Quebec: Je Me Souviens!

I was in Quebec last weekend for a cousin's wedding in the charming, "UNESCO World Heritage Site" City of Quebec, or Vieux-Quebec (Old Quebec). We drove 9 hours to get to that French-Canadian region. It's my second time to be in Quebec, but it would be my first time to actually step inside the famous Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, as seen on the right side of this postcard which I mailed to myself. The hotel was where the wedding guests had cocktails and a dinner reception after the simple ceremony at nearby Notre Dame de Quebec Basilica.

It was like stepping into the setting of an old movie. I half-expected for my surroundings to turn noir et blanc (black & white), or at least sepia.

There were hors d'ouvres served on spoons and shot glasses. Tres fancy! (Fancois?) There was live music as we enjoyed the breeze from the St. Lawrence River just beyond the Terrasse Dufferin.

The after-party drinking session with the newly-weds, however, felt like a Quebecois version of the "Jersey Shore," the way most of them got risque from being too drunk. And when they found out that we were from Jersey, they kept chanting "Fist Pump!!!"

Pardonnez-moi, but I'm not Snooki. And I hardly watch "Jersey Shore" on our Panasonic home theater system.

Oh, Canada Post!

I was in Niagara Falls last weekend for a reunion which turned out to be an inconvenient time for mailing postcards to friends because the Canadian postal workers were on strike! So I got to buy beautiful postcards of Niagara Falls, and was even able to buy postage stamps at the post office which was conveniently located inside a Shopper's Drug Mart (kinda like Canada's Walgreens, where you can buy everything from cosmetics to Kinder chocolates (!) to funny tshirts).

And then the clerk tells me I can't send any mail at that time because of the strike. She also tells me I can't drop off mail at the mailboxes because they're locked. It was preposterous, but she was telling the truth, as this photo I took of a locked mailbox in Clifton Hill would show you. Note the sign on the slot that says "Temporarily out of service." Even the one just outside the post office was locked. She suggested that I mail my postcards from the U.S. instead. But I said that won't be authentic Canadian mail anymore.

Solution: I got to write one postcard to a friend in Vienna and left it with my cousin in Toronto to be mailed when postal services go back to normal. It did go back to normal a few days ago.

Personal postal issues aside, I hope the postal workers had a good negotiation for what they were requesting. And besides, today is Canada Day!

(See my blast-from-the-past Ottawa post office blog entry here!)

 

Leave It To Beaver!

Since the Winter Olympics in Vancouver officially starts today, I'm featuring a Canadian postcard with the adorable beaver hard at work!

This largest rodent in North America is actually one of the beloved national symbols of Canada. It has appeared in Canada's very first postage stamp called the "Three Penny Beaver."

There's a popular pastry called "BeaverTails" which I discovered at Ottawa's Byward Market last June 2009. Don't worry, no beavers were killed to make this Winterlude Festival favorite! It's actually fried dough shaped like a beaver's tail and sprinkled with sugary delight. Best when eaten warm!

And here I am taking a bite out of a BeaverTail!

What best weight loss pills? Bring on the cinnamon sinfulness!

Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics Postcard

Last week, I showed you the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics postage stamp from USPS. This time, here's an official postcard I received through Postcrossing recently. It's the "west end of Vancouver along English Bay, with the snowy North Shore Mountains as a backdrop."



The official logo for this year's Winter Games in Vancouver features the "Inukshuk," which has been used by the native Inuit people in the Canadian arctic wilderness as markers made with piles of rocks shaped like a human to guide travelers. It has evolved as a symbol of friendship and hope and now an Olympic emblem.

They have the Olympic mascots on their stamps! This one has Quatchi, a hockey-loving Sasquatch--which is the hairy Canadian cousin of Big Foot. Meet the other Olympic mascots here and watch their supercute video! (Miga reminds me of that character, Qoo)

All this winter talk makes me want to bundle up some more and read up on rheumatoid arthritis information. Or maybe I should just get myself some warm tea!

When Fire Gets You Hired

Once upon a cold December morn, our local fire department had a parade which passed by our street. On their fire truck was a costumed Santa, waving at the kids who happened to lay eyes on him. I’m not a kid, but I was one of those who happened to be at our front lawn when they passed by, sirens wailing and all.

One of the firefighters, thinking I was a kid because of my short stature, went down from the truck, crossed our grassy lawn, and handed me two candy canes. At that moment, I became a kid—the schoolgirl type, with a silly schoolgirl crush on the young firefighter bearing peppermint sweets.

I’ve long admired firefighters even way before that. The tragic story of 9/11 made me regard the FDNY with solemn respect.

I was ignorant about firefighters in general until I found out that one can earn Fire Service Degrees online. Education has graduated into cyberspace that you can study in the comfort of your own home with online schools such as Lewis University Online.

I do know that firemen don't just respond to burning buildings, but other emergencies as well such as medical ones. That's why Lewis University Online's fire degree course offers subjects such as "Administration of Emergency Medical Services." And since everything we do in life has a legal aspect to it, there's also "Legal Aspects of Fire Service Management." Their online course leads to a Bachelor of Arts in Fire Service Administration which can open many doors for a fulfilling career.

Online education has many advantages for the workaholic who barely has time for his family. The computer now becomes a virtual classroom which doesn't require you to raise your hand just to go to the bathroom.

If you have a burning passion for the firefighting profession, this just may be the right direction!

Silver Indian and Two Totem Poles

Putting together some random photos from three different places. First is this shiny Indian in the middle of Times Square, photographed last August. Or is he supposed to be some Mayan or Aztec warrior? What I love about Times Square is that you never know who or what you'll see there. Someone always seems to be in some Halloween garb (or close to nothing at all) in there for no reason.

Surely, he's not there to talk about insurance quotes, is he? But then again, stranger characters have been used for insurance advertising purposes--such as a certain gecko with a British accent.

From last June was this totem pole in Ottawa's Byward Market:

Check out the tats on said totem pole! Miss Iggy posed there, too.

And on the eve of my birthday last month, my cousin and her boyfriend took me around downtown Chicago. One of the spots we stopped by at was this totem pole along Lake Shore Drive.

Cool coincidence, huh?

Litratong Pinoy# 66: Palengke (Market)

Last June, I went to Ottawa's Byward Market or Marche By (in French).

It's not just any market, it's considered a tourist attraction in this Canadian capital. Their website also reveals further:

The ByWard Market is where Ottawa was born. Established by Lt-Col. John By in 1826, the ByWard Market is one of Canada’s oldest and largest public markets. The legendary builder of the Rideau Canal; Lt-Col. By himself laid out the street plan of the Market, designating George and York Streets to be extra wide to accommodate the horse-drawn carriages that brought foodstuffs to the market every day.

There is an Irish pub in there surrounded by quaint shops and other restaurants. Street performers entertain a crowd of tourists in this area, too.

You can explore downtown Ottawa by horse-drawn carriage from here.

I had read from a travel magazine that a local pastry worth trying in Ottawa is their "Beavertails." We found it in Byward Market! It's basically fried, sugared dough that's flattened and shaped like a beaver's tail! It's yummy especially when eaten warm!

There were so many interesting items for sale at Byward Market, some sold flea market-style on the streets, but I was surprised to see "luchador" masks there! I didn't know Canadians were into Mexican wrestling! I suddenly remembered the comedy film "Nacho Libre."

Magandang "palengke" ang Byward sa Ottawa, pero ang hirap namang maghanap ng parking doon na may metro...kaya ang layo ng nilakad namin mula sa hotel papunta dito. Exercise talaga. Kulang pa yung "BeaverTail" na kinain namin. Binawi ko na lang sa pictures. Kaya naman gutom na gutom kami pagbalik sa hotel. Kumain tuloy ako ng falafel.

Police Car-icature

Apart from landmarks, I like to photograph police cars whenever I travel. I wonder, would it be too much if they had led taillights installed on them as well? Imagine the flurry of flashing lights when they start chasing you on the road. This first one is an Atlantic City police car parked right on the boardwalk.

This one is a Canadian police car parked inside the Parliament grounds in Ottawa, photographed last June. I like the mounted police detail on the back.

Sign-spotting, Ottawa

Seen in Ottawa's Byward Market...

Lost Marbles! That can't be pretty.

Like a Virgin. With Wings. Rocked for the very first time.

Pimp My Purple Ride

What makes a car a real head-turner? It could be a lot of things. It could be the model, the spoilers, the halo headlights, the shiny rims, or simply the bold paint color, such as this purple ride I spotted at Ottawa’s Byward Market in Canada a few weeks ago. It reminded me of eggplants and grapes. And Eng Bee Tin hopia.

By contrast, this petite smart car I saw parked beside the Notre Dame Cathedral near the National Gallery of Canada was bloody red. What it lacked in size, it made up for in its sheer scorching shade. Hey, if you owned one, you never have to worry about squeezing into any parking space!

Folie a Falafel

My very first falafel platter, an accidental dinner choice in Ottawa, Canada.

Weary from walking to Byward Market and Rideau Canal from our hotel located close to the outskirts of Ottawa, we remembered the Korean restaurant located conveniently right across our hotel and salivated at the thought of bibimbap on our way back. It was already almost 10PM as we trudged along Rideau St. We had left our car at the hotel and chose to save gas and parking fees. Our legs suffered the penalty.

Famished, we nevertheless triumphantly opened the door to the Korean restaurant--only to be greeted by an apologetic waiter who informed us that they were closing for the night. Our mouths and stomachs groaned in unison, as we searched for a plan B.

As luck would have it, there was a "Shawarma Palace" right next door--it was open until 2am! Dinner was saved! While my family ordered beef shawarma sandwiches, I wanted to try something different. My eyes drifted to the Falafel Plate. Never tried it, so I thought this was my chance. And besides, it's vegetarian, so it must be healthy!

The place was small and packed for a Saturday night. The air was thick with the smell of Middle-eastern cuisine as we queued for our order.

The guy behind me corrected my pronunciation when I ordered the falafel. "It's Fuh-LAH-fuhl." Up to that point, I thought it was "FAH-lah-fell."

My Fuh-LAH-fuhl platter was stuffed in a styrofoam container since we ordered our meals to go. Underneath that pile of veggie goodness, there's also potatoes and slices of pita bread. They added a citrus zest to my platter so the hummus seemed to kick me into extra consciousness that night. The falafel balls looked like giant sesame seed balls. Man, those falafels were filling!

Litratong Pinoy#56: Kandado (Lock)

Hilarious horse sculpture at the entrance to the Parliament building in Ottawa, Canada. Wait, it's actually a unicorn! Why is he sticking his tongue out? Probably because of the chain across his chest that's locking him to this building. He looks like he'd rather be somewhere else.

Don't you think he looks too goofy to be on a government structure?

Happy Canada Day, Canucks!



Natawa ako nang makita ko itong kakaibang rebulto ng kabayo sa harap ng Parliament sa Ottawa. Isa pala siyang unicorn! Pero bakit nakalabas ang dila niya? Baka dahil nasasakal siya sa kadenang nakakandado sa dibdib niya.

Parlez-Boy-Francais

I know that's wrong French grammar, but I wanted to point out the bilingual tour guide we had at the Lady Dive amphibian tour we rode in Ottawa, Canada.

His blonde hair was tied in a ponytail. I think his name was Daniel. He asked every passenger seated inside the bus where they were from. I was busy writing postcards to friends, so he skipped me. My family told him we're from New Jersey. Later on, he would use this info to customize his trivia speech, e.g. he would acknowledge the lone Brit in the group whenever something British would come up in his talk.

The small group in front of him, I think there was about three or four, were the only French tourists in the ride. The rest were mostly Americans. I've been on amphibian tours before, but this is the first time to be on one where the guide is bilingual--which I thought was cool. He would first speak in English, then translate it in French. Here's a snippet of him in bilingual action:

As we crossed part of the Ottawa River that belongs to Quebec territory, he announced that he has to speak exclusively in French at that point. A tourist in the back yelled in disbelief, "Are you serious?!" After a short silence, the tour guide admitted that he was only joking.

The tour was $30CAN per person, and it takes you around the landmarks around downtown Ottawa and morphs into a cruise boat on Ottawa River.

We tipped him at the end of the tour, then asked him to take our family photo by the side of the bus. It would have been a perfect photo had he not chopped the sign off the frame. It ended up reading "Les Tours Lady Di...."

Ottawa Noir (or Black Things in Ottawa)

A photographic collection of all things black seen in Ottawa.

The Black Tomato Restaurant at Byward Market. When lycopene turns to the dark side.

Itchy Bitchy Spider sculpture outside the National Gallery of Canada. It's actually called "Maman," French for mother. This is the artist's sculptural ode to her mother. Seriously. Not recommended for arachnophobes.

Groom-to-be strutting along Byward Market in a little black dress and heels. I yelled "Congrats!" at him after taking his photo. He thanked me.

Black squirrel near Rideau Canal. I didn't know black squirrels existed, having gotten used to the brown ones in our Jersey neighborhood. My sister tried to feed him a piece of carrot cake leftover, which he ate. He responds when you call him! Wags his brush-tail like a dog, too.

Black Beauty. I mean, a black horse carrying tourists.

The Lion, The Shield and The Post Office

Detail of the entrance to the Canadian Post Office in Ottawa, conveniently close to the Parliament. I was gawking at the elaborate shield held by the lion at the time. The door actually leads to Narnia. Just kidding.

Litratong Pinoy#55: Dito Lang (Only Here)

{Scroll below for English translation}*

Dito lang sa kabisera ng Canada--Ottawa--matatagpuan ang Parliament. Pansin namin ng aking kasa-kasamang manika na si Miss Igorota na medyo hawig nitong gusaling ito ang Big Ben sa London. Dito lang mapapanood ang "Changing of the Guards" o pagpapalit ng mga gwardya gaya ng ginagawa sa Buckingham Palace, pero sa Hunyo 27 pa raw ito sisimulan kung kaya't hindi namin ito napanood noong isang linggo.

Dito lang makikita sa harap ng Parliament ang nag-aapoy na fountain na tinatawag nilang "Eternal Flame." Hindi ba pamagat ng kanta 'yon? Kung mapapansin niyo rin ay maraming may bisikleta dito. Dito lang ako nakakita ng maraming nagbibisikleta sa daan pero walang bicycle lane di gaya sa Marikina City.

Dito lang ako nakakita ng higanteng gagamba na tinawag ng iskultor nito (Louise Bourgeois) na "Maman" o Ina sa wikang Pranses dahil ihinahambing daw niya ang kanyang ina sa gagamba. May mga itlog nga sa ilalim nito!

At dito lang sa Ottawa makikita ang Rideau Canal--isang UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pagsapit ng taglamig, nagiging "pinakamahabang skating rink sa buong mundo" ito!



Only here in Canada's capital, Ottawa, will you find the Parliament. Miss Igorota and I noticed the similarity between this building and the Big Ben in London. Only here will you witness the "Changing of the Guards" like they do it in Buckingham Palace, but the ceremonies don't start until June 27th, much to our dismay. Only here in front of the Parliament will you see the "Eternal Flame." Now isn't that a song title as well? Also, only here in Ottawa did I see so many cyclists, but the roads don't have a bicycle lane like they do in Marikina City, Philippines. Only here did I see a giant spider sculpture which the artist calls "Maman," French for mother, because that's what her mom reminds her of. A spider, that is. It has eggs in its sac, too! And only here will you find Rideau Canal, A UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Winter, it becomes the "longest skating rink in the world!"

*I am this week's featured blogger at Litratong Pinoy.

Waxing Coehlic

Here's a blast from my high school past. I salvaged a photocopy of one of my high school compositions for English class that I had mailed to my mother. This was from circa the 90's, in which I was trying to incorporate Comparison and Contrast styles. Notice the heavily romanticized sentences, influenced by overly romanticizing Sweet Valley High books I was reading then. I was trying to sound philosophical, too. Is there such a phrase as "waxing Coehlic?" (instead of "waxing poetic") As in Paulo Coehlo-Coehlic? Re-reading my essay now makes me wince. Haha!

It's a great excuse, though, to post my Ottawa River photos!

The Essay is called "Life is like a River."

View of Parliament Hill from Ottawa River, Canada while on board the "Lady Dive" Tour

Aah...Nothing is as equally soothing as the sound of a river eagerly rushing to the banks at the start of a new day. Funny, it may seem, but this body of water is nature's live example of one of the universe's most intriguing mysteries--Life. A mystery, indeed, for one can only speculate on what fate holds before [sic!] us.

Every soul on earth lives a river different from our own. The mere sight of them, whether they'll be deceiving or not, instantly jolts our senses into cooking up [I must have been hungry here] conclusions most appropriate for that person. Aaw, look, there isn't a single trace of movement in the water, and not even the tiniest insect is stirring. Tranquility, therefore, dominates man's state of being. This is a point where his whistled tunes fill the still air. But there is, in fact, a great number of the kinds of rivers a human being is destined to dip his feet into. A river in [sic] which one must not only cross, but swim through and get himself soaking wet with all his life.

One must also understand that every second is not always for laughter, for there are other truths in life that are just inevitable whether we like it or not. The more scary thing about taking the plunge is that, you'll never know what's waiting for you at the other end. Unless, of course, you were born a nifty [?] psychic, the future could only be at the wink of an eye. Lucky for them if so, but not for us because we are bound to wade through life's unpredictable waters with our eyes closed.

God knows what big boulders lie ahead, or worse, what if it's a deep fall just miles away? The best thing to do, I guess, is to go with the flow and fight as we are challenged. We may crash into a lot of things, the current may be rough, yet we just have to keep on running [?!]. Who knows, we might make it through our destination with a genuine smile on our faces.

However, before reaching this place there shall be many experiences; even dangers. Maybe after all this, love will never be a new word for us anymore [where did THAT come from?!]. Besides, life wouldn't be too hard for man because God gave Himself to every person we meet as real friends, not pawns to be manipulated. Therefore, we can say that life is a test of strength, a test of the staying power just as a river fights for survival against total extinction [I must have been referring to the Pasig River here].

The very true essence of life, which is also true to any river in this world is to move on [sic] whatever hits us along the way. We've got God on our side as we face the pain, the triumphs and other lessons in life. It's the thought that we can make it that keeps us alive and perhaps for years to come.

breaking in my new travel journal in ottawa

i felt wistful sending away the hallmark travel journal that msfirefly won in miss iggy's giveaway not too long ago, so i got a new travel journal from staples. it's actually a serendipitous purchase, as it was the only journal in the clearance bin and it only cost me $3. i was attracted to the cover art by susy pilgrim waters. this is the back portion, the front part features "london" art. i really felt this journal was for me because i've been to both new york and london.

i decided to put it to use on our recent weekend getaway to ottawa, canada. i was inspired by the points enumerated here regarding keeping a travel journal as compared to travel blogging. i do keep a separate personal journal apart from my blog (because there are things best kept to oneself); this one is hopefully going to travel places with me and will be exclusively devoted to my travels.

here are a couple of pages from my journal:


i kept the hash brown wrapper from the mcdonald's we had breakfast at in ottawa. i love how their golden arches logo has the red maple leaf in the middle!



i brought tape with me so i can easily stick things onto the pages as i write. i plucked a wild rose from the parliament as a souvenir. my pages should improve in its visual appeal over time. i made the pages quickly so as not to lose momentum on writing everything worth mentioning in my journal. plus, i didn't have the luxury of time since i was traveling with my family whose feet were getting tired from all the walking and whose patience was thinning out because i took too many photos of the same view with different cameras. i did add some afterthoughts later on, as you might notice with the gel pen writings in contrast to the regular ballpoint pen ones.

where to next, susy pilgrim waters? yes, that's going to be my travel journal's name from now on. susy, for short.