag that initial coffee smell is gone). They have a sweet taste. Kind of caramel-ish? They are pretty crunchy. Like, maybe more crunchy that regular chips? It's almost like they feel thicker? Maybe I'm just making that up.

So the bag's been sitting here for awhile (I was just facetiming with a friend for the past hour). And I haven't been tempted to continue eating them (which is a big deal, because usually when I open a bag of chips, I eat the whole bag in one sitting). The smell had kind of settled to a Coffee Crisp-type of scent (which I guess sort of fits). I just ate another chip. And it's still a weird taste that doesn't match the smell. There's definitely an aftertaste in my mouth, which could be tea-ish. I mean, it's sort of earthy?

Needless to say, I'm not terribly impressed with these chips. I definitely wouldn't get them again. They are...curious.

Iceland (March 2-8, 2018)

I had the opportunity to visit Iceland earlier this year. Growing up, this country wasn't on my radar. I didn't know much about it, nor in my heyday of traveling, it wasn't on my list of places to go. It was only in the past 10 years or so that it's really hit the mainstream. I'm impressed at the efforts that the country has done to boost their economy. I remember a moment in time where it seemed that everywhere I turned, there was an advertisement promoting it as a stopovers destination between North America to Europe. And then just hearing more and more people talk about their travels there.
Although a small country, there is so much to see. I only had a couple days to really explore and stayed in the area around Reykjavik. I took a couple bus tours to visit some sights further out of town, but felt like I had just scratched the surface. I didn't explore any parts in the north of the country.
Anyway, below are just some photo highlights of my trip. I would most definitely like to go back. I wouldn't mind going back again in the winter, but I would also like to go back in the spring/summer to enjoy the green and sheep that apparently wander around.

In an around Reykjavik, I did a lot of window shopping (by far, my favourite was Geysir). I always feel tempted to buy blankets. The wool blankets were beautiful, but how many blankets can one have? I already have more blankets than are necessary...
In thinking about a souvenir and/or something special to pick up as a memento from the trip, I thought about getting a lopapeysa. Well, they sell them everywhere, and that was a little overwhelming for me. I was nervous about the authenticity and quality of the sweater. I also got overwhelmed by all the choices of colours and patterns. In the end, I went to the Handknitting Association of Iceland shop, which I thought was a nice concept. As one would expect, I spent a couple hours there hemming and hawing. Getting opinions from anyone and everyone. Narrowing down my options. Feeling conflicted about my choices. But in the end, I'm happy with what I walked out with. The sweater is a little itchy, but I tend to layer it, so it's not quite so bad. Not sure if that's something that will diminish with time.

When traveling, I often visit concert/opera halls. Typically, these venues are pretty spectacular on the inside and outside, and the Harpa was no exception. I didn't have a chance to take a tour of the building, so I'll have to keep that on my list of things to do next time I'm there. The architecture is pretty incredible.
The kind of honeycomb-esque glass structure looks great from the outside and inside. In the evening, the building is lit up with different colours. It's right in the harbour, so the backdrop is incredible. I imagine it would be pretty breathtaking in the evening. Even during the daytime, it was gorgeous. I could imagine just bringing a book to read, and sitting with the sun shining through the glass. What a neat space.

Geysirs
Not just a beautiful store, there were legit geysirs in Iceland. I think this was the first time that I'd seen geysirs. It was kind of fun standing around in the cold waiting...and waiting...and waiting. And then whoosh! Everyone had their cell phones, video recorders, and cameras at the ready - just hoping to catch that moment when the geysir erupted. In fact, there were groups of photographers (seemed to be an organized group) with all of their cameras set up on tripods just waiting. I guess taking pictures of a geysir would be a skill!
Geologists must love Iceland. And I wish I understood more of the discipline to truly appreciate the country. Geothermal energy was a common phased that I heard on the trip. I guess I have been to other places with this phenomenon, but it just seemed so much more prevalent here in Iceland. I have a rudimentary knowledge that the core of the earth is super hot. And it just boggles my mind that there's bubbling water underground. These (kind of) calm looking pools of water are in fact death traps. Ok, fine. The steam does give you some clues, but the other parts which aren't steaming really do look harmless. Doesn't that just look like a dainty stream? Nope. The rock says beware!

Waterfalls, waterfalls, and more waterfalls
I mean, waterfalls are beautiful, but they aren't astounding to me. I wonder if growing up with Niagara Falls has any affect on that. Don't get me wrong, they are natural wonders, but by the second waterfall, I wasn't sure if I needed to see any more. Perhaps it would have been a little different if it weren't the winter. Apparently in the warmer months, there was an option of walking behind one of the waterfalls (the Seljalandsfoss, here to the left). But wait, I've done with in Niagara Fall too. Hmm.
These next pictures are from the Skógafoss waterfall. In terms of the height and volume, the waterfalls were impressive, but I guess just looking at them from afar isn't as exciting as waterfalls that I've heard you can swim...especially if you've seen many waterfalls before. The neat thing about the Skógafoss waterfall is that you could walk up pretty close to the base of it (you could also climb stairs to get to the top - which was nice to get a little workout in after sitting on the bus for a long time).
As it was winter, much of the water surrounding the base of the waterfall was frozen. I suppose due to the splashing of the water and misty droplet, the ice has a pebbly kind of quality. It was fun to shuffle and slide along the ice and feel the texture of it. It made for a really neat icy wonderland.
While I may not sound the most enthusiastic about the waterfalls, it was still pretty magical to see little waterfalls craved into the side of a rock face or mountain. As we drove past on the bus, it made me wonder how long these waterfalls had been there, how long they took to develop, and what they would look like in ____ years. Nature is pretty impressive.


Black sand beach
Another out of this world experience was visiting the black volcanic sand beaches in of Reynisfjara. Do a little bit of googling to see images of the beaches and the iconic basalt columns. Un. Real. This would have also been a cool destination to be over the course of a day - to see it in different light.
I had this weird mind-trippy moment when we arrived to the beach (this picture here is of the Three Trolls, or Reynisdrangar). I was walking along on the black sand, and it's literally black. So I don't associate sand with the colour black. I was staring at it, and I honestly had a moment where I thought I was walking on asphalt. Like, I kept looking down thinking that this was a fresh layer of asphalt (but somehow more fine grained) than just hadn't been steamrolled yet. Then, I finally knelt down to touch the sand. And yeah, it felt like sand. It was so bizzare. It felt like sand, sort of looked like sand, but my brain wasn't ready to accept it as sand.

Food adventures
It might be affordable to get to Iceland, but once you're there, things are expensive. Everyone I spoke with emphasized this, and commented on the cost of food. They weren't exaggerating. Meals would be at least $50. I had a soup for lunch on the last day of the trip, and it was $30. It was a really good soup (lamb stew - one of the items that was on my list of things to try), but still. $30!!! 

Other items on my list included:
- puffin
- whale
- lamb
- fermented shark
- dried fish
- skyr 
- black licorice

In the end, I was too frugal to get a rack of lamb or anything more significant than the lamb stew (including a sheep's head). Next time. The whale, I found out, really varies depending on how it was prepared. I had gone to a seafood shack earlier in the trip that was recommended to have a good lobster (well, technically langoustine) soup (it was good), and saw whale on the menu, so ordered it. It tasted similar to liver. I mentioned this to someone local, and she immediately told me that it hadn't been prepared properly. Later in the trip when I went to another recommended restaurant, I tried whale again, and it was a much better experience. It was here that I also tried puffin (similar to duck). AND I tried the hákarl. This stuff is legendary. I wasn't really sure in what context I would be able to try it. I didn't think that I would purchase it from a store. I had been warned about the intense ammonia smell (and taste?!?) so it would have been a little crazy risking it in my hotel room. In the end, I was telling the waitress about how I wanted to try it, and she kindly offered me a cube. 
It was literally a 1cm square cube, and that was all I really needed. It was served frozen, as was explained to me, the way to keep the odor at bay. I was instructed to wait for the cube to thaw before eating it. And as it thawed, the smell did come through. It was interesting. It smelled like ammonia, I could feel the ammonia vapour in my nose and back of my throat. But it tasted fishy. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it. But that smell. Wow.
I also went to this popular hot dog stand. I got the hot dog with all the toppings (except for raw onions - those give me a headache) and it was pretty tasty. Sweet mustard, remolade (mayonnaise), ketchup, and the bonus fun topping: fried onions. It was also a lot more affordable than other food options, so I have to admit that I had a hot dog for a couple meals.
Skyr was something that I picked up at the grocery store to try. The plain kind was obviously flavourless and a little bland. Kind of yogurty, kind of not, it was a good breakfast and snack that I often brought with me on my bus tours.
I don't really get why folks in the Nordic countries like black licorice so much (especially when it's salty), so I was skeptical when people told me of the popularity in Iceland. Luckily, when it's covered with chocolate, it's a little bit more palatable. It also didn't seem quite as salty as I remember it being when I tried it in those other countries. I basically went into the Bonus store and got one of every Lakkris option. The classic chocolate covered licorice, the ones with a marzipan center (ok), the ones with a licorice powder coating (gross), and the ones with a caramel center (yum), and even the one with the spicy powder coating (yuck).
Also at Bonus, I picked up some Harðfiskur. I probably should have gotten a smaller packet (because it's still sitting in a cupboard in my kitchen), but maybe I'll suddenly get a craving for it and be glad I have it. 

The Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon is one of the mega-touristy things. And with mega-touristy things, you never know if it's going to be "worth it". People had told me that going to local swimming pools should instead by a priority, so I wanted to make sure that I did both. 
As I said before, Iceland is unreal. Like, the local swimming pools are heated geothermally. The hot water that comes out of taps is heated geothermally. I was told that the cold water is actually cooled down. Like, it's backwards from what we're used to. "Regular" water is hot, so they need to put effort in to generate cold water. The local swimming pools are a combination of swimming pool and hot tubs. And everything is outdoors. So yeah, I'm visiting in the middle of the winter, but swimming outdoors. But of course, that's fine, because the water's so warm! The location that I went to had a bunch of different pools/tubs - each indicating its water temperature. One with lanes for swimming (again, so weird to be swimming outdoors in the winter, but in water with a perfectly comfortable temperature - 37 degrees), one for tots to wade in (32 degrees), a pretty normal-ish hot tub with a bench around the perimeter and water jets (39 degrees), a hot tub that was basically a foot and a half deep (and seemed to be the perfect depth for lying in) with this kind of lip thing on the edge (perfect for resting your head) (also 39 degrees), and then a series of smaller tubs of varying temperatures (12, 39, and 44 degrees). Of course, I had to try all of them. It was obviously chilly going from tub to tub. The warm water was really comforting in contrast to the cold winter air, but in fact, I found most of the tubs a little too hot for me. The cold tub was a little much for me (I could only manage standing up to my calves in it for a short period of time before having to dash to to a warmer pool), but hopefully it did at least a little bit of what it was supposed to do and get the old blood flowing out of my feet which were so tired from walking around throughout the trip. There were also steam rooms, but I tend not to enjoy those, so I didn't really make use of them. I had gone one a weeknight, and perhaps only and hour and a half before they closed and the place was packed. People of all ages - groups of friends, families, tourists, locals...you name it. I think me favourite was lying in that one shallow pool and just staring up at the stars in the night sky. It was an unforgettable experience.
But the Blue Lagoon. The trip was relatively last minute, and as soon as it was confirmed (maybe two weeks prior), I went on the website to try to book a ticket. Things were pretty much already sold out. And of course it wasn't cheap. I decided to go with the most basic package (which I think was perfectly fine in the end) and shelled out additional cash to get a bus ticket to get there (as it's not close to the city). On the bus ride there, I fell asleep (I'm like a baby in a moving vehicle). When I woke up, I literally felt like we were on another planet. The landscape of Reykjavik looks kind of, I don't know...normal. It's by the water, there are cute cobblestone streets, some interesting buildings with architecture that's different from what I'm used to, mountains in the distance, some greenery, some snow...you know, normal. But I woke up to what I imagined Mars would be like. Well, maybe not Mars because it wasn't red, but like, it literally looked like another planet. Now, maybe there are other parts of the world that look like this, but I had never experienced them before. And I had only been on a bus for about 45 minutes. 
Anyway, I wander around for a bit until I'm a little less groggy. And looking to one side, I see the terrain above. Then to the other, I see this:

I mean, seriously. It's unreal. I'm not sure if I have ever seen clearer water. And that blue. The white silica deposits really made for an incredible sight. And I hadn't even entered the Blue Lagoon yet!
The Blue Lagoon was spectacular. Worth every penny. It exceeded my expectations. I can't think of enough superlatives. It really was everything I could have imagined and then some. I basically spent the whole day there. I had wanted to see the place during the day and in the evening, so I strategized accordingly. 
After a couple hours of taking my time, exploring the different parts of the lagoon, soaking up the sun and healing properties of the water, I took a break to let my pruned skin get back to normal. I took advantage of the lounge chairs that were set up indoors, had my Skyr and other snacks, took a wee nap, and read my magazines (and, gasp, some papers for work). 
Then, when I felt well-rested (and honestly, this trip and outing was the much needed excuse to actually give myself a a little R&R and pampering), I went back into the lagoon for round 2. I got my free mud mask and drink (naturally, I opted for the Skyr smoothie - as if I hadn't had enough!) and just continued to take it all in.
It had been a long time since I remember feeling so at peace. So relaxed. Content. Both the night that I left the swimming pool and the Blue Lagoon, I felt good. I was thankful to get to that place again.

The Northern Lights
Seeing the Northern Lights has been on my bucket list. You see pictures of this colourful glow - it looks so magical. I happened to be there at a time of the year when prospects to see the lights were decent. So, like much of the rest of the trip, I booked an excursion to see the lights and hoped for the best. I got lucky. Our bus stopped at a first location where we all got out and waited around in the freezing cold. I literally was wearing all of the layers I possibly could and was still freezing. I can't imagine how cold I would have been had I not purchased my lopapeysa the day prior. I wore that wool sweater proudly for most of that trip and goodness, they are warm! Anyway, after a couple minutes at this first stop, we were told to get back on the bus and drove off to another location where there were already a couple other buses. Soon after we got there, the guides excitedly said, that the lights were visible and we all scurried off the bus to take a look.
Naively, I thought my camera would be able to capture the lights. I also thought my eyes would too. I mean, what I expected to see what what I had seen in pictures. While I did see some slight glow and moving of shapes (kind of cloud-esque, but more wavey), it didn't really have the impact that I was hoping. I use the longest exposure on my point and shoot digital camera that I have, and all I get is a black screen. So I stand there, looking at this kinda foggy-ish scene. I breathe in the crisp air and just think how lucky I am to be here, to be one with nature. 
I wander over to a gentleman who has a camera on his tripod and ask him how his pictures are turning out. The man, from Japan, has limited English so we aren't able to communicate much through verbal language. But he seems to be enjoying himself and the photos that he's taking. I ask him if I would be able to see some of the pictures and he kindly obliges. 
I take a look at the screen and there are the images that come to mind when I think of the Northern Lights. He kindly lets me take a look at the screen every so often when the colours change (and boy did they ever - greens, yellow, oranges...). I end up giving him my email address asking him if he would be willing to send me some of the images. A couple days later, I receive an email from him with a series of fantastic photos. Such a small connection between strangers and I'm feeling such warmth. It kind of reminded me of moments at the Torino game where I asked strangers to sell tickets that I wouldn't be able to use. Anyway, a big thank you through cyberspace. Although I didn't take them myself, the photos that I received are among my favourite from the trip.

Red lava fields and horseback riding 
On the final morning of my trip, I booked a horse riding tour. I love animals, and I'd heard about the special breed of horses in Iceland (look at how fluff they are!). I thought that going on a horse ride would be another great way to rest my mind, while being out in nature and also to take in yet another type of terrain of the country.
Again, venturing out of the city, we got to an area with lots of stables but also surrounding by fields. These red lava fields are apparently protected areas that cannot be build upon or tampered with. And yet again, I felt like I was on a different planet.
I don't have any experience riding horses, so the excursion made me wish that I could learn a little bit more about riding (when the horse was walking, I was fine, but when he started trotting, I had a little trouble - obviously we never even got to the point where I could experience the fifth gait of the horse).
Still, I enjoyed being in the fresh air and admiring the scenery. The Red Lava fields, I guess would be more Mars-like than the region near the Blue Lagoon. Even during our short excursion, we were able to see different type of terrain. The large rectangular area in this picture was apparently a bunker created for World War II.


Suffice it to say, I had an incredible trip. I felt like I experienced a lot in a short amount of time, yet I feel like I only just got started. And like many of my posts, I feel like this one dind't do the trip (or country) justice. I hope to be able to go back soon.

Cremeux (le) Kaltbach

The cheese sampling still continues. I seem to have settled into hard cheese. Although I started with brie and for some reason thought that "real cheese" was supposed to be soft and slightly stinky, I'm now at a point where I'm going to keep trying different things, but I kind of have a "type" that I like, so why not stay in the same vein for awhile? Actually, what I've tried to do recently is buy one hard and one soft cheese each time, but once in the shop, it's hard for me to actually take the plunge if when tasting, it just seems to make sense to buy things that immediately taste better to me.
Anyway, I seem to like creamy cheeses. For the hard cheeses, there's more of a variety that I like. Salty, nutty, fruity...I don't seem to like the cheeses that are a little sour.

Anyway, This time, I got Cremeux (le) Kaltbach. A Swiss cheese, the Kaltbach is quite mild, but creamy. It's pretty nondescript otherwise. I guess some might find it a little boring, but for me, it's an easy cheese to have with bread. Maybe add tomato and/or salad. I just imagine adding this to my traditional picnic repertoire.

Las Vegas (December 19-23, 2017)

This is the second time that I've been to Vegas. The first time was the summer of 2001. That was a long time ago. I have spotty memories about the strip, but I'd like to think that's more because there wasn't the strip like there is today rather than me not really remembering my visit. Truthfully, I think it's a little bit from column A, a little bit from column B. The only strong memory that gave me a sense of nostalgia was watching the fountains in front of the Bellagio Hotel.

Anyway, I've been wanting to go back to see some more shows and marvel in the spectacle of the strip. Because it really is a spectacle.
Just walking around the strip is fun. You can people watch, window shop, and explore different worlds in the different casinos. I'm not a gambler, but I enjoy them as an observer. The lights, the sounds...I'm repeating myself, but it's a spectacle!
I guess it's so much of a spectacle that I was just living in the moment of it all. While I did take some pictures, I kind of surprised at how few I took and most of them seem to be from the evening even though I wasn't actually out and about in the evening very much. And my strongest images of Vegas don't seem to be reflected in the pictures that I have so I'm not really sure what happened there.
The resources that have been invested into the resorts is incredible. From the casinos, the restaurants, the shows, the hotels, the shopping...it's unreal. The Vegas strip is another world. I mean, c'mon - they basically re-created a chunk of Venice and stuck it in the Nevada desert. There are canals outdoors. There are canals indoors. Only in Vegas. It's crazy.
But it's also a little (well, a lot) over the top. I like window shopping. And window shopping in boutiques that I wouldn't regularly shop in. But that's basically ALL that's there. I never thought I would get tired of window shopping, but I did. It's extreme. It's an overload. It's too much. It's Vegas. And again, Vegas is a different world.
Oh, I had a Rush Hour 2 moment when I saw the forum of Caesars Palace. That was funny.

For the most part, I stayed on the strip. I just wanted a couple days to get away from things. The semester has just ended, and I was feeling exhausted. This was a little escape before spending some time with family for the holidays and then having some more quiet time before starting back up for what I knew would be a busy start to the New Year.
On the trip, I fell into a nice pattern of sleeping in, taking my time in the morning, a quick check in to work (although I did didn't do anything work related for about two days at the beginning - which felt like an eternity, but quite nice in the end), and then heading out for relaxing stroll (I was staying on the north end of the strip) towards the main drag before immersing myself in the spectacle of it all.
I basically chose a different section of the strip to explore each day and wander around, window shop, and soak in the lights and sounds and scenes of it all. I'd find some random, silly places to get food that were either: a) places that in my head were so typically American (whatever that means) that I couldn't get at home...for example, In-N-Out Burger and The Cheesecake Factory, or b) something Vegas-y (again, in my head)...for example, Bobby's Burger Palace. I'd head back to the hotel just after dinner (unless I was going to see a show) for a quiet night in and an early bedtime.

For the time of year when the weather was already cold and I wasn't spending as much time outside, this trip was nice because I spent the whole day outside (well, expect when I ducked into the resorts to explore) walking...walking...and more walking. And during the day the sun was out. And the sun felt nice. It was about 10-15 degrees during the day. While this wasn't the warm beach weather that a lot of people go to at this time of year, this was perfect for me because I didn't want to sweat, I just wanted some warmth. It was like a warm hug. and I needed those. When the sun set, it got quite cold (desert, right?), to the extent that I ended up wearing my winter coat that I had worn in-transit. And I had my toque on every night walking back to the hotel.

I saw two shows. I was only interested in seeing Cirque du Soleil and I had no problems splurging on tickets. There was one show that I have always wanted to see: O. I had such high expectations, and was not disappointed. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, mouth-open in awe, totally mesmerized. I know the soundtrack inside and out, and I was finally hearing it in the theatre...and it was amazing. I'd seen scenes from the show, videos on their website and other places, and I was actually watching it live in front of my eyes...and it was amazing. It's great when something you build up in your mind, and have been waiting and waiting for is everything you imagined it would be.
The second show, I wasn't too sure of. I mean, I knew I wanted to see more than one show on this trip, but other than O, I didn't have something that I desperately wanted to see. After looking into all of the other Cirque shows, I decided to go with KA. I like acrobatic shows, so this seemed to be one that would fit the bill. I actually saw this show earlier in the trip than O, and as soon as I got to the show venue was getting giddy. There was an act in the lobby of the venue.
And the theatre itself was amazing. Other Cirque shows that I had seen were in the big top or arenas. This (as was O) in a legit theatre. And everything in the theatre was part of the show. Cirque shows usually have pre-show acts going on in the aisles, but this was taken to the next level. As you can see, the "wings" of the theatre extend out into the audience and there were performers everywhere. And the typically "in the aisles" interactions are as floor-level, but this took it literally to another dimension - there were sights and sounds coming from all around and at different heights.
The show itself did have some interesting acts, but as a whole, but there were some moments that I didn't enjoy as much. In my opinion, the show seemed more focused on the narrative rather than the acts. And it actually didn't feel like there were as many acts as I was used to in a Cirque show. In part, I think this was because I interpreted some of what the company might have identified as "acts" as "narrative". Remember, I like acrobatics and spectacle, so the acts that I didn't feel delivered, I probably just saw them as transitional. Yet, there were moments of the show where I was open-mouthed and/or beaming with excitement so I really can't complain too much.

Vegas has enough to entertain. It's a place (for me) to go just for 3 days. Walk around, get a couple shows in, marvel at it all...but then you're done. There's only so much, that I feel that you can do until you get bored of it. Unless you're there in weather where you can go to the pool (which I wasn't), love to gamble (which I don't), or take an excursion further away from the strip like the Grand Canyon.

There was one day that I did go off the strip. And kind of sussing out where I was going, it wasn't too far away, so I decided to walk there. So that's the crazy thing, the strip is a weird bubble. It's like thing that had clear boundaries. Not really in a physical sense with a fence or something like that, but this sense of, on one side of the street are LIGHTS! HOTELS! SPECTACLE! FLASH! SHINY! NEW!, and then the other side of the street are strip malls, poverty...reality. And no pedestrians. There are pedestrians everywhere on the strip. Yet, you walk the same distance (or literally even just one block) in the opposite direction and all of a sudden you're the only one on the sidewalk. In one instance, I was waiting for the streetlight to cross the street and a gentleman who was panhandling in the middle of the intersection came over and asking if I was lost and needed directions. I got confirmation of where I was heading to and felt (imagined, or real, it's unclear) eyes staring at me from the inside of cars driving by. I have a colleague from the US who jokes about Americans and on many occasions, he has spoken about how "everyone in the US drives". When I was walking off the strip, it was this interesting experience and, not really "realization", but I guess some sort of internalization of sorts. About a lot of things (not just about driving vs. being a pedestrian). Interesting emotions and thoughts. So I appreciated having that moment.

New York (April 12-17, 2018)

A perk of my current profession is that I can travel. In addition to having the flexibility of traveling for personal reasons, I can also travel professionally, but am not worked to the bone in these cases.
Recently, I was able to go to NYC for professional reasons. Prior to the trip, I knew that I would take some time out to indulge personally, but the ratio of personal to professional ended up being more skewed than I wanted - end of the semester burnout is real, friends!
This conference has a reputation of being so massive that it's often off-putting. But it's one of the conferences to attend, so I still wanted to go. The fact that it was in NYC this year made it extra enticing. But, I'm in the camp that typically doesn't enjoy the conference. It's just too large. It's a zoo, it's overwhelming, it just has a certain vibe that freaks me out. That being said, I did enjoy the (limited) parts of the conference that I attended. I got some ideas for things to work on in the future and some feedback about some things I working on now, so I guess that's good. So, the conference was palatable (which isn't always the case) and I also had a chance to take some time for myself.
I didn't realize until I got to NYC that I was running on fumes. I think there was one night that I slept 14 hours - and it was pretty great.What was also great was that for most of the trip, there was lovely spring weather (that we hadn't had north of the border - in fact, I missed a pretty nasty ice storm while in NYC). I took advantage of the great weather by walking. Walking a lot. I try to get to The High Line every visit I can. It's such a lovely space. But it had been a long time since I walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. I'm not sure why I'd forgotten about it. It's a lovely stroll and gives great views of the skyline. I get impressed at the cyclists. To zoom across the bridge when the pedestrian traffic is intense. And most of those pedestrians are folks who aren't staying out of the cyclist lane and/or randomly stop to take pictures without first looking behind them to see who/what they will be blocking. Anyway, I'll have to make sure that I take that stroll more often.
I had looked into different museums and the exhibitions that were on display while I would be in town. Nothing really stuck out to me, so that gave me more time to do other things. Yet, I felt like I visited my own museum exhibit of sorts. Bergdorf Goodman was displaying their new collections for evening gowns. If they are not works of art, I don't know what is. In addition to appreciating the craftsmanship of the pieces, I can appreciate them for the stereotypical girly-girl factor. Dreaming of an opportunity to wear such a gown, which gown would I wear...that's pretty fun too. But really, going into Bergdorf's, Barneys and other boutiques is inspirational. How things are displayed, the combinations of pieces, the pieces themselves, it's incredible. Even just walking around the city and people watching is great. There's a different sensibility and aesthetic there.
I also decided to get one of those ridiculous instagramable treats, because, why not? I ended up going to Taiyaki NYC to get one of ice cream in a fish pastry things. I got black sesame ice cream, in a red bean filled fish, with condensed milk drizzle, and mochi and wafer topping. It was ridiculous and yummy, but ultimately not worth the hype. Ha.

And then of course, I saw shows. A bunch of shows.
The last time I was in NYC, I missed out on seeing Bette Midler (and David Hyde Pierce) in Hello, Dolly! Now, Bernadette Peters was in the starring role (with Victor Garber), and I was happy to be able to get a ticket. I enjoyed the show, but didn't love it. The singing was great, the acting was also great, but the show itself left me wanting more. I felt the plotline of the show was weak. There was just too big of a jump to the final scenes. It seemed like a show whose whole purpose was to showcase the leading performer and the story was just shoved in to try to tie things together. So, I don't know if there was anything that could have been done about it. I mean, it's not like this is a new show or anything. That being said, it was neat to have seen a legend perform. And I'd never seen that who before, so now I know.

The next show that I watched was The Band's Visit. I'm not SO into the Broadway scene that I know what the hot shows are. I typically either see shows that I know have done well in the past when they first came out so I feel that I should seen them, or check the recent Tony Award nominees and make my picks based on their lists. In this case, I was itching to see a show, and just on someone recommendation decided to give it a got. Literally, it was 5 minutes before showtime and I wanted to see a show and someone said, go to this one. And this someone wasn't even anyone that I knew. Now really a typical move that I'd make, but I'm trying to push outside of my comfort zone a bit. Apparently, this show is based off of an 2007 Israeli film by the same name (or, Bikur Ha-Tizmoret). The show was...I'm not even sure how to describe it.
The plotline is simple. An Egyptian band takes the wrong bus enroute to an Israeli town where they have been invited to play and end up in the smallest Israeli town where they have to spend the night. What happens that evening is the bulk of the show. Members of the band get split up to stay in local homes, and the stories of the locals play out and intertwine. The band members do contribute to the story, but moreso to the score. Songs start, and rather than an ensemble show band accompanying the singers, it's those band members who are onstage and those staying in other dwellings that are somehow effortlessly interwoven into the scene that join the singers. It's absolutely incredible. So, most of the band members play the role of musicians in the show, with only a couple as actors/singers.
I'm so glad that I took that leap of faith an watched the show. It was great. And, I enjoyed reading the bios of the cast. Lots of thanks of accolades, but many comments about being proud of their roots, and being part of this unique show.
I just went on the Tony Awards website and it's been nominated for 11 awards including Best Musical. Although I haven't seen the other nominees, I think this show is deserving of such accolades.

The third and final show that I saw was Hamilton. After many failed attempts to get a ticket, I somehow lucked out this time around. For the most part, still sold out, this show has been getting rave reviews since it started Off-Broadway. For all of the hype and media, I didn't know very much about the show going into it. I knew that there would be PoC and rapping. I have very little knowledge of American history. So, I learned a lot, and finally understood why it was a groundbreaking show. It was exciting, funny, tragic, impressive, thoughtful, creative, clever...I'm so glad I saw it.
While it would have been cool to see Lin-Manuel Miranda performing, the current cast was fantastic. The performance I attended had Alexander Hamilton played by an understudy and it didn't really bother me. I 'kind of' didn't like that some of the lead performers had two roles, but I guess given the scope of the show it would have required additional cast members and each only having half the stage time. I though Euan Morton, who played King George, was a highlight.

So, another successful trip to NYC. A well-timed trip to the end of the semester, allowing me to change my pace and recuperate from the year. It wasn't enough of a break though. Soon after, I totally shut down for a couple days and really vegged. I'm only starting to get back into the swing of things and am thinking about what kind of routine I want to maintain.
I've already thought about only working 4 days a week (yes, I know that I'm privileged to even entertain that idea), but I do want to be quite productive. The next year and a half will be important.

Learning more about my neighbourhood

I live in a neighbourhood with a large Hasidic Jewish population. Prior to moving here, I was pretty much unfamiliar with this community. Little by little, I am learning more about Hasidism. I'm not always sure if what I'm learning about is accurate, but there are certain things that I have learned that I know to be true. And it's fascinating. Learning about different cultures, beliefs, traditions...I think it imperative to learn as much as possible about others.
In my neighbourhood, there is little interaction between Hasids and non-Hasids. At least on my part. While sometimes a hello or nod when passing by a non-Hasid on the sidewalk, I haven't had that interaction with a Hasid. But, I am curious and try to keep an open body language.
In addition to learning through observation, I have been told about some components of their culture, and more broadly, Orthodox Judaism (and even Judaism, in general). I have learned of the wigs that married women wear, men's payot. I occasionally snack on bubkas. I noticed mezuzah's in doorways. I look fondly at the beautiful skirts and dresses worn by many women. How siblings seem to take such good care of one another.
Each year, I've noticed a temporary structure erected around the doorway to a synagogue like, for construction purposes. And around the same time, something like parts of Christmas wreathes being thrown in the garbage. So different pieces of a puzzle that that I cannot decipher. But I recently learned of Sukkot and the sukkah. After which, on walks in my neighbourhood, I noticed sukkah's in various forms including structures in backyards and boarded up balconies. 
I also know of Shabbat. How a perfect day for me to go to the bakery is the day that it's closed. And word that people passing by will be asked to turn on/off an oven.
And it's true. This evening, on my way home from the bus stop, a gentleman, from his doorway asked if I could help turn off a light in his house. As perhaps my reaction reflected a well-ingrained "stranger-danger" belief, he started to explain his request. I told him that I understood why he asked this favour and he said that he was surprised, that most people did not know. I follow him into his home and turned off the light. There were other lights still on in the hallways, but he said all he needed was the one in the bedroom. He was very friendly and thanked me again for my help and wished me a good night. As he was on his way out of the house and we were walking in the same direction, I wanted to take the opportunity to engage in conversation with him. Although so curious, in the moment, I wasn't sure what to say. I didn't want to be too forward. Rude. But his body language seemed relaxed and open. I ended up asking him about the sukkah (as we were nearing the synagogue) and then about his hat. He told me about his shtreimel and I learned that only married men wore them, and on Shabbat. Hope he didn't find it silly or insulting that I asked if it was heavy. He responded that it depended on the brand/make. At this point, we reached the synagogue which was where he was heading to. I wished him a good evening and continued on my way. 
At a time when decisions (read: laws) are made because...well, for whatever reason they're made...I was happy to connect with a neighbour. A stranger. I learned about him and his culture. I value, appreciate, and accept him. Who knows if our paths will cross again. Previous to this evening I don't think our lives directly intersected. Other than some increased knowledge, a darkened bedroom, some positive emotions (hopefully, mutual), I don't think there have been any (negative) consequences.

Sporting events in Montreal

Montrealers really gets invested in their sports teams and/or come out in droves to attend sporting events. I realized that as soon as I moved here. Here's my rundown of the "scene" (at least the bits that are on my radar):

Canadiens (NHL):
Last year, I had the opportunity to attend a Canadiens game. I knew that this was the sports team that Montrealers really get fanatical about (especially when they're doing well - I mean, what city doesn't like to jump on a bandwagon - cough, T.O.). I don't know anything about the rules of hockey except that teams are supposed to get that puck into the opposing team's goal. That's it. So, I was clearly there to enjoy the atmosphere and cheer when other people cheered.
I didn't even really know anything about the players. I'd heard of P.K. Subban (who was injured at the time so wasn't playing), and people told me that some of the other key players were also injured (I think one of them was the goalie?). And, our seats were high enough up that I just had to sit back and take a global view of the game rather than watching facial expressions and feel (and smell?!?) the emotion of the players.
Anyway, it was a fun time. For what was (apparently) not a top game (Montreal vs. Minnesota), the arena was pretty full. People were rowdy, cheering, chanting, yelling, and boisterous. I did what one does at a hockey game and ate arena food. Greasy, junky, and yummy. I was lucky enough to be seated in I guess what would be like a corporate section where you could just walk up to the food vendors and ask for whatever you wanted. Let's just say the lines were looooong. I'm not sure if it's a situation where people were: a) really hungry, b) wanting to get their money's worth, or c) greedy. Maybe a combination of all of the above? For me, I wanted to make the most out of the experience and try things while I had the chance. So I got all of the things that I knew that I would never get on a daily basis. It was fun.

Impact (CSL):
So attending an impact game is on my list of things to do. I never really thought that soccer was something that Canadians were really into, but I know that even the Toronto FC team was getting a decent audience at their games. I'm not entirely sure if it's the game that is drawing these spectators, or the chance to come together and be rowdy. Eitherway, I'm down and I hope to attend a game in the future and see the spectacle for myself.

Coupe Rogers (ATP and WTA):
When I was in Toronto, I had always wanted to go to the Rogers Cup and I never did. It actually usually coincided with another annual commitment that I have and so the stars just never aligned. This past summer, the starts also didn't align and I wasn't able to go to the Coupe Rogers, but I did get to go the summer prior.
So, for those who don't know, there's a Rogers Cup in Toronto and there's a Coupe Rogers in Montreal. One city hosts the women and the other the men, and they rotate every year. So, as you can see by the picture, the 2015 Coupe Rogers hosted the men.

It was a fun experience. Upon entering the premises, I realized that there were actually a TON of courts. The big stadium with the main event for the day (with the bigger names), but then another slightly smaller court and then maybe 6-12 other courts for other games and practices. So, while my ticket gained me entry to a set of matches for a certain time at the main court, I could wander around the premises and wander into other courts some of which didn't require a ticket or other ones where I could stand along the side that there were multiple games being played (sometime at the same time), from singles to doubles. 
And there were different pavilions for food and other merchandise. Fans running around hoping to snag an autograph of a selfie with a player (I caught a glimpse of Novak Djokovic leaving the premises - ooh, famous person!). It was a spectacle. And let me tell you, the people attending tennis matches are a little bit different from those attending hockey matches. I mean, it's a different time of year, but there's also a different mood to it all.
Anyway, my ticket really focused on two matches. The first with Rafael Nadal being the headliners (it's the one in blue in the picture above), and the second, was with Kei Nishikori. Although your ticket was to both games, I was a little surprised at the number of people who only stayed for the first game. You paid for two, so why not stay for both? That was a little confusing to me. But maybe that's just a normal thing in the tennis world? I mean, for me, it was my first time at a game, and it was a lot of fun to watch, so by gosh, I was going to stay for the entire thing!

Alouettes (CFL):
I haven't had the chance to go to an Alouettes game yet, but I am impressed at a couple things that I've noticed on game days:
1. STM buses update their signage in support of their team
2. The STM set up shuttle buses to the stadium (I'm not sure where they're coming from because I tend to only pass by the stadium) and as a result some streets lanes are closed or diverted (which probably annoys the heck out people other than me - I find it impressive). Additionally, the SPVM are out and about directing traffic and pedestrians.
3. Neighbouring parks at the base of Mont Royal get transformed into an area of tailgating and other game-day events (games, entertaining, food and drink).
4. All-season/weather prepareness. On the coldest and snowiest of days, I have seen spectators bring seat cushions and blankets. They are wearing so many layers (and seemingly all Alouettes-branded) with the warmest hats, boats, snowpants, and boots.
I walk by the stadium where they play pretty much every day and have been on the field a couple times myself. It's pretty fun to run around the field and look up to the bleachers imagining what it would be like on game day. Pretty cool.

Theatre of Life

It's been awhile since I've seen a film. Too bad. I need to build these outings back into my life.
I went to see the documentary, Theater of Life. It chronicles the Refettorio Ambrosiano, an initiative spearheaded by chef Massimo Bottura (Osteria Francescana) taking place during Milan's Expo 2015. The initiative brought top chefs from around the world to Milan and challenged them to turn excess food from the Expo into delicious meals. The meals were communally enjoyed by local residents typically residing in shelters, train stations, and the streets.
In the film, we learn about the initiative and marvel the dishes created by top chefs including: Ferran Adria (el Bulli foundation), Mario Batali, Alain Ducasse, Daniel Humm (Noma), and Rene Redzepi (Eleven Madison Park). We learn about some of the diners and their lives. We consider issues of food waste, social justice, and the human spirit.
I found the ending a little abrupt but perhaps it was meant to finish on a contemplative stance. As with many initiatives (including ones in my own life - personal and profession), I wonder how far reaching and continued its impact.

Picture courtesy of www.theateroflifemovie.com

New York (Dec 11-15, 2016)

Leave it to a trip back to one of the cities that gives me life to bring this blog back to life. After a moment this summer where I was feeling particularly burnt out and feeling the benefits of "getting away", I vowed that I would take breaks more often for my mental and physical health. So, in typical form, went through the semester not really taking many breaks (although maintaining a lower level of engagement throughout) and slowly coming to a point when I realized that all signs were pointing to "you need a get-away"!

So, I booked a trip to NYC and now that I've pulled off the get-away band-aid, I hope that it will be easier for me to plan get-aways in the future!
Just walking amongst the crowds was rejuvenating. Window shopping. Visiting landmarks. Snacking. It was all pretty great.
I like to snack my way through the city. With so much awesomeness in one place (including lots of things to do in the evening), I'm often reluctant to take a couple hours out of my evening to have a full sit-down meal. And, why not have multiple smaller meals/snacks throughout the day rather than limiting yourself to just three? So mini-meals consisting of macarons (Laduree), cupcakes (Baked by Melissa), smoothies and falafels (Taim), pizza and pasta (Eataly), burgers and frozen custards (Shake Shack), and add a random sprinkling of other snacks from food trucks and such.

There wasn't anything at Lincoln Center that caught my interest for this trip, but that didn't prevent me from going for a visit. It's neat that there's a hub for the arts. Makes a lot of sense. Place des Arts in Montreal is a similar idea and the city really put a lot of resources into developing the area. Well done, Montreal!
Back to Lincoln Center. One of the reasons I enjoy visiting the building is to marvel at the massive Chagall paintings that they have hanging in the foyer of the opera house. But on this day, they were covered up. I guess you've got to take care of a protect those works of art from their natural predators.

Recently opened in March 2016, the Oculus is a new building in the World Trade Center area attached to the PATH train station to New Jersey. It's is an incredible piece of architecture. Part of the building has lots of shops and connects to office towers, the train and subway system and such. One end where the main entrance to the PATH station looks like something out of a sci-fi movie with the light concrete and the white backbone structure looming above. Robotic masses of people beeping their way through the automated gates and descending to the underground train level. It was cool to watch the "spectacle".

Only steps away is the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. It is a moving and informative space. The memorial is particularly moving. Seeing the two spaces previously occupied by the Twin Towers has a large impact.
There are moments in history that people tend to distinctly remember where they were and what they were doing at the time. I "think" the first of such events in my lifetime was the OJ Simpson verdict. I remember being in the cafeteria of my high school seated at that circular table in the corner that was typically occupied by cohort.

For September 11th, 2001, I remember being in my bed at my hole in the wall, rented apartment in Kingston while an undergraduate student at Queen's. I was waking up to my alarm clock (the radio) and hearing reports of the events. Still groggy from sleep, I remember hearing the news but not really processing it (although, how does one process such news?). I got up and started my day and received a phone call saying that my education class was cancelled that evening. I was confused why a class would be canceled for an event in the US and especially disappointed because this was to be my first education class of my degree. I had been waiting a long time for this class. I got ready for school and walked into a deserted campus. I remember walking through the student building and seeing news being shown on the TV screens. I was pretty confused about what was going on, but, like many people ended up spending a better part of the day in front of the TV watching updates on the event.

Being so close to the holiday season, the city was well decorated and festive. The big tree in Rockerfeller Center was much more impressive than the one in Place des Arts (sigh), and just facing, Saks had a nice music and light show. Fun times.
Holiday window displays are always incredible as well. Saks had a Nutcracker theme. Bergdorf Goodman always had something decadent. Barney's was humourous this year. And Bloomingdale's and Macy's displayed typical holiday scenes.

I was interested to walk by Trump Tower. Apparently, there are news outlets on site at all times as are the NYPD and the Secret Service. I walked by twice during my visit. Once, I think he was "home", and the other, he was not. This was evidenced by the number of black cars and ambulances parked outside the side door. Both times there were people standing on the sidewalk who wanted to make their presence known. Some were selling buttons. Some wanted to chat with passerbyers to discuss various issues. Others were speaking to whomever would listen about their perspectives.
It will be interesting to see how things continue to unfold. This is another case of an event that I'm not quite sure how to process and what its impact will be on the world.

One thing that has resulted is that citizens have posted messages on the walls of the Union Square subway station.
Some speak to the election specifically. Others to the state of the world. Still others, general messages or ones of a more personal nature/agenda.
I wonder how long the initiative will last.

I always try to see a show while I am in town. I try to see shows that I haven't seen before, and the two that were on my list for this time around were Hamilton and The Color Purple. I really wanted to see Hamilton and made it my priority. But, when tickets are sold out until August 2017 and wanting to pay face value for tickets, I resorted to waiting hours in the cancellations line. While I'm not always willing to give up hours of precious NYC time in a restaurant, I am willing to do so for the prospect of show tickets. Yet, I was unsuccessful, and instead of loosing more time in the city, for my last opportunity to catch a show, I decided to watch The Color Purple and call it a day. The show was fantastic. I'll have to go back and watch the movie again at some point. Or maybe I should read the book. Cynthia Erivo was awesome, but I think the whole cast was fantastic. There were very powerful moments in the show as there were moments for whooping and hollering and smiling and laughing. I'm glad that I was able to catch it before it closes in the New Year.

So, there you have it. A great trip, as usual. I made it to a couple sample sales (including an opportunity to wear a $7000 Marchesa gown - if only I had a place to wear the beautiful frock, I may have actually bought it!) and did a lot of window shopping. There were some beautiful bags and coats, but I returned back home empty handed. Oh, well.