Driving to Montréal is a breeze if you love driving.
Catherine and I took a ride from Toronto on the 12th June, starting at 10 in the morning. We stopped by at the Quinte Mall in Belleville at noon, the right time to enjoy a leisure lunch with barbecue pork and soy cuttle-fish purchased the day before; and a cup of hot coffee from Tim Hortons. We even took a shopping tour around the mall with an extra 20% on top of the 50% discount sale.
It happened that an annual street festival was in progress during our visit in Montréal. The Boulevard Saint Laurent was closed for the event; and Edwin took us for an afternoon walk on the 13th in the shaded sidewalk. There were huge wall mural on display, an on-going contest during that summer event. I took one of the murals which, according to Edwin, was not the largest. Edwin treated us for lunch at the sidewalk of the Burger Royal, where we could immerse ourselves in the atmosphere with people passing by.
Visiting Kelvin, our son, was the sole purpose of our trip. Having no appointment set in the evening, we bought 5-lbs of lobsters at Costco. Kelvin prepared the risotto with “caixin” (菜心) as the green; steam lobsters; a baguette; a bottle of Pinot Blanc from the Niagara Region; and the French pastry for dinner. He utilized the leftover lobster and prepared an egg omelet with freshly brew “longjing” (龍井) tea and steaming cappuccino as our breakfast the next morning.
It was a sunny Sunday on the 14th and we took a ride to the Eastern Township; sampling the poutine at Fromagerie Lemaire in Drummondville; visited the Fort Chambly where Americans attempted to take control of Canada before the 1812 era. We returned to the West Island afterwards and had dinner with our volunteer friends from the Montreal Chinese (Mandarin) School at the Pekin Garden on Saint Jean.
Yiu-Kwok and Helen travelled to the Maritimes and were returning to Ottawa on the 16th. We timed their arrival at noon; went to the Brasserie T! for lunch on Jeanne-Mance, next to the Place des Arts, another outdoor summer festival Francofolies venue in evenings.
Edwin invited YK/Helen and ourselves to stay overnight for the festivities, while YK invited us to stay at their Ottawa home. Out of the two equally tempting offers, I took an easier drive to go to Ottawa on the 16th and followed with another shorter drive from Ottawa to Toronto the next morning.
Helen and YK were great hosts. We have been treated with delicious dinner at the Savoy Brasserie on Richmond; a ride to the Central Experimental Farm where YK had been working for more than thirty years; his "guzheng" (古箏) performance at home; a lesson on the differences between the 21-strings “quzheng” and 7-strings “guqin” (古琴); and a brunch with fresh fruits, yogurt, mushroom omelet and sausages before our departure in the morning.
What an experience of reunion before our 50th anniversary in Hong Kong this coming October, and Ho Laoshi, we all look forward to your participation with our heartfelt sincerity.
much obliged on Summer Solstice, Andrew/150620 (click here to see all the pictures)