TICKLEBEAR's 12 of 12 (MONTREAL, CANADA) SEPTEMBER 2009

oh darn!!!

this is only my second "12 of 12",

& i'm already infringing on chad darnell's rules,

as i seem to have editing problems.

but perhaps i'll be forgiven,

as i'm talking about my hometown,

montreal,

or rather a very specific district,

old montreal,

a very small portion of the city

but one of its prized jewels.

i love montreal

for its cosmopolitan way of life,

its european charm

& modern lifestyle.

it just has a certain je-ne-sais-quoi.

oui, oui!!

entry # 1:

the jacques cartier bridge,

the vision i get every morning,

but never the same.

cityhall,

& its never ending renovations...

the park adjacent to the chateau ramezay.

a monument to jacques cartier,
with a bird standing on his head...
serves him right!!!
:D~

entry #2:
an old house on notre-dame street.
just showing you the old bones of the city.

entry #3:

the bonsecour market,

nice to see such buildings survived.

entry #4:

the marguerite bourgeois church & museum.

don't forget that montreal was first a french colony,

founded by samuel de champlain in 1605,

with the agreement of the french king & the vatican...

oy!!!

it was then known as ville-marie,

dedicated to the virgin marie.

yeah,

like the virgin needed something else bearing her name!!

:D~
we became english property in 1760...

oh well!!

we are most fortunate to be able to enjoy the riverside.

if you look to the right,

you'll see sainte-helene's island,

which once was the site for the universal exposition,

expo 67,

& still has on its grounds the amusement park la ronde,

now managed by six flags.

oh, the memories of my youth!!

yes, i was there.

yes, i'm that old!!!

shut up!!!

:D~

entry #5:

the clock tower,

a piece of heritage of our maritime tradition,

in the old port of montreal.

looking toward la cite du havre.

wasn't this a splendid day to do this 12 of 12?!?

it sure was!!

:)~

entry #6:

the bonsecour park,

where people get to enjoy many activities,

whether it'd be summer or winter,

& a few celebrations as well.

a most relaxing spot the rest of the time...

:)~

entry #7:

boats anchored at the old harbor.

i told you we have an old maritime tradition,

among others.

railroads are another tradition

as they can be seen throughout the city,

showing how much business was vital in montreal,

sitting at the crossroads between europe

& the rest of the american continent,

due to its position along the saint-lawrence river.

my grandfather worked for the canadian national,

one of the two major railroad companies we had here in canada.
i'm still nostalgic

when i hear the trains going by

& blowing their horn.

but i hate travelling in those.

the motion always makes me sick...

entry #8:

the contrast between the old & the new.

sometimes it's good,

sometimes not.

this ain't bad!!

entry #9:

the charm of the old.

entry #10:

the modernism imposing itself above the rest.

entry #11:

notre-dame basilica.

the bells were ringing when i took this picture.

i'm surprised the pic is not blurry,

given the vibration...

quite deafening,

if you ask me!!

entry #12:

just look at the craftmanship!!

to think that some people do this for a living,

i can only bow in front of their talent,

& am grateful that there are still such people

that beautify our world.

this is not just four walls & a roof,

it is a piece of art.

:)~

this one was just too cute to pass up,

as i was walking back home.

yes,

i live somewhat at proximity to all of this gorgeousness.

so this is this month's 12 of 12,

and then some...

mea culpa,

mea culpa,

mea maxima culpa!!

i don't deal with guilt trips too well...

heck!!

it's my blog,

& i was showing you only a tiny bit of my city.

this is nothing!!

there is so much more to see & do,

just in that district alone!!!
but i tried to focus on the architecture this time.

also,

i had another editing dilemma...

color or black & white shots?!?

you've seen the colored version;

below,

you'll find the black & white slideshow if that's more to your liking.

i felt that while some pics looked better in their original version,

some just looked better in black & white,

a more classical approach

to enhance details

rather than be distracted by the color aspect.

i'll try to behave next month.

already have an idea

as to what it might pertained to.

it has to do with montreal,

obviously,

but in a certain setting.

see you all then!!

i'll make you fall in love with montreal,

if i can!!!

:)~

HUGZ