Farsighted Fly Girl

Topping 764 feet, Montreal's Mount Royal is the highest point in the city and the best place to grab panoramic views of the city.  Bikers, hikers and walkers fill the trails, as this is one of the most popular green spaces in Montreal. The mountain is surrounded by a lovely park landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted, the same man who designed New York's Central Park. Just below the mountain is Beaver Lake, a favorite spot for ducks in the summer and ice skaters in the winter.  The lush prettiness and great views make Mount Royal a Montreal must see.

The spirit of Montreal  is vibrant and eclectic. It grabs you immediately and inspires you to explore this lovely and complex city. Although Montreal hosts scads of festivals, the one that truly embodies its free-spirited vibe is the Mount Royal Tam Tam Festival or Les Tam Tams Du Mount Royal . Tam Tams is French for drums and you'll see every version of percussion instrument, played by every kind of person at this weekly fest. Held at the  foot of the famous Mount Royal, surrounding a statue of Sir George-Etienne Cartier, crowds of revelers, dancers, musicians and party people drum and dance from noon to sunset. I was really excited to attend the festival and I wasn't disappointed. Even though I go to dozens of festivals every year, the Tams Tams is special.  Locals and tourists drop any inhibitions and connect through music. For over 20 years, the festival has unfolded every summer Sunday in Mount Royal Park and I could see the joy that the ritual has cre...

It's been awhile since I updated my blog because I'm afraid all of Montreal's joie de vivre  wore me out!  Actually it was  the back to back trips three weeks in a row but now I'm back. I have lots of images and experiences rummaging around in my mind and one of the most memorable was sampling poutine. You can not visit Montreal without tasting this quintessential  Quebecois dish. It's so much part of local culture that McDonald's even serves it. What is poutine exactly? Well, as you can see from the photo above, it's a gloppy concoction of fries, cheddar cheese curds and gravy. Poutine literally translates to mess in French. Its been popular since the 60s and is served in fine restaurants as well as dives. As a Midwesterner, I'm  familiar with the irritating squeak of fresh cheese curds but I 've never had them accompanied by anything but a greasy paper bag. I have to admit, I wasn't so thrilled to try poutine but I was determined...