how can they stand it?!
thank goodness for small mercies - like the 'hot' sand
<
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
a cold day at the beach
where did the summer go? we've never had such a rotten season as this -
how can they stand it?!
thank goodness for small mercies - like the 'hot' sand
<
how can they stand it?!
thank goodness for small mercies - like the 'hot' sand
<
Sunday, August 23, 2009
future filmmaker
inspired by Son of Ranbow, Pepper & Fierce embark on their own directorial adventure
pepper plays a boy for some reason
and of course no film is complete without a gun...
and i'm guessing this is a scream - these were the only stills of the footage. i'll try to load the final cut in another post.
pepper plays a boy for some reason
and of course no film is complete without a gun...
and i'm guessing this is a scream - these were the only stills of the footage. i'll try to load the final cut in another post.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
my first home and garden shot
home from our holidays, i immediately reorganize the playroom. it even looks presentable now!
Monday, August 10, 2009
rue des Remparts
the view outside our door
cannons to play with at any time of day
a few decades back, these walls were some 5 feet taller; now they've got a harbour view
cannons to play with at any time of day
a few decades back, these walls were some 5 feet taller; now they've got a harbour view
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Travel Diary: Part 2
Tuesday
One last morning in Montreal. We visit the Chateau Ramazey where we see, in real life, the dog powered roast-spinner we've read about.
Then one more stroll through Vieux Montréal where we indulge the children's wish to ride a quadracycle.
Onwards and Upwards (the St Lawrence, that is) - it's on to Quebec City
where we find our little hobbit hole, troll house, Tardis, whatever name you want to give it - it sure gave pause to the tourists who watched in amazement as the 5 of us emerged from it!
we walk around our new digs, have a look-see at the vieux port and it's plein d'art show, then come home to a stove (yeah!) and a candle-lit spaghetti supper - all of us sitting around our cosy table, happy to have a 'home' of sorts.
one last look at the nightlife, where we catch a street performer, then head to bed.
One last morning in Montreal. We visit the Chateau Ramazey where we see, in real life, the dog powered roast-spinner we've read about.
Then one more stroll through Vieux Montréal where we indulge the children's wish to ride a quadracycle.
Onwards and Upwards (the St Lawrence, that is) - it's on to Quebec City
where we find our little hobbit hole, troll house, Tardis, whatever name you want to give it - it sure gave pause to the tourists who watched in amazement as the 5 of us emerged from it!
we walk around our new digs, have a look-see at the vieux port and it's plein d'art show, then come home to a stove (yeah!) and a candle-lit spaghetti supper - all of us sitting around our cosy table, happy to have a 'home' of sorts.
one last look at the nightlife, where we catch a street performer, then head to bed.
The Citadel
Wednesday
Up early to get to the citadel (but not early enough to catch the changing of the guard), bump into Tim and family, see another street performer, try some traditional poutine at Chez Aston (celebrating 40 years - who knew?), and then a trip to the grocery store for supplies and chocolate mousse pie for tonight's desert.
We meet Tim and family in front of an Irish pub - yes, in front - they won't let us in even because the kitchen's too busy. So we all head to our little hobbit hole where the kids watch a VHS about joseph, the adults chat, and we all have our desert before our dinner.
Les français, les anglais, et les canadiens - History neatly divided into 3 eras with Pepper and Fierce symbolizing the last 2 eras
did we mention all the guns?
we are staying at rue des Remparts where the streets are lined with cannons. cannons - right outside our front door. the kids are in heaven.
the observatory, where they 'dropped the ball' for the ships at 1pm everyday - did you know this is there the idea for the times square new year's eve ball drop comes from?
when we finally sit down to dinner, the Nouvelle France militia men are next door and let Tim and Chris try on their uniforms.
then we get to enjoy their hearty singing of old French songs
Up early to get to the citadel (but not early enough to catch the changing of the guard), bump into Tim and family, see another street performer, try some traditional poutine at Chez Aston (celebrating 40 years - who knew?), and then a trip to the grocery store for supplies and chocolate mousse pie for tonight's desert.
We meet Tim and family in front of an Irish pub - yes, in front - they won't let us in even because the kitchen's too busy. So we all head to our little hobbit hole where the kids watch a VHS about joseph, the adults chat, and we all have our desert before our dinner.
Les français, les anglais, et les canadiens - History neatly divided into 3 eras with Pepper and Fierce symbolizing the last 2 eras
did we mention all the guns?
we are staying at rue des Remparts where the streets are lined with cannons. cannons - right outside our front door. the kids are in heaven.
the observatory, where they 'dropped the ball' for the ships at 1pm everyday - did you know this is there the idea for the times square new year's eve ball drop comes from?
when we finally sit down to dinner, the Nouvelle France militia men are next door and let Tim and Chris try on their uniforms.
then we get to enjoy their hearty singing of old French songs
only in Quebec City...
...would you find incredible, beautiful, detailed art covering the highway underpasses!
and they hold a free Cirque du Soleil show here 5 nights a week... we'll be back :)
and they hold a free Cirque du Soleil show here 5 nights a week... we'll be back :)
La Fête
Thursday:
C'est La Fête de la Nouvelle France!
What's this? We haven't even seen lower town yet?
We head down the casse-cou stairs, meander through the Quartier Petit Champlain and the kids watch lace being made, dig up some artifacts, and play on a ship's mast. We catch a great drumming group, KUMpang, a concours de costumes contest (the coureur de bois won), another spectacle and then home for supper. We meet up with Tim and family to catch Robert LePage's Moulin à Images set on the vieux port's grain silos
me and Champlain hang out with the crowds
even the archeology helpers are in period costume
C'est La Fête de la Nouvelle France!
What's this? We haven't even seen lower town yet?
We head down the casse-cou stairs, meander through the Quartier Petit Champlain and the kids watch lace being made, dig up some artifacts, and play on a ship's mast. We catch a great drumming group, KUMpang, a concours de costumes contest (the coureur de bois won), another spectacle and then home for supper. We meet up with Tim and family to catch Robert LePage's Moulin à Images set on the vieux port's grain silos
me and Champlain hang out with the crowds
even the archeology helpers are in period costume
Plains of Abraham
Friday
We sleep in late and head to the Plains of Abraham with Tim and family, just in time to fill the last scheduled 'bus' tour of the day (popular tour!)
Two costumed interpreters, one British, one French, wonderfully recreate the battle stategies of Wolfe and Montcalm, then we see an amazing audio-visual presentation that brings Canadian history to life. Finally we board the bus, and Abraham Martin's wife (he has the day off) gives us an entertaining tour of what is now called Battlefield Park. She's the highlight of the day as we learn, and laugh! But that's not all - we quickly run off to Martello Tower 2 before the site closes for the day.
Here are the ever-so-specialized tools that were used on the men wounded in battle - Pepper was the soldier, in body, while Fierce supplied the sound effects when Pepper had her leg amputated. For some reason, Pepper suddenly got stage fright.
Preparing gun shot in one of the Martello Towers. Don't forget to ram-rod with 2 light fingers - the less to (accidently) blow off!
And Rob, with your left handed handicap, you'll be losing 1/2 your face next.
these towers were constructed brilliantly: thick and resilient facing the enemy, but the walls facing the city were much thinner. in case the enemy ever got hold of one, they would be quickly neutralized.
We sleep in late and head to the Plains of Abraham with Tim and family, just in time to fill the last scheduled 'bus' tour of the day (popular tour!)
Two costumed interpreters, one British, one French, wonderfully recreate the battle stategies of Wolfe and Montcalm, then we see an amazing audio-visual presentation that brings Canadian history to life. Finally we board the bus, and Abraham Martin's wife (he has the day off) gives us an entertaining tour of what is now called Battlefield Park. She's the highlight of the day as we learn, and laugh! But that's not all - we quickly run off to Martello Tower 2 before the site closes for the day.
Here are the ever-so-specialized tools that were used on the men wounded in battle - Pepper was the soldier, in body, while Fierce supplied the sound effects when Pepper had her leg amputated. For some reason, Pepper suddenly got stage fright.
Preparing gun shot in one of the Martello Towers. Don't forget to ram-rod with 2 light fingers - the less to (accidently) blow off!
And Rob, with your left handed handicap, you'll be losing 1/2 your face next.
these towers were constructed brilliantly: thick and resilient facing the enemy, but the walls facing the city were much thinner. in case the enemy ever got hold of one, they would be quickly neutralized.
More Fête & Le Cirque
Saturday
We rise early to catch the Changing of the Guard and decide to take the Governor's Promenade which is tucked behind Chateau Frontenac. Another place we've only just discovered! How can we walk all over Quebec City and still be finding new spots?! Many, many stairs later - we emerge at the Governor's Kiosk (what a view!) beside the Citadel.
Afterwards, we walk along the old fortifications to the park we only noticed yesterday (!) It's a steep hill, and Rob and I practically fall down - at the very least, I slide down a good chunk of it, on my behind! We all think this is hillarious.
We wander thru La Fête. We are mobbed with festival goers and we miss having 'our' streets to ourselves. There are traditional games, and locals who are more than willing to show us how to play.
and here's my souvenir from sliding down the hill with Rob
While it's still light, we head out for better spots at the Cirque du Soleil show. The crowds are huge - so we aren't able to get a spot near the dome stage (that half sphere thing in the underpass art picture) so we settle for the main entrance circle.
Then we wait until it's dark...
The show has 4 sections / 4 parts, and we're directly in front the first part where they all slow-mo walk around and put on their masks, pass around the props, and do that fruity 'cirque' thing they do so well:)
The 2nd section is a bare-chested, pony-tailed guy spinning a massive metallic cube (really cool in the flickering lights) and we saw that section up close the night before. The 3rd section is a bit further from us, but we can still see it well enough: it's a woman spinning around a pole, supported only by her hands and thighs.
And then the show moves to the domed stage for the finale, which is quite far from us, and the kids can't see. Fierce is bored and asks for his DS. And that DS has a bright screen, and he gets noticed -
- by silver man here.
And he takes the children's hands, and gently - with beckoning slow-motion waves, and backward glances - pulls us through the teeming crowds and drops us dead-center in front of section number 4! The finale. The spot we couldn't even get close to when we first entered the underpass.
We rise early to catch the Changing of the Guard and decide to take the Governor's Promenade which is tucked behind Chateau Frontenac. Another place we've only just discovered! How can we walk all over Quebec City and still be finding new spots?! Many, many stairs later - we emerge at the Governor's Kiosk (what a view!) beside the Citadel.
Afterwards, we walk along the old fortifications to the park we only noticed yesterday (!) It's a steep hill, and Rob and I practically fall down - at the very least, I slide down a good chunk of it, on my behind! We all think this is hillarious.
We wander thru La Fête. We are mobbed with festival goers and we miss having 'our' streets to ourselves. There are traditional games, and locals who are more than willing to show us how to play.
and here's my souvenir from sliding down the hill with Rob
While it's still light, we head out for better spots at the Cirque du Soleil show. The crowds are huge - so we aren't able to get a spot near the dome stage (that half sphere thing in the underpass art picture) so we settle for the main entrance circle.
Then we wait until it's dark...
The show has 4 sections / 4 parts, and we're directly in front the first part where they all slow-mo walk around and put on their masks, pass around the props, and do that fruity 'cirque' thing they do so well:)
The 2nd section is a bare-chested, pony-tailed guy spinning a massive metallic cube (really cool in the flickering lights) and we saw that section up close the night before. The 3rd section is a bit further from us, but we can still see it well enough: it's a woman spinning around a pole, supported only by her hands and thighs.
And then the show moves to the domed stage for the finale, which is quite far from us, and the kids can't see. Fierce is bored and asks for his DS. And that DS has a bright screen, and he gets noticed -
- by silver man here.
And he takes the children's hands, and gently - with beckoning slow-motion waves, and backward glances - pulls us through the teeming crowds and drops us dead-center in front of section number 4! The finale. The spot we couldn't even get close to when we first entered the underpass.
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