Montréal Jazz Fest
This is strange territory -- I've actually got a backlog of blogging material. But I'll try to space it out over this week. First, the Montréal trip.
July 1 Belated Canada Day greetings. Got into Pierre Eliot Trudeau airport at around 7pm, and was at my modest dorm accommodations by 8:30. I noticed from the Jazzfest pamphlet that there was a "big" free concert that night, starring Bran Van 3000. For those who don't know (and I was one of them two weeks ago), they are a funk group that started in Montréal about 10 years ago. Not my usual style of music, but it was a good way to pass away a Canada Day evening.
July 2 Soaked up sun and jazz all day, starting at noon. Even the free concerts are outstanding (most likely because they are new faces giving it their all to get noticed). And that night I checked out a paid show -- McCoy Tyner, who used to play with Coltrane. It was solo piano for about an hour and a half, and was fantastic.
July 3 Piss-poured rain all day, but I took the opportunity to check out a 3D Imax of a U2 concert. Probably the closest thing I'll get to actually seeing them. Then I met up with Sharon (cousin) and her friend Jen from Australia for a bunch of drinks and a few more free concerts.
July 4 Joined up with Jennifer and Randy. Did some problem drinking at this cheesy rooftop hotel bar, exchanging jokes and downing jugs of Sangria. Unfortunately, in that amount of time, and in that amount of sun, I got nuked. Tried to hold it together for when we met up with Geoff, Katherine and nephews (I'm clearly a model uncle). Went out for supper at an apportez-votre-vin spot and then finished the night at the festival.
July 5 Slight hell to pay for, but made it out to breakfast at 8am. Then went to the casino with Randy for some problem gambling. Our plan to make stacks of cash was thwarted by "odds" -- believe it or not, we actually lost money. It was all right, though, because there was another fancy dinner that night, followed by a visit to Sharon's place for some wine and chat.
July 6 Nothing really spectacular, just quality (sobre) time with the family. The closing Jazzfest show starring Mory Kanté was pretty cool, though.
July 7 Met up with Brad and Melissa, who had just bussed into town, for lunch at Reubens. Did a little shopping during the afternoon, then met up with Dan for supper at some Afghan restaurant. Stuck around there for about 3 hours and had a really good chat -- hadn't seen Dan in a couple of years.
July 8 Back in NL by noon.
...and later that day, I got something that will become the subject of the next blog post.
So, all-in-all a decent, relaxing vacation. I took a few pictures which, provided I muster the gumption, I may add to this post.
July 1 Belated Canada Day greetings. Got into Pierre Eliot Trudeau airport at around 7pm, and was at my modest dorm accommodations by 8:30. I noticed from the Jazzfest pamphlet that there was a "big" free concert that night, starring Bran Van 3000. For those who don't know (and I was one of them two weeks ago), they are a funk group that started in Montréal about 10 years ago. Not my usual style of music, but it was a good way to pass away a Canada Day evening.
July 2 Soaked up sun and jazz all day, starting at noon. Even the free concerts are outstanding (most likely because they are new faces giving it their all to get noticed). And that night I checked out a paid show -- McCoy Tyner, who used to play with Coltrane. It was solo piano for about an hour and a half, and was fantastic.
July 3 Piss-poured rain all day, but I took the opportunity to check out a 3D Imax of a U2 concert. Probably the closest thing I'll get to actually seeing them. Then I met up with Sharon (cousin) and her friend Jen from Australia for a bunch of drinks and a few more free concerts.
July 4 Joined up with Jennifer and Randy. Did some problem drinking at this cheesy rooftop hotel bar, exchanging jokes and downing jugs of Sangria. Unfortunately, in that amount of time, and in that amount of sun, I got nuked. Tried to hold it together for when we met up with Geoff, Katherine and nephews (I'm clearly a model uncle). Went out for supper at an apportez-votre-vin spot and then finished the night at the festival.
July 5 Slight hell to pay for, but made it out to breakfast at 8am. Then went to the casino with Randy for some problem gambling. Our plan to make stacks of cash was thwarted by "odds" -- believe it or not, we actually lost money. It was all right, though, because there was another fancy dinner that night, followed by a visit to Sharon's place for some wine and chat.
July 6 Nothing really spectacular, just quality (sobre) time with the family. The closing Jazzfest show starring Mory Kanté was pretty cool, though.
July 7 Met up with Brad and Melissa, who had just bussed into town, for lunch at Reubens. Did a little shopping during the afternoon, then met up with Dan for supper at some Afghan restaurant. Stuck around there for about 3 hours and had a really good chat -- hadn't seen Dan in a couple of years.
July 8 Back in NL by noon.
...and later that day, I got something that will become the subject of the next blog post.
So, all-in-all a decent, relaxing vacation. I took a few pictures which, provided I muster the gumption, I may add to this post.
posted by Dave Green at 12:38 p.m.
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