CNE - Canadian National Exhibition

Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), also known as The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place. 



It's a bit like the Sydney 'Easter Show' - it is themed around agriculture, and includes a big fairground, lots of stalls and an international pavillion.

We just wanted to have a look around, see whether we could get any good bargains; and of course, as one does at these events:  eat lots of 'healthy' foods....we are all kids at heart!

I was introduced to 'poutin', typical Canadian dish: chips with cheese and lots of gravy... looks disgusting, but tastes delicious!!!  Then we had fudge and icecream... yummmmm....

Fun, fun, fun....

 Stone Art, quite amazing how he balances these stones....

Sand Art by artists from around the world...

S & D

Eid Mubarak

The month of Ramadan has come to an end.  Eid was announced to be on Tuesday, 30 August 2011. Huda and Sarah have taken the day off - so it really feels like a holiday!

Huda and I attended the Eid celebration at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.  Some 10,000 muslims from Toronto took part.  It was absolutely amazing to see so many people from all walks of life and different nationalities come together to pray, socialize and celebrate Eid. Everybody was dressed up, especially the young children in their new frilly clothes looked adorable...

In his sermon, Dr Jamal Badawi was talking about what makes a righteous Muslim.  One thing he said that stood out for me was: God in his great wisdom has created humans in a great variety of shapes, forms and colours; we need to embrace this variety and all differences, and learn from each other. God has created all humankind from One Soul! We are all equal.

Then there was another speaker announced: Premier Dalton McGuinty; as elections are coming up, these politicians do not miss an opportunity to promote themselves to potential voters....

Huda and I strolled through the bazaar and then met up with the two Sarah's for some Eid shopping - sweets and yummie food from the Lebanese supermarket... I am in heaven!

We had a lovely day - it really felt like a holiday!

Happy Eid!

S & D

Au-Revoir a Montreal et Quebec

A new day, and no cloud in sight... Hurricane Irene has moved on....

Today was our last breakfast at the hotel together with Bettie & Chris.  Both of them are staying on til later in the week.  At which point we will see them again in Toronto, as Bettie is Huda & Sarah's neighbour Joy's sister and Chris is Joy's husband's brother.... yeap - small world... and a wonderful bunch of people!!! Made the weekend a great and unforgetable experience!

Our return journey was very pleasant, bar the point where the traffic stopped moving and came to a standstill for 1 hour.  Once we started moving again, we found out that there had been quite a horrific accident.

The one argument that went on for the duration of the journey - of course - was, will we stop at the next rest place or will we not....????

It took us 7 hours to get back home, and we all happily crashed (in our own beds...)

Sweet dreams....

S&D

Trains....

Love those big trucks....

The only way to travel when you hit a traffic jam....

Huda - slow down!!!

Winebago with Jeep attached....

Military plane circling above - probably training before heading off to Afghanistan....

Montreal - jour 3

It is Sunday, 28 August - and Hurricane Irene, (a large and powerful Atlantic hurricane left extensive flood and wind damage along its path through the Caribbean, the United States East Coast and as far north as Atlantic Canada. Throughout its path, Irene caused widespread destruction and at least 55 deaths.) has hit Canada's East Coast - ie. Montreal and Quebec... it is overcast, raining and stormy not just windy!

I was praying Irine would be delayed by at least 1 day, but no such luck.  This of course meant, that we could not drive to Quebec City. And... our plan B, which was driving to Ottawa, was also not possible, as Irine also hit that city.

So Chris, in his great wisdom, suggested that we stay in Montreal and do some indoor activity; to which we all happily agreed. So we spend the day at the Biodome! 

The Montreal Biodome (French: Biodôme de Montréal) is a facility that allows visitors to walk through replicas of four ecosystems found in the Americas. The building was originally constructed for the 1976 Olympic Games as a velodrome. It hosted both track cycling and judo events. Renovations on the building began in 1989 and in 1992 the indoor nature exhibit was opened.

An of course, there is recycling!!!

We had a great time indoors experiencing the outdoors... if you know what I mean....

• The Tropical Forest is a replica of the South American rainforest.
• The Laurentian Forest is a replica of the North American wilderness.
• The Saint Lawrence Marine Eco-system is an estuary habitat modelled on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.
• A polar area that is divided into Arctic and Antarctic.

If you have ever seen the movie 'Happy Feet' - here are all the stars & characters of that movie.... at least 4 - 5 different species of penguines - all sooo cute!  We had to go back a second time to look at the pengiunes....couldn't get enough of watching them...

After our little indoor/outdoor adventure, we had to be fed and we went to 'Tim Hortons' (a Canadian chain) where I was introduced to my first 'boston cream doughnut' - yummie....

As the storm wouldn't let off, we all decided it was time for an afternoon nap (old people...what can I say...).

Refreshed in the evening we finished off our day at an Indian Restaurant - third time lucky - the first one we went to was closed for renovations, the second one on the list was closed for a private function, but the third one was open, and the food was delicious.

Sadly it was time to say good-bye to André, as Huda, Sarah and myself were leaving the next morning back to Toronto.  André was a great guide with lots of interesting stories to tell- it was such a bonus having him show us around - thank you!

Bon Nuit!

S & D

Montreal - jour 2 - part II

Being a French place, everything is francosized....they have a thing for their poulet (french for chicken....)

PFK (Poulet Frittee Kentucky) - instead of KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken)

Shish Poulet - instead of Shish Kebab

Chateau Kebab = Castle Kebab

We walked a lot today.... walking is the best way of getting to know a city ... and it is exhausting....but we had an interesting time discovering the place.

We discovered this quaint heritage market.  It was fun to see the people all dressed up in period costumes!

Here you get anything and everything Maple.....

This horse carriage was driven by this tiny Philipina, who kept on shouting as she directed the horses through the crowds: Excuse me, Madam, excuse me, Sir.... (very funny and just a tad worrying....)

Now this Indian was scary!... and his pants did not cover his whole behind.... also scary...

Home brewing...

By mid afternoon, we were totally exhausted, and treated ourselves to icecream... By now we were all looking forward to the BBQ André had promised us at his house. So off we went in the people mover....across the bridge....

The Biosphère is a museum dedicated to the environment.

Habitat 67 is a housing complex and landmark located on the Saint Lawrence River. Its design was created by architect Moshe Safdie and built as part of Expo 67.
It was designed to integrate the variety and diversity of scattered private homes with the economics and density of a modern apartment building. Modular, interlocking concrete forms define the space. The project was designed to create affordable housing with close but private quarters, each equipped with a garden. The building was believed to illustrate the new lifestyle people would live in increasingly crowded cities around the world.

 


André's home (people mover parked in front...).  André has renovated and extended his house.... I fell in love with his kitchen and dining area ... I could have just lived in that area - phenomenal!

The Gang: Chris & Bettie; Sarah; André; Huda; Sabine

And the evening was perfectly finished off with this most beautiful sunset!

A deman.

S & D