Back to Chez Leveque: June 6, 2014

Papa Tom steps into Chez Leveque.  We ate there our first and last nights in Montreal.  Escargot was so delicious we had to go back for a second time.

Sunshine at our table

Escargot and mushrooms in a flakey pastry.

Mussels in coconut sauce.  Yum!

Biosphere: June 6, 2014

Outside Buckminster Fuller's geodesic dome built for the 1967 World Expo

The Biosphere is now home to numerous displays about reducing, recycling, and reusing. 

We attended a lecture about severe weather.  Because of global warming, the sun evaporates more water from the oceans, which causes more rainfall and . . . hmm, now I can't remember what else.   But according to the lecturer, 99% of scientists agree that the earth is growing warmer which could lead to catastrophic rises in sea level. 

The contrast of being inside the Biosphere while catching glimpses of Ferrari trials was not lost on us.  One of the lecturers told us that typically four types of lichen grow in the park.  But after Grand Prix weekend, which occurs every year, only one type of lichen survives the exhaust fumes.

Display dedicated to advances in clean car technology.  Apparently a car manufactured in 1995 pollutes as much as 19 cars built in 2004. 

When Papa Tom ran on the wheel, he generated enough electricity to light a bulb and turn on a fan.

Clothing from recycled objects:  in this case, shotgun shells.

Outfit from recycled human hair swept up off a salon floor.  Itchy!

Dress made from recycled tea cans.  Can't imagine it would be comfortable.

Display related to Papa Tom's arch-nemesis

On our way back across the river

Grand Prix: June 6, 2014

Blues club on our way to the metro to go to Parc Jean-Drapeau, two islands in the St. Lawrence River.  We were going to see the Biodome and didn't know it was also Formula 1 weekend.  Besides Austin, Montreal is the only city in North America to host Formula 1 events.

So grateful for arrows pointing us to the right metro line.  The yellow line!

Red Bull's three-wheeler at Parc Jean-Drapeau

They were surprised to find out that there'll be a Grand Prix in Austin in November.

Montreal's Latin Quarter: June 5, 2014

Mural on outside of a brick building

Slushy?

Dinner at 1,000 Grammes (that's Mille Grammes).  Notice that the inside is open to the outside.  Montrealers seemed to be enjoying the late spring weather after six months of winter. 

Plastic palm tree (well, they'd never survive six months of winter!) against the ever-present steeple of a church.

Awaiting dinner at Mille Grammes

Rue St.-Catherine, in the Quartier Latin and Village sections of Montreal, is closed to vehicular traffic all summer.

Installation art:  looked like a series of hedges with holes in the middle for looking through.  These two guys were a couple of hedges over from us.

 

Frelighsburg, just a few miles from Vermont: June 5, 2014

We left our passports at the hotel in Montreal or might have buzzed over to Vermont for the fun of it; neither of us has ever been there.

You can't visit Canada, with its maple leaf flag, and not try maple ice cream.  Mmmmaple!

So is 10% milk the same as half-n-half?

Tree hugging in Frelighsburg

Old grammar school in Frelighsburg

On the road to Frelighsburg: June 5, 2014

A four-way stop sign

We stopped at Vignoble l'Orpailleur, a vineyard that specializes in ice wine, made by pressing grapes after they've frozen on the vine.  Very sweet, concentrated juice.

Beautiful afternoon to sit outside at Vignoble l'Oppailleur

Sister city?

We drove through Austin on our way back to Montreal from the monastery.

Beautiful church in Austin, still in use.

Bicycle parking at the church

Front door to the church

Abbaye St.-Benoit-du-Lac: June 5, 2014

`We arrived just in time for the 11 a.m. Mass, a service of Gregorian chanting.

The century-old monastery sits on the shores of lac Memphremagog, the largest lake in the Eastern townships.

Inside the monastery, on the way to the chapel

We brought apples and pears with us, and bought cheddar cheese and goat cheese, made by the monks, in the boutique on the grounds, for a picnic.

Mmm!  Goat cheese!  In the background is the guest quarters for men.  A separate building is available for women guests.

One of the monks guides school children who were touring the monastery

Beautiful building,  beautiful setting

Portuguese food for dinner: June 4, 2014

Oh my!  The bread and olives at Chez Doval were wonderful!  The restaurant was tiny and crowded, all the better to hear the guitarist who walked around and serenaded us.

Lilacs were in bloom everywhere, and oh so fragrant!

We saw so many people who looked stereotypically French, not surprisingly.  We thought this white-haired guy at the end of the bar at Dieu du Ciel could have been one of the Three Musketeers!