850 m

Today I joined at a group at our local pool for "master's swimming". I was misled into thinking that we were a group of non- swimmers, but I was clearly out if my league! Having said that, I was there to improve my swimming, and after nearly 30 years, thanks to some teaching from my mermaid daughter and the assistant manager coach, I managed to swim 50 m ( 2 lengths) of "freestyle" ( not nearly as fun as it sounds, but actually what I consider front crawl).

This was our fourth trip to the pool today. It started with my daughter's first swimming lesson of the summer. She came out and we volunteered at the cantine, until she suggested minutes before my aquafit class that she wanted a grill cheese sandwich, so we walked home (less than two blocks) and rushed back for our second visit to the pool for an excellent aquafit class.

Four hours later, we were back for a third time at free swim, and it was then my daughter gave me a very important lesson on how to breath without raising my head out of the water, which was life saving when it came time for the master's swim.

My last swimming lesson of childhood was an indoor class at the only pool I knew of at the time; Regina's Lawson Pool. I recall attempting to do the front crawl with a breath every third stroke, and I felt like I was going to pass out. Fast forward almost three decades, under the careful watch of my daughter, I practiced, with some trepidation, I attempted a modified freestyle with breaths every two strokes. It was going well on the way out to the deep end, but I had a few difficult breaths on the way back, finding myself fighting against the current that pushed me against the lane markers. I had to crawl to the end, head above water, causing my lane mate to run into my feet!

It was difficult with multiple rests to regain my breath, but the last 100m was as smooth as any before, and I was able to return to the much simpler rhythm of 1:3 breaths:stroke. I am pretty amazed that it finally came together! And for the first time in my life, I swam a length that I actually measured! Maybe I can do a mini-triathlon afterall!

ZYARA AT DIX-TRENTE IN BROSSARD

 I am happy that a trek last year to the 10-30 became a tradition when my friend and I made a repeat visit this year. It was a little cold for the summer dress I was wearing, but we warmed up quickly in the resto that my friend suggested for lunch. A new Lebanese place on the second floor, the menu for the lunch looked good, so we took the elevator up and walked in.

I had just come from two weeks in Europe, and was happily reminded of the decorating skills in the the castles and hotels of Austria and Bavaria. It was a little like entering a harem in a fantasy Arabian nights kind of way. The decorating started in a bright colourful mirrored lobby, with mother of pearl mosaic tile on the floor.  The restaurant was filled with repeating colours and matching furniture. There were minaret silhouettes, and arabesque shapes on the walls and in mirrors. It was interesting and rich and luxurious.

They brought out a platter or warm fat pitas to dip into an oil dressing with sumac and sesame while we perused the menus, and we were in foodie heaven. The table was set with Villeroy and Boch flatware. The soup came out in a bowl that was designed to sit on the plate, and I realized that the key to a great lentil soup is to use less than I usually do! It was creamy and the crispy pita croutons were generous giving a great texture without being too starchy. I couldn't help but say yes to a second round of pita (they looked small but they were filling!), but when I got my mezze platter, containing a beautiful hummus and requiring a third pita, I was too full to say anything but no!

I  hadn't really understood that there was a Middle Eastern version of hors d'oeuvre or tapas or dim sum or thali or antipasti, but as a vegetarian, it was a real treat to discover this tradition of small dishes. I  really enjoyed the variety.

I liked the wish, Sehteyn. It reminds me of a Lebanese friend who had a greeting for everything. I had a good appetite for this meal, and I couldn't finish it. I think it's the first time I actually had to send back the dessert!

My most surprising adventures were in the drinks; both new to me; both I had never heard of before! The liquorice tasting milky liquor was called Al Shallal (Arak) was the start, and white coffee (hot water with a rose water flavour) was the finale.

Lentil soup

(Clockwise from upper left) Rice stuffed vine leaves, hummus, salad, couscous and veggie taguine, spinach stuffed kebbeh,  deep-fried  cheese pastries

QUOTATIONS

ALAIN DE BOTTON
 A good half of the art of living is resilience.

SEINFELD
Pain is knowledge rushing in to fill the gap.

LAST MAN STANDING SEASON 4 EPISODE 3
Vanessa Baxter: Women are really good at resolving conflict.
Mike Baxter: That's because they cause most of them! You guys are like firemen that turn out to be arsonists.

GOOD WIFE SEASON 6
Eli: Absence of yes times time equals no.

BARRY M. SHERBAL (Introvert or misanthrope?)
I don't chase after people anymore. If they like spending time with me they will do so. If not, I'm content in my own company.

GUSTAVE FLAUBERT
The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe.

PLACES TO HIKE

QUEBEC

Mont St Hilaire (near St Jean Baptiste de Rouville) - Burned Hill to Pain de sucre to Dieppe to Lac Hertel - moderate, 4.5 hours

Mont Tremblant (Lac Superieur) - Parking du centenaire - moderate, 7.5 hours

Oka - Gr Baie Park Trail - circle at lac deux montagnes (beach, boardwalk) - moderate, 3.5 hours

Grands Jardins north of Baie-St-Paul near St Urbain - water, view to valley - moderate, 7 miles

Shawbridge (near St Sauveur)- from de la Station via Park des Falaises - moderate,  8 miles

Orford - Sentiers des Crêtes - difficult, 11 miles, 7.5 hours

ADIRONDACK

Avalanche Pass to Lake Golden

CAMPING MUSTS

Maine's Cadillac Mountain at sunrise
Green Mountain Trail, Vermont
Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Pennsylvania
Assateague Island National Seashore, Maryland (beaches and wild horses)
Yosemite National Park (High Sierra, Half Dome Rock)
Glacier National Park, Montana (Going-To-The-Sun Road)
Grand Canyon National Park
Big Bend National Park, Texas (Devil's Den hike)
Achry Park in Algonquin Park (natural waterslide - look for cheater path to falls)
Sunshine Coast Trail, BC 180 km hut to hut trail

SOUND OF MUSIC SALZBURG

Twenty years ago, I spent almost six months in Austria. I kept to my budget, but I always regretted never getting to Salzburg, which really wasn't very far away. So after watching The Sound of Music every Christmas in my Grandma's little (second) tv viewing room, and missing out on the sights last time, I vowed to see a few highlights with my daughter.

Now the Van Trapp's have a touring group and a big complex in Stowe, Vermont. That's not so far away, so I may have to go visit that next!

Mirabel garden Pegasus fountain, with the Hohensalzburg Fortress in the background, scene of Do-Rae-Me

Mirabel garden shade

Apparently these statues were fashioned after real live people. I call this one Doc.

Red roof of the Benedictine Nonnberg Convent where Maria was a novice 

Right bank (North side) of Salz River with the Salzerkammergut mountains in the distance

St. Peter's Cemetery, where in the movie they hide from the Nazi's after singing Edleweis in the nearby theatre

All the gates are locked today - hard to hide in these days, and not a real part of the story, if my sources are correct (I am only on chapter 4 of The Story of the Van Trapp Family!)

Hellbrun garden gazebo (I am 16 going on 17!)

EISENWELT/WERFEN, ÖSTERREICH

The Austrian (female) cave explorer that found this cave. Leopoldine was a teacher.

Ich liebe sich, Sie schönsten Alpen!

Largest ice cave in the world

Berchtesgaden Alps

Almost there!

Warm enough to eat ice cream!

Salzach River

Vertiginous views from the footpath

11th century Hohenwerfen Castle

Salzach river from the bridge to train station

RESTAURANT HUMBOLDT STUBN IN SALZBURG

How did those caves get made? Things to ponder while waiting for food.
Reminds me of St. John's!

Walking home after a great meal and sunset

On the terrace with views on a bluff and a fountain.

Käsespätzle with fried onions. Surprisingly popular with my ten year old, who can smell an onion a mile away.

We didn't have time to eat Wienerschnitzel in Vienna (we tried but were too late for lunch on the one opportunity we had), so we had it in Salzburg! It was hard to share the roasted potatoes, but the berry jam was wonderful!

VIENNA'S SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE

This was the most memorable part of my past visit to Vienna and a big thrill to be  back here, this time with a view, and a lot more time! Here is a picture from the Privy Garden.

Water break walking from the fountain

World's coolest zoo monkey house!

With a breeze, this fountain was a welcome relief on a hot day.

The palm house 

For years, I wanted to visit a similar Greenhouse in London, but had never heard of this one. It was a real treat to visit.

MEDIEVAL AGE ARTWORK

Gold means understanding, respect and generosity.
Lion represents courage
The 3 pronged shape represents a first born.

A peasant safe in the outer bailey just behind the Portcollis and beside her simple cruck house made of waffle (woven wood) and daub. 

CHIANTI'S ON IDYLWYLD IN SASKATOON

My ideal starter to an italian meal (away from italy): warm bread with oil and balsamic vinegar!

Gnocchi con funghi. Delizioso!

TACO TIME

Sweet cinnamony crustos and a bean burrito (special order: super burrito, hold the sour cream) with the medium sauce 

THE DELTA BESSBOROUGH, SASKATOON'S CHATEAU STYLE RAIL HOTEL

I love the railroad hotels across Canada. I have a loosely guarded secret that I wish to visit every one, and for the most part they are owned by Fairmont Hotels. This is a CN hotel owned by Delta, so despite not being a Fairmont, I made an exception, wanting to stay in the most impressive hotel I know of on Saskatoon's South Saskatchewan river. When I was invited to supervise an exam across town, I happily walked the 5 km to stay at this special place.

View from Spadina of the Chateau Style hotel leading into the lobby

Beautiful outdoor grate

Tyndall limestone, from Manitoba

A delicious sleep

Named after the 14th Governor General of Canada, Vere Ponsonby, the 9th Earl of Bessborough

Damask on the the floor

The perfect office chair

The solution to the storage problem with a pedestal sink.

Foyer with hooks and a great lamp with moulding on the doors.

View from my room facing the river. Worth the upgrade!

I would love to see this garden later in the summer.

Floor plan.