macblaze.ca

Someone let the temp drop in Edmonton while we were gone. Shame! At least I though to pack a pair of gloves for chilly Boston. Huh.

Today is Boston–>Montreal–>(stopover in Ottawa)–>Edmonton. Hopefully I can finish up some movies.

Today is Remembrance Day. Veterans Day here in the US. As the Quebecers say: Je me souviens. Just not the things they do…

We left early and caught a cab to Logan. Not the best idea when flying Air Canada. Apparently they have their own little terminal and although the processing was quick and efficient, the terminal is small, crowed and without any retail. All they had was a coffe urn and some muffins. And because the cab ride etc. was so fast, we have close to 3 hours to burn. Sigh.

Then the short hop to Montreal. We looked for the Border Security camera crews, even hoped we would be pulled into secondary, but no dice. We are just too innocent looking. Out and back through security and then a nice Montreal smoked meat sandwich served by the grumpiest waitress ever. Par for English service in my experience.

Then it was onboard with a stopover in Ottawa before we head home to -13°. As they are refueling the plane we have to disembark there and wait 40 minutes. It seems no one in Ottawa drinks tap water because I can’t find a single water fountain anywhere. But at lest we get to enjoy the sunset.

I’ve decided on 22 Jump Street for my first movie but am indifferent to the second choice. Perhaps I’ll read… Naw.

And 4 hours of faulty sound finished the day and the trip. Home again!

Breakfast and off.

L and I hit the Boston Public Library. Another great example of the benefit of mega millionaires and the philanthropic system. A beautiful building stuffed with books.

Then we hit the E line to the MFA and our fine art fix. Another large and lovely building, huge collection here is as filled with ‘classics’ as New York’s Met but we definitely aren’t going to get through it in a day.

We hit the musical instrument collection and then a fascinating collection of WWI propaganda posters including the original Uncle Sam which turns out to be a self portrait of the artist James Montgomery Flagg. Then it was off to the Europeans…

The old stuff is grand and all, but I continually surprise my pre-art-literate self with my attraction to Monet, Van Gogh and the other Impressionists. Ooh, and I found a new pointillist I like: Theodore Van Rysselberghe.

 

 

Then the Contemporaries with a little Pop Warhol, Chuck Close and some cool glass sculpture. Even some dirty silhouettes to show C when I get home.

And my legs, feet and joints are reminding me how old and how out of shape I am. Too many miles this weekend.

Leslie took off to the Americas and I hit the ancient world and some Greco-Roman fun. Hopefully I will be able to find her again. Leslie, not the Greco-Roman fun.

Turns out L is lost. That’s the only conclusion I can come to as she’s not in the designated meeting place nor in the Americas. I checked all 4 floors. She wasn’t there. That’s because she turned left into the antiquities after the first floor and voila, Lost Leslie!

We hit one more floor of the Americas and checked out some Tiffany glass and Arts and Crafts furniture and decor before being ushered politely from the premises.

We took the train down to the harbour and I showed Leslie the limited sights. Darkness comes early this time of year.

 

We headed back to the info booth for a pizza recommendation and then headed north to the ‘north side’ and Regina Pizza. After lots of twists and turns down narrow Europeanesque streets we arrived to find a line of 15 to 30 people waiting outside the door. So we about faced and went to Beneveto’s instead. Delicious bruschetta, a couple of pints and crispy Bianci pizza.

The game (Boston vs the Devils) was just starting so we headed out and home to soak my tired feet and call it a day.