My Birthday Present - Montreal

For my birthday this year my girl got me a weekend in Montreal, which i have just returned from. It was a good time, and surprisingly educational! Thanks to my girl for not only getting me the trip, but for putting up with my sometimes less than exciting plans for the city. We went to a biodome and a planetarium. She must think she is dating a closet science teacher. I guess it could have been worse, we could have gone on a tour of Quebecois auto insurance companies...


The view from Mt Royal. More impressive in person. Its not really a mountain, its more of a hill. The view is still pretty nice though. Right before we left this overlook, some people tried to steal my car.


Of course i had to get some Poutine. Not as good as Elgin St Diner Poutine from Ottawa, but much better than what they give you at Harvey's. I couldnt finish them. Im too far removed from my days of disco fry training.


Right next to the Olympic Stadium (that's where the tower in the first pic is from) is the old velodrome that was used for indoor cycling. Since then its been transformed into the Montreal Biodome which includes 4 separate climates, all with living animals. The best ones were the Tropical Rain Forest and the Arctic. This little Puffin was in the Arctic. I love Puffins. Usually cuter than penguins. Penguins are still pretty cute.


The beavers were the hardest to get a good picture of, but some of the most fun to watch. There was a camera inside the beaver home so you could watch on a TV what they were doing when they were in there. They swim pretty fast, hence the blurry photo. I had to try however. There is a law about taking a vacation in Canada without taking a picture of a beaver.


This little bird seemed to get a kick out of walking around right near people. He would walk between all the people, and when everyone started to pay attention, he would stop and pose motionless on one foot looking as majestic as possible. It was neat to see a bird that comfortable around people that wasnt dirty, like a pigeon.


This is my girl next to a giant picture of a lemur head. Sometimes she asks me if her eye makeup looks "too raccoon". I suppose it could be "too lemur" as well. In any event, it never looks raccoony. She's beautiful.


Here is me making an ass of myself in the gift shop. What else is new. That bear on my head is keeping my freshly shaven head from getting chilly. Thanks, Mr. bear.


This is far and away my favorite picture taken this weekend. I call it "Penguin Triumphant".