Sally Lightfoot Crab: Galapagos

Sally Lightfoot Crab, originally uploaded by abaesel.

I always want to call these little jewels of the Galapagos shore "Holly Go Lightly". Probably Audrey Hepburn wouldn't have thought much of being referred to as a pretty little crab...then again....

The Falmouth Frog

Cape Cod Frog (Falmouth), originally uploaded by abaesel.

We are missing Cape Cod this summer. Enjoyed a summer visit several years in a row to stay with friends in a lovely blue clapboard house on Elm in Falmouth. There was a big shady pond in the backyard filled with these fat little guys (on and off the lily pads). At night they created a symphony of ribbetts that sounded like slack stringed banjos.

Silly Seabird Saturday

Blue-Footed Boobies, N. Seymour, Galapagos, originally uploaded by abaesel.

These two were doing a little "dating" on Seymour Island in the Galapagos late one afternoon. We all thought they looked like Laurel and Hardy with their funny "duck" walk.

Friday Favorite

Mom and Sea Lion Pup, originally uploaded by abaesel.

Galapagos: Mom and Sea Lion Pup on the beach- contemplating a swim? Actually I think Mom was planning her fishing foray and junior just wanted her to stay "home". He was quite an inquisitive little guy. while mom was fishing, he thought any amply endowed middle aged woman in a black one piece bathing suit MUST be his mother. Yes, that's right, I had on a black one piece bathing suit!.

Montreal Mardi Gras Parade

Montreal Mardi Gras Parade, originally uploaded by abaesel.

Scene from tonight's closing parade of the Montreal Jazz Festival celebrating the music of Louisiana and Mardi Gras! Floats were brought up from New Orleans especially for tonight. Fun! Music! and lots of Beads!

Gelati in Old Montreal

Les Delices de l'Erable at 84 Rue St Paul west in Old Montreal is as its name implies a retailer of all things maple. But what we love about the place is it gelati counter. They of course always have a few that contain maple syrup (or maple chunks...one of my favorites) but they have a wide assortment of fabulous fruit gelatis (today's strawberry was incredible and jerry always loves the 2 scoops for price of 1 coconut gelati). We've been going there for years and have noticed that they have a reduced assortment these days (we really miss the meringue ice cream they used to sell in the summer) and they sometimes run out before they close in the evening. Hope this is just a temporary glitch and not a sign of financial issues, because their closing would be a true loss to the neighborhood.

So if you are out and about in Old Montreal, do me a favor. Get yourself to Les Delices de L'Erable and have yourself a couple 0f scoops...you'll thank me for it!

Remember This Little Guy?

Its my little pal from Italy: Topo Gigio. When I was growing up, he was one of my favorite acts from the old Ed Sullivan show. Always so sweet and endearing. Gooooood Night, EDdeeeee!

I saw Topo in a shop window in Old Montreal. When I inquired, they said they had two "models". One soft cuddly Topo who chatters in Italian when you press his hand (On the Ed Sullivan show, Topo, of course, spoke heavily accented English). The smaller model was a "standing" Topo who dances and sings. Sounds cute, except that he sings (in Italian) Billy Ray Cyrus' Achy Breaky Heart. I'm mean REALLY...that is just wrong on many levels. So I brought home the cuddly and chatty little Topo. I wonder what he is saying?????

Monday Memory: Dingle, Ireland 2005

Dingle, Ireland, originally uploaded by abaesel.

My son Jason and I spent 2 weeks driving around Ireland in the Summer of 2005. Here he is outside a music store in Dingle where we had just bought our first James Blunt CD (before he hit it big in the US) after hearing him almost non-stop on Irish Public Radio for the previous 10 days. Great town Dingle: pubs, music, people, and great sunsets.

Fireworks over Alexander Bay, NY

Fireworks over Alexander Bay, NY, originally uploaded by abaesel.

This year we are in Canada on the 4th of July, so will miss out on Independence Day fireworks. But we have great memories of years past. This photo was taken in Alexander Bay (1000 Islands area) in New York in 2005. Wonderful fireworks over the St. Lawrence River.

Saturday Out & About In Montreal

Slept in then lounged around watching the Germany vs Argentina quarter final game. Finally the lovely sun streaming in the window (and our growling stomachs) got us up and out of the apartment. Drove up to Jean Talon for early lunch at Bombay Masala. As always, fabulous chicken korma, lamb biryani, and naan for a very reasonable price. Now fortified for an explore we headed off to the Jean Talon Market for avocados and tomatoes.

oh, and a mango gelato

and berries

With our larder stocked up (also bought some spices and balsami creme/glaze), we drove down to St Catherine near The Village...where the street is closed off to cars and restaurants have built outdoor terrasses for the summer and artist set up their wares in white tents. It was a popular spot today.

After an hours walk, we decided to go back home for a nap and the end of the Spain/Paraguay quarter final. Good idea, except Rue de la Commune our route home was jammed with holiday goer traffic. Just jammed. So what to do? Take pics out the window of the car. And wish I had remembered a bottle of water.

Cirque du Soleil's Totem

(images from the cirque du soleil official site for TOTEM)

Jerry and I saw the new creation of Cirque du Soleil: Totem. The Giant Blue and Yellow swirled-striped tents sit on a quay in the Old Port of Montreal. As the Cirque is based in Montrael, traditionally the newest creation is debuted on the Montreal quay. Always very exciting to see a new Cirque du Soleil performance, its always special to us to walk through Old Montreal to the big tent and to see it here.

In the words of the Cirque: TOTEM traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. The characters evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations.

As always the performance intertwines the humorous with the profound, the quirky with languid beauty, "small" subtle feats of concentration with "big" eye popping feats of strength. Costumes and music were magical.

We especially loved the opening act of the 2nd act where a couple flirt and fight and ultimately intertwine suspended above the floor on a Fixed Trapeze. The amerindian Hoop Dancer was a portrait in grace, coordination, and tradition. The Devil Sticks act was a "smaller act" but no less mesmerizing. I could go on and on and ultimately end up describing the entire show including the amusing "Italian Tourist Clown" (call me, okay???)

Totem opens in Quebec City on July 22nd and Amsterdam in October. With more cities to follow.

Glimpses of Canada Day in Old Montreal

A Quiet Summer Evening in the Old Port of Montreall

Today is Canada Day and the Old Port of Montreal is anything but quiet. There are bands, a kids zipline, demonstration ski jumping (without the snow), and thousands of happy people. I'll post pics of all that later. But first, the Old Port a week ago: on a quiet summer evening. People were strolling, roller blading, laying in the grass, sitting on park benches, laughing, eating, and just enjoying a mild summer evening (absent humidity, biting insects, and heat...one of the many reasons we love summer in Montreal).

Montreal's La Fete Nationale Parade (Sainte Jean Baptiste Day) June 24th

Sainte Jean Baptiste Day (June 24^th) is celebrated throughout Quebec. Since 1977 it has been celebrated officially as the national holiday (La Fete Nationale) of Quebec. This year we attended the La Fete Nationale Parade which was a wonderful surprise. Not the typical parade of bands and floasts with little cohesiveness of message. The Parade was a celebration of the important events, ideas, and people who have been influential throughout history of Quebec. It was a riot of color and sound; a sea of blue and white. There were ginormous, magnificent “giants” carved from wood and decorated in fabric which depicted the famous and influential Quebeckers from founding to modern day. Although all in French (and we speak little French) the message and importance of these events, ideas, and people were not lost on us. The parade was a riotous celebration of Quebec and its language, French. But this was no “white man, euro-centric” French (which I’m afraid many of us outside of Quebec think). In looking at the faces IN the parade and all the faces lining the parade, we were struck by the inclusiveness of Quebec. A rainbow of ethnicity lined the street. What binds them together? Their shared experiences of culture and history in Quebec and yes, their language, French.

more photos of the parade please check out:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/abaesel/sets/72157624226671591/

Nashville: CMA Music Fest 2010

June, 2010 (posted belatedly)

Well, here we are again. Our 4th year of making the trek to Nashville for 4 days of country music fun, good food, and great friends. For the past 4 years we've driven to Nashville to meet our friends Peg and Jeff (from mason, ohio), colleen (from New Hampshire) and Moe (from Boston). We've stayed the last 3 years in luxury and wonderfully, reliable air conditioning at the Hermitage Hotel (6th and Union). On a day like today when its 94 degrees and a heat index probably over 100, the hotel is a welcome oasis to rest and recharge before heading back out to have fun in downtown Nashville.

This past May, Nashville (and much of Middle Tennessee) was hit with historic flooding that impacted a considerable number of businesses and venues in the downtown. What is truly amazing is that you can hardly tell. The effort, which MUST have been 24/7, to clean up and get businesses reopened is astonishing. There are a few places that smell a little musty and whose floor boards are worse for wear and I'm sure they've got more work to do after the Festival is over. But restaurants are open, western wear and honky tonks are alive and kicking, and the spirit of Nashville has never been more enthusiastic. There is much work left to do in the area outside of Nashville and contributions to rebuilding organizations are greatly appreciated. This year a large portion of the CMA Music Fest proceeds is going to rebuilding.

We arrived Wednesday in Nashville. We ate dinner at Monelle's on 6th Ave North in Germantown area of Nashville. Family style dining with home cooking food. Fried Chicken, fabulous porkchops, greenbeans, corn pudding, cold slaw, broccoli salad, cucumber salad, biscuits, and peach cobbler. Sat a table w/ a family from Tennessee and Ohio. We've eaten there for breakfast before (which in some ways in even MORE food than dinner). Had a great time as always and waddled away to the Marty Stuart's Late Night Jam.

For the 9th year Marty Stuart has held his "Late Night Jam" celebrating traditional country music and raising funds for Nashville's Music Cares program. Its held in the old Ryman Auditorium and is always a treat for seeing country through Marty Stuart's experiences and eyes. This year we were also treated to acoustic performances by Keith Urban!!! and surprise guest Vince Gill. The concert starts at 10pm. We left at 1:30 (and it was still going strong).

Fontanel. Yesterday we went to the newly opened Fontanel Mansion. Formerly the home of Barbara Mandrell and her family, it is the largest log home in the world and is now owned by a music producing duo. The mansion is open for tours. Grounds are open for hiking and horsebackriding. A great restaurant (operated by the Loveless Cafe folks) is located at the entrance to the grounds (along w/ a gift shop). The Mansion has only been open since last Monday but it is well run with a very friendly and acccomodating staff. The tour of the home is both about Barbara and her family as it is a mini tour of memorabilia of major country stars (such as Alabama, Big & Rich, Kenny Chesney, & of course the Mandrell sisters). We were invited to hold guitars of famous artists while toru guides took pictures of us with our own cameras (no price gouging for photos here). Barbara's daughter, Jamie, is director of hospitality for the Fontanel and she spoke with us for awhile with no pretense and good humor. Lunch at the cafe was excellent (wait staff was a little rusty on the menu, but heck they'd only been open for 4 days). We spotted John Rich as he walked into the gift shop for an autograph signing session. All in black and VERY fit!

That's John Rich's guitar!

Loveless Cafe. Having a hankering for fried chicken and biscuits, we drove out to Hwy 100 and the Loveless Cafe. As always, food was great. Jerry swears the biscuits are the lightest and fluffiest on the planet. (I bought a biscuit mix in the gift store, I'll see if I can replicate them).

Thai Phooket An unlikelier spot for a good Thai restaurant would be harder to find. Located in a single story, dumpy looking building with temporary signs plastered across the roof, Thai Phooket is located directly across from LP Field in the middle of a large parking lot. We had seen it when we drove into town on Wednesday. We decided to try it last night before Concert #2 at LP Field. (As the thought of another evening of LP field hamburgers and pretzels wasn't appealing. The restaurant was excellent, authentic, and very friendly. We'd go back again, concert or no concert.

Concerts. The food and Fontanel are great, but the real draw for this week (and why we come in the HEAT of June, instead of some more appealing time of year weather wise) are the concerts at LP Field. And so far, we haven't been disappointed. Our favorite performances so far? Alan Jackson who was surprisingly and charmingly chatty and nostalgic and had a much longer set than last year. Josh Turner, magnetic and energetic as always. Lady Antebellum in perfect harmony. Jason Aldean who hits the stage running and never lets up (am I the only one that thinks he reminds me a little of Elvis?). Miranda Lambert whose performance style has really matured over the past few years. She has a much more nuanced performance alternating between the hard charging rock and roll style of "loves given up on me" to the haunting "The House that built Me". Keith Urban was just electric!!! He is just the BEST. And he was joined by the gals from Little Big Town to rock "A Little Help From My Friends" in honor of all the many people who helped out (and are still helping) during the Nashville floods. Carrie Underwood gave a high energy show on Wednesday. And Reba was wonderful, although we thought her set was too short...making room for Kid Rock who we didn't stay for.

Hillsborough Area Went out this morning for late breakfast. Ate at Fido's on 21st Avenue. Great brunch and fabulous latte. A much better deal without the wait than the Pancake Pantry just down the street...i know blashphemy...but true. We walked the few short blocks in the area of stores. There are very nice boutiques, an expensive but astonishingly well stocked kitchen store, and BookMan/BookWoman bookstore (used). Jerry says that the bookstore has the widest selection of used Science Fiction he has ever seen anywhere in a used bookstore. And we've seen our share of used bookstores.

We will be back next year...already made our reservations. We're hoping its not so hot, so we can get down to the Riverfront stages for more rockin' music!

For more photos of Nashville CMA Fest 2010, check out my Flickr set at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/abaesel/sets/72157624219816009/

Sanur Beach, Bali Indonesia.

Only in the Great White North

Jerry and I went to the annual Camping, Fishing and Hunting expo at Place Bonaventure in Montreal today. A huge meeting of camoflage, guns, fishing rods, fishing lodge owners, kayaks fittedfor fishing, boats, sno cats, trailers, and more. Including something we've never seen before (although our great friends to the north who love ice fishing have probably dreamt of one of these). A ice house trailer for pulling out on the frozen lake. It can be cranked down to sit on top of the ice. It comes with toilet, bunks, stove and MOST importantly predrilled holes in the floor with manhole like covers. the one we looked at had 7! As jerry said, the beer you can just put outside the door!

Chocolate in Montreal

One of my favorite guilty pleasures in Montreal is hot chocolate and brownie at Juliette et Chocolate. We have traditionally gone to the one on Laurier but just noticed that one had opened on the corner of St Laurent and Prince Arthur. So today, after a couple of hours wandering around the Hunting, Fishing and Camping Show at Place Bonaventure, we drove up for a treat.

Juliette et Chocolate has a wonderfully large, high ceilinged corner space with tall windows looking out on to the street scene. They have a extensive menu of all sorts of hot chocolate prepared in a variety of ways. Today i had the milk jivara (a milk chocolate made of criollo and trinatario criollo beans from Ecuador made with brown sugar and a touch of malt). As always i indulged in the raspberry chocolate brownie w/ a balsamico "sauce". It was heaven!