Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!!! New hopes and expectations, new friends and new places to go, new interesting and exciting things in 2007!!!

Love

"Disneyland" in Mont Tremblant

Usually I go for a weekend to my friend's house in Saint Donat, close to famous skiing resort of Mont Tremblant. I have heard a lot about Mont Tremblant, but have never visited it before. Today we decided to take a ride there...
I was amazed with the whole tourist infrastructure, which didn't exist here 15 years ago. It is in the middle of nowhere, 120 km north from Montreal. There are golf fields, tennis courts, skiing slopes...escalator to one of them, obviously sponsored by Volkswagen
Quebecors call Mont Tremblant "American fairy tale" ;) It is mainly visited by skiing mavericks from the U.S.
While walking around, I had a few ideas in mind:

1. first of all, it looks absolutely unreal and not authentic. It is like Disneyland ;)
   
2. it seems to be such a good idea, so that I wish such kind of resorts existed in Ukraine ;)
3. are these kind of "Disneylands" possible to find in Western Europe? My friends from Holland doubted about that ;)
   
4. it must have been such a tremendous change (if not the transformation) to the whole lifestyle of local community: are they better off in long-term, because of this project?
   
5. overall, if the whole resort is profitable, then moneywise it is a good idea ;)

The season for skiing is about to start in a month or so, therefore, definitely I would like to see it in action ;)

Road sign in Mont Tremblant

What does it mean, in your opinion? Mandatory alcohol test ahead of the route ;)

Another downtown view

one of my favorite, from rue Mansfield...such a blue sky

Wild colors of autumn

I drove one day out of the city to experience Indian summer here...it is so beautiful, covered by wild colors. When driving, I looked more at colors along the road than watching the traffic...at the end everything was allright: myself and car alive ;)

Remembering

My heart is aching when watching/reading the coverage of 9/13 events that happened last week in Montreal at Dawson College: young man entered the school building and started shooting at students. About 20 students were wounded, 1 beautiful girl died...the killer was shot by police or himself (I'm confused about this, various news outlets tell differently). The city of Montreal is still under shock. Montrealers were more shocked to find out who the killer was...and to read his, the most scaring and full of hatred, blog...Loner, complete loser and killer... There are no apparent reasons why that bastard chose Dawson College, so it could happen everywhere. I don't know anyone personally out of who was wounded, or studies at Dawson College, but I feel so sorry for each of them. And I hope that students will find enough strength to overcome the pain of loss of their classmate and shock of what happened.

rue Saint Denis

Again my favorite murals...this time on rue Saint Denis. I am curious how they survived here after hot debates in the city about "ugly murals" couple of months ago

Another one...I was just wondering how you can ban something what definitely gives a city a unique look
Autumn hues
and I didn't know that clothing can be recyclable (see the sign on the shop "vetements recycles")

Avenue des Pins

rue Sherbrooke Ouest 4141

Gorgeous sculpture
and when I glanced at another one around, in first seconds I took it for real man reading newspaper and waiting for someone

Late August

Fall is in the air...around +5 C at night, during the day no higher than 20, coupled with chilly wind...only beautiful colors are missing

Outremont area...beautiful one...in some parts very you can meet a lot of Orthodox Jewish...Italians...Portuguese...and me, Ukrainian ;)

Closing ceremony of Outgames

I went there last night with the hope to have fun...but couldn't enjoy myself that much, so left after one hour and many other people did as well. First of all, Olympic Stadium was not quite appropriate venue for such event: it is too big for so little people (maybe 10% of all seats were occupied, so I felt a little bit lonely). Secondly, the combination of French and English languages by speakers was annoying. I know that it is Montreal standard, but it is not the standard of international events. It is not funny when half of audience is laughing from jokes in French, which another half (mainly guests from other countries) didn't understand at all. I am sorry, Montrealers, but English remains the most well-understood and often spoken language in the world. If 99% of audience understands English very well, and only maybe half (if not less) - French, why to combine French and English together? Even in Ukraine we speak English only (our not native and not official language) during the international events.

And finally my big disappointment was Liza Minelli, who performed there last night. I still remember lively and lovely Sally Bowles (played by Liza) in Cabaret...but what I saw last night was fat and not very healthy lady, out of breath and no voice. Liza had to drink (maybe tea with honey) every 5 minutes during the show. Maybe it was a little bit too much for Liza Minelli to perform there. But I still love her ;)

Anyway Outgames seemed to happen in Montreal!

Les Grand Ballet des Canadiens de Montreal

for free, outdoors at park La Fontaine from August 2 through 6. More information is here. I've seen it once, and it was just incroyable!!! On y va?

Outdoor photo exhibition

This is an outdoor photo exhibition on McGill College Avenue
Last fall here it was "reading Montreal" photo exhibition, nowadays - exhibition of Montreal old photos (granted by McCord Museum). I like the idea, the concept of the exhibition (sorry...forgot the exact name of it...either "transformations" or "transactions"), the way it is done and what's more important that a lot of people can watch it. Here is some little part of it
The girl above is lovely, isn't she?
and this lady?
The organizers of the exhibition combined black and white pictures with colorful ones, and seemingly of the same topic. Every pair of the pictures was given the name, e.g. "innovative" (for pictures and above and below, there were some other names as "defensive", "inspiring", "tender" etc.)

Joie de vivre

Crazy people on Dr.Penfield Avenue ;)

One of my favorite beautiful views of Montreal is from Pont Champlain. I was always dreaming to take the picture of it. Today camera and me were together there, but no view...only smog

I heard about smog in the city couple of weeks ago, but then didn't pay too much attention to it and didn't feel it that much. When I saw the city under smog today, I got a little bit scared...oh, my God, how people (including me) live there? Thanks God it has been raining recently...

Kingdom of lamps on rue Laurier

I am always amazed with the way people create something extraordinary out of what seems to be simple and complete. One of the most recent examples of my non-stop amazement was the lamp shop on rue Laurier: lamps of all possible sizes, colors, shapes and prices...

I liked the most this one...woman-titan ;)...I looked closer and the statue was made from wood (Ylva, the owner of the shop, explained me which one...I don't remember), but so real and so live! Incredible!

This lamp was probably inspired by Japanese movie, book or, maybe, friend?

Although it was wonderful sunny day, almost all lamps in the shop were lit on...what, coupled with the owner's smile, made the day even brighter

Twin-lamps... Twins always should be together. I hope somebody will buy them both as well

Lady playing harp...it seems that you may hear some joyful or sad music

The owner let me explore the shop in more detail...
and here...I love the workshops, there is so much energy and inspiration in them!!!

and then I found this statue..."beautiful statue" I thought to myself...Statue? "It is going to be a beautiful lamp", - said Ylva to me, and showed to me an abat-jour (lampshade), which will serve as a hat for the lady
According to Ylva, everything is used and can be converted into lamps: boots, kettles, "samovars", statues...there are no limits in her mind. If there were more such people like her, the world could be lighter and easier place to live...

Football fever

I have never seen so many football fans from so many countries as in Montreal. Many cars are decorated by different flags (good lesson to learn the country's flags), people are dressed up in t-shirts, hats, depicting the names of their countries (or maybe not) and of their favorite football players. Here I got some pictures I made last Sunday, during Brazil vs. Australia match:
and what do you think of this dress?

Weekend in Mont-Royal Parc

Last weekend the weather was so nice that I went to Mont-Royal parc to get some more tan. Besides that, I've got a lot of fun...

Weekends in Mont-Royal parc are famous for "tam-tam"...people of all ages, colors, genders (and the rest), and with different musical abilities are playing non-stop drums of all possible shapes. It is amazing to hear at least four or five different drum bands playing around simultaneously

not only drum players have fun, but also many others ;)

hot air, hot music...

and everybody is doing what he or she wants... this below is called diaboling? (I'm not sure of spelling correctly)

and jangling with whatever at hand...

Loverly!!!

Atwater market

First of all, my favorite boulangerie "Premier Moison": cakes and bread are never the same, that's the only little piece of "vitrine" I managed to picture. Usually there a lot of people there...

My favorite "charcuterie du deuxieme"

and cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssssssseeeeeeeeeee ;)

and vegetables, fruits and not only ;)


and...flowers...flowers...flowers in all varieties and enormous quantities

more...

and more...

Murals

The graffiti is considered to be evil to the owners of all possible property (houses, restaurants, garages) and to municipal authorities. It is believed that they spoil the urban landscape. I also heard that graffiti is used by some criminals and drug dealers as communication tool to exchange some important messages, transcribed into only to them known symbols. Anyway, whatever the graffiti can be and whatever you might think about it, in Montreal it seems to be quite different thing. It is just beautiful and interesting to explore...that's what I did last night. Take a look ;)

Initially I didn't have any idea to photohunt for murals. Last night I was on my way to one amateur concert, to which I was invited by one of my friends. The show was supposed to be in Les Muntos cafe on Saint-Laurent street. First, I had a lovely dinner on rue Duluth (well, it is quite impossible not to have such one in Montreal, especially in Mont-Royal area), at Ma Brasa restaurant. Having nothing to do for an hour before the start of the show, I decided to walk though the streets, yards and all possible hidden places. And then on rue Saint-Dominique, I saw this first mural and then another one around the corner (see below), and I got so much involved that I loved this so much...and the whole hour passed by like one second ;)

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Unlike the above mural, this one below with chickens is very funny. After I took the picture, a few seconds later, I turned around the corner and found out that Cocorico is the name of the restaurant. Have to check it out one day, but not now. I saw other murals. Have to run and see those ones ;)

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Man and Arab woman. I am amazed with this mural, it looks like a classic picture. Lady reminds me of Mona Liza...maybe, if Leonardo Da Vinci were Arab, he would paint something like that.

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This mural would suit more kindergarten or playground for children, but in this case it contrasts so much the yard of funeral shop. Maybe it is a good idea to have such lively mural here. When people come to shop to choose the graves for their lovely ones, who just died, and maybe this mural would easy their grief and remind that life still goes on in all its beautiful colors? That I don't know for sure....

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Some men and wild surrealistic creatures...I like the blue color of this mural.

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Man with cigar...this one is amazing. At that moment I was curious how these pictures survive rain and fluctuations of temperatures, winds? In normal museums there is a strict climate control. I wish these pictures would stay alive longer...but I feel that their life must be short.

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Quebec flag and homeless guy collecting the bottles... When I saw this, I was walking a little bit fast, almost running to this place...but then I felt somebody was trying to stop me and push me away. I looked back and there it was this guy. I didn't understand what he wanted from me. I said in my broken French that I love this mural...c'est beau et je veux prendre le photo. He pushed me away and I followed him in safe distance. While taking the picture, the subject of my primary interest, I noticed that this guy was collecting bottles...and then understood another subject of interest - that guy's, of course;)

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The next one is one of my most favorite mural for now. It reminds me of Red Hood girl and of famouse heroine of Soviet October Revolution - Anka ;)...

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OK, that's all for now. Maybe I saw and showed to you only 1/100th of all murals that can be found in Mont-Royal area. They are all amazing and beautiful. I promise that I will publish others, the best ones, in the nearest future.

It is not New Year's decorations

and not a night club as it may seem at night... it is Portuguese church in Mont-Royal area. Amazing, isn't it?

Comme a Paris

Square Victoria metro station...I stopped there as I saw the movie being shot. I couldn't conclude about what, but could be about Paris as the background was somewhat Parisien

Colorful Montreal

Row of colorful buildings...how little is needed to make house look lively and lovely, isn't it?

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Even inhabitants of these buildings are dressing up colorfully...you see Grandma in colorful light green coat?

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Someone has to be brave enough to decide to paint the house in such colors...but the final result is outstanding!!!

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Happy people must live there...

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All buildings can be found in Mont-Royal area

Sketches

modern and traditional neighboring on the western side of Place du Canada

Rene-Levesque boulevard...I don't know what's this for sure. It looks like a woman upside down or some sort of flower. What it symbolizes? Defence, hostility, multi-layered balance...whatever. That's one of the advantages of contemporary art - you can understand it the way you want, while classic pieces are to be understood in line with the well-established opinions

Confrontation

on Avenue Docteur Penfield, in front of one of McGill University (law faculty?) buildings

Panoramic view

I love every panoramic urban view... When standing on the top of the hill, I always feel like I would become bird or angel and could fly over. Well, maybe I will become a bird in my next life; angel? - hardly, no chances left ;)

rue Duluth

was walking around in lovely Portuguese area of Montreal, and fell in love with this house... it would fit perfectly village landscape or house somewhere in the forest or near the lake... but that's centre of Montreal ;)

Raining night in Montreal: static and dynamic

First static:
...and now dynamic:

Night, raining, Montreal and living room

L'Ermitage

rue Cote-des-Neiges...beautiful name of the building, beautiful facade, but the building itself looks like abandoned warehouse, fenced by unwelcoming wires

Proportional disproportions

Rue Sherbrooke West, opposite to rue Crescent...on the right you can see the house (kinda castle), where I would live, if I liked the apartment when flat-hunting...but the apartments looked like museum. Who wants to live in a museum?

Montrealaise II

I met this woman on rue Stanley. Luckily I didn't have to ask for the permission to take picture of her. Some photographers would ask lady to move forth or back, lower or higher, to the left or to the right. In my view, she was so perfect from all angles that I didn't ask her anything...

Love in the streets of Montreal

this lovely couple can always be found at McGill College Avenue



these two sweethearts - on rue Sherbrooke, next to Musee des beaux-arts de Montreal. The basement where the hearts stand on looks like concrete mud. Is it some allegory or interepentation of what love could be built on or what it is based on? Have no clue, but have my own opinion on this issue

Walking around Montreal

When you are in Montreal and, at the meantime, big fan of sculpture, you hardly need to go to the museums...just walk around and see them live everywhere. Here is one of the pictures of Mom and child. How beautiful, isn't it? They can be found on rue Sherbrooke... More to come later

Montrealaise

On the lawn at McGill University...reading some love story maybe. When spying this girl, I had "Love Story" music in my head...however, it is McGill, not Harvard; it is spring now, not winter; girl's name could be Jeniffer and could be not; and there was no Oliver in the sight...

Sunbathing

I was waiting for lovely hat to be removed...so what's under it remained the secret for me...that's what women are supposed to be?

Sunset in Montreal

view from my apartment...I love North American downtown views...would look at them for hours...