LouisXIV
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L'estat c'est moi.
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Post by LouisXIV on Oct 17, 2011 14:28:38 GMT
I like the second picture with the stop/arret sign. I think in France they only say stop.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2011 14:51:10 GMT
louis, the signs for me were interesting, and the fact that I could read them all surprised me. Lagatta, thanks for your input, it's made it all the more clearer for me now. I guess I'm just in the habit now of using the American wording for some things, but you are right, it is 'centre' in Ottawa. And the flag has the Union Jack on the corner, some connections are harder to break than others. What does the shield on it signify though? I imagine the very strict guarding of the leaders of different countries is common place now, much more than ever before, I can understand it. I hope the pictures loaded okay in the end? I would really appreicate you giving us any information you can about the area. I know that my son was very interested in seeing the Supreme Court of Canada, but unfortunately we didn't have enough time to go through each individual building, maybe next time. It's a small world, so you have worked at the Conference Centre? Ottawa has quite the history, complicated in some ways, it would be interesting to learn more about it. Lagatta, can you please tell me what this building is? I've been trying to figure it out for days now:
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2011 17:05:55 GMT
I like the second picture with the stop/arret sign. I think in France they only say stop. When I was about 6 years old, there were still some stop signs in France that said "arrêt" but it was a different version from the well known octogon. I think the "universal" stop sign was adopted quickly thereafter. (I just looked at a wiki about this, and it appears to have been invented in 1922. The reason for the shape is so that drivers coming from other directions can identify the sign even if they only see the back of it.) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_sign
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Post by lagatta on Oct 17, 2011 18:21:04 GMT
Sure. That is the Château Laurier Hotel.
Here in Mtl, the signs only say arrêt. But the form and colour are pretty much universal, no?
I have seen signs in Aboriginal reserves/communities witih their own language first, then English or French.
I've been too busy recently to take the time to go to a library with faster Internet access. Will try to do so this week, as there are some other forums I can't answer queries of me from here.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2011 19:06:15 GMT
You have slow internet, lagatta?
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Post by lagatta on Oct 17, 2011 22:04:15 GMT
Yep.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2011 16:17:26 GMT
Thanks, Lagatta.
The reason I used to put my photos up so small was because I knew many people do have a slow connection, but some didn't want them that small, so they are about average now. I know it's a pain to get them to load up though.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2011 16:18:01 GMT
MontrealAs you may know I used to live in Montreal, so I thought it would be interesting to go back and see the area I used to live in when my oldest boy was just toddler, and show my kids my old haunts. And in some ways it was a journey into my soul. But before we do that we have a date with friends who we will be meeting in St. Catherine street. Here is a link to my previous thread about Montreal, that particular time I went with my two youngest boys for one week in July about a couple of years ago: sunnyds.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=americas&action=display&thread=737So here we are, back on the road again: The streets of Montreal: I'd been to the Montreal Biodome before, but my oldest boy hadn't, so we set off in that direction: 'Biodôme de Montréal is a facility located in Montreal that allows visitors to walk through replicas of four ecosystems found in the Americas. The building was originally constructed for the 1976 Olympic Games as a velodrome. It hosted both track cycling and judo events. Renovations on the building began in 1989 and in 1992 the indoor nature exhibit was opened. The Montreal Biodome is one of four facilities operated by the Montreal Nature Museum, which include the Montreal Insectarium, Montreal Botanical Garden, and Montreal Planetarium.' Once inside the various chambers and rooms you realize the full impact of how the temperatures are controlled in order to be the perfect environment for the animals that live there. We went from feeling like we were in the Amazon jungle to a much cooler surroundings. It was quite something. Here are some of the animals we saw inside: And then we make our way to the Botanical gardens and Insectarium. Just a few of the pictures we took inside the Insectarium. I never knew there were so many different kinds of colorful bugs! Some are native to North America, while other to other places, and some seem to thrive just about anywhere: Sculptures just outside the building: And so we take a walk around the very beautiful gardens, if we had stayed until 6pm we would have seen the lighted up display of Japanese lanterns, but we would have to be going elsewhere before then: One of the buildings was being used just to display Japanese Art and other Japanese items of interest: Back outside to see more of the gardens. Last time I was here a tram was supplied to take visitors around the gardens (they are quite large and stretch out to many acres). I didn't see it this time, maybe they have stopped this service now? This was quite large inside, it was surprising. One of the visitors having a peak inside: This little guy came right up close. We also saw black squirrels, something I was no used to seeing: A hollow left over skin from a beetle: Autumn colors: We stop for something to eat and are on our way again, heading towards St. Catherine street. There is still so much more to see, but not enough time to see everything. Nice : Time for dinner - We meet up with friends and stop for dinner at Rubens in St. Catherine street: And so the night draws in and as you know the the photos I take will either not come out or be of poor quality, but anyway, here are a few that I did capture: Notre Dame, in the old Montreal area: We are due to stay over with friends that night. But before we do, I wanted to make a quick stop in St.Leonard, to show my kids where I used to live at one time: As we drive down the Rue Jarry, the sites become more and more familiar to me. Here is the house I used to live in: There is a school and a park just down the road, here I would spend many days watching my little boy play. And would you know the exact same little horsey toy that he used to play on was still there! It was like time at stood still for just a moment. Here it is: The next day, we are back on the road again:
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2011 17:10:06 GMT
Fabulous pictures of the Biodome and the park, Deyana. I know that the Biodome was originally one of the Olympic stadiums in 1976, but which sports took place there? Dinner at Ruben's looks very "home-cooking" and satisfying.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2011 19:56:18 GMT
Thanks, K! Just been thinking, it was 'Reubens', my son went there this summer and wanted to go again. It was pretty good, yes. Next driving trip coming up will be more of the Maritimes - Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia etc..
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Post by mich64 on Oct 18, 2011 22:08:43 GMT
Really enjoyable photos of the Biodome, I had no idea it existed and the next time we visit Montreal we will be stopping there. When we moved back to Canada we lived in P.E.I. for 5 years, I cannot wait to see your photographs of your next trip! Cheers, Mich
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Post by nycgirl on Oct 19, 2011 3:35:36 GMT
The Biodome looks fascinating. Love the photos of the cute little penguins lying on their bellies. I was wondering what kind or wildcat that is in the photo. A lynx, maybe? And wow, those are some fierce-looking insects! The gardens are so beautiful. It looks like such a treat to go strolling around there on a sunny day. Good job spotting the empty beetle skin. That's an interesting (and creepy) little detail. Thanks for the wonderful tour.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2011 13:56:29 GMT
Thanks, mich. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of the Maritimes, it's finding the time (and the good weather) to do the trip in. Soon I hope.
You're welcome, nycgirl. I think that cat is a lynx, yes. My sons spotted the creepy beetle skins, there were two discarded ones. Insects are not really my thing, but they liked them well enough!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2011 20:47:45 GMT
Well, I looked up the Biodome and it was the bicycle stadium during the Olympics. The conversion to a museum was made in 1992.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2011 19:08:28 GMT
Something I missed out - because it was a bit embarrassing. When we got to the Biodome parking lot, I had to go pee really badly. So my son parked the car (it was paid parking and took ages to get the ticket etc. sorted out). Anyway, by that time I was more than desperate to get to the 'ladies'. So I blindly ran into the first building that I saw, and unknown to me, was a Martial Arts place and there was some mind of Karate tournament going on. So it was full of men. Not that I noticed at the time. Anyway, I charged in, saw the front desk, but didn't want to waste my time asking them where to go. I reckoned that door on the right was a safe bet, there just had to be some washrooms in there. So I rush in there, pushing past all these guys dressed up in full Karate gear, giving me funny looks. Some say things that I can't understand, and smile real nicely. I thought it might have been the pretty dress that I was wearing I find a private washroom and afterwards calmly walk out, only then realizing that I was in the men's section of the building all along! (Some of them were worth pushing out of the way/bumping into though)
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Post by bjd on Nov 4, 2011 19:14:38 GMT
I noticed a sign for Mirabel Airport. I thought it had been closed down and that only Dorval was being used?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2011 19:18:25 GMT
Oh, I missed that! That would have intrigued me, too.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2011 23:07:43 GMT
I noticed a sign for Mirabel Airport. I thought it had been closed down and that only Dorval was being used? bjd, without looking it up, I actually don't know for sure. Good observation though. Lagatta may know more about this...
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Post by bjd on Nov 5, 2011 9:58:41 GMT
Okay, I looked it up: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montr%C3%A9al-Mirabel_International_AirportBecause if its distance from Montreal and lack of transportation to get there, it was closed as the main passenger airport and is used only for cargo or military planes. As they say in the article, "ironically", Dorval was renamed for Trudeau, whose crappy idea Mirabel had been in the first place once the latter was no longer used. I can say "crappy" from experience, after once spending hours there waiting for a connecting flight.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2011 13:43:41 GMT
Arr..okay, I had no idea. I have used this airport a few times and do remember it being a long way away from the city (even to drive to). So we only have Dorval now? Seems like a bit of a waste, I think Mirabel is the biggest airport in the world (space wise). Well, whatever works I guess.
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Post by darcy on Nov 5, 2011 16:58:13 GMT
I loved your trip report, thank you so much! I haven't been to Montreal and Ottawa since I was 12 or 14 and I've never been to Quebec City. Must fix that!
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Post by bjd on Nov 5, 2011 16:59:21 GMT
You might get to enjoy it, Deyana: "The former passenger terminal apron is now a racing course."
It's size was surpassed by an airport in Saudi Arabia in 1999, and most of its land was deeded back to the owners in 1989. What a total and utter waste of money.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 6, 2011 0:54:32 GMT
Thanks, darcy hmm...a racing course huh? As in car racing? I might enjoy that actually Agree, bjd, it was and is a total waste of money that could have been better spent elsewhere.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2011 12:33:23 GMT
I had scrolled through the photos of the gardens too fast -- a lot of your photos are stunning!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2011 1:52:57 GMT
Thank you, Kerouac. I thought the gardens were amazing too, it would have been so interesting to see them after dark, with the Japanese lanterns all lighted up. If you are ever in this vicinity, I'll take you there gladly, and around NB too
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