Take down, Walk Down, keep on touring!

Friday is always a tough day for all of us.  It starts with take down and the very real fact that the fair is almost over.  We have made plans to make this the best day possible in Montreal!

The kids are tired of all the tour groups but they are doing so well with the expectations laid out for them - stellar job.

Johanna chatting with neighbors before take down.

Dylan chatting and dismantling!

Marisa and Sahaj sharing lasting memories and maybe more pins!

AND THEN IT WAS OFF TO SEE WHAT WE COULD ON FOOT FOR 5 HOURS!

These swings take up a narrow unusable space a block long.
They play music!

Another block of fun - jets of random water everywhere = FUN!

For some reason, we thought we should be in BC - giant logs going all the way down
the pedestrian area of St. Catherines - just there for sitting/hanging out!

Dylan wanted to challenge but all of the games were occupied
with people waiting their turn.

Back in the LGBT section after an unfortunate and long detour!
Should have checked our maps!

We just had to come back and see the pink bubbles one more time!

We decided to brave the metro, headed down, got directions - emerged right at the Basilica, our mission was to find ice cream and we did!

C'est magnifique! Daphne and Johanna are farther down, sitting on the steps!

After a bit of shopping, just sitting in the sun.

We found a concert of Peruvian musicians - a lovely break for all of us!

The main square in Old Town

We found dinner in a charming, hidden square

Dylan is pretty sure that this is the first time he has ever ordered (by choice)
a salad for dinner!

The final event was a cruise down the St. Lawrence -
as we pulled away,, we passed an old ship that has been re-purposed as a floating spa!

Giant ships which we watched loading cargo -  felt like it was a movie set.

The ships are just enormous!

This is our last shot of Montreal - the kids rockin' it out - just having a blast!

2016 -  Canada Wide Science Fair is now a memory but what a trip and what an experience for our West Kootenay Kids - they had a ball the entire week!

Today's Fun Fact about Montreal:
More than 85% of the world’s maple syrup comes from Quebec and items such as maple cookies, maple butter, maple candy, maple marinades among others are Montreal’s specialties. In the Spring, during what is called Temps des Sucres (sugaring-off time), people flock to traditional sugar shacks around Montreal to enjoy these treats -  We ate A LOT of different foods this week with maple syrup!! YUM!

More tours and THE Awards Ceremony

Let's celebrate first!!!! 

          Dylan won a BRONZE MEDAL 
                   Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

Well done young man!!!!  So proud!

We did not have to get the kids going until 8 a.m. today. They all needed sleep and were able to start their second tour day off with a bang!

AND THIS IS HOW WE STARTED . . . . .

YUP - that is Dylan scaring Daphne!
He brought his unicorn all the way from  Nelson so he could do THIS!

Just in case you didn't get the full effect.

He DELIGHTED the staff - they even took pictures!

YES - this is a food group or so they are telling me!

We have actually studied healthy foods this year . . . . 

It honestly could not have been timed better.
The awards ceremony coming up - everyone needed to lighten up!

 . . . . and so, while the kids worked  

                 - we did sneak off and have a most delicious time.

We spent the morning at the 

                   MUSEE DES BEAUX-ARTS MONTREAL!

A most impressive staircase. 

Sculptures that were awing . . . 

The Montreal skyline

What we actually came to see - the exhibit from Pompeii - thrilling, heart-wrenching

Can you even fathom 79 A.D.?

One of the exhibits of modern art

This sculpture just hangs around outside the museum.

On our walk back - charming.

Ready for the awards ceremony - they cleaned up 'REAL' nice.

You can dress this kid up daily but he will FIND a way to spew ketchup INTO his sleeve and on his shirt - SERIOUSLY!!!

Dancing away - so much fun



MORE TO COME BUT BED FOR NOW!

Today's fun fact about Montreal - Montreal has the second largest amusement park in Canada (don't tell the kids this until we get home!)

LONGEST day ever if you are a finalist!

The kids started the day with an extra-special treat - CHRIS HADFIELD!

Chris Hadfield is always a treat but he really spoke to the kids today
A very special moment for all!

Johanna, Marisa's ponytail and Dylan enjoying Chris Hadfield
(we got the bleachers)

As I said  - he really spoke right to the kids!

AND THEN IT WAS BACK TO BUSINESS - THE KIDS WERE AT THEIR PROJECTS UNTIL RIGHT NOW - A  VERY LONG DAY FOR THEM! 

Thousands (literally) of people toured through and talked to the finalists all day . . . . 

Marisa and Kennedy just hanging out!

People everywhere - Johanna was out doing mini-McGill
Dylan was also in a workshop on genomes

A  very special view of the hall - it is always so impressive!

I must apologize for my terrible blogging skills - this is only to give you a 'flavor' of what our kids are up to this week!

Today's fun fact about Montreal - there are eleven university level institutions in Montreal.

p.s. - we have no photos of tonight as it was a talent show showcasing some pretty amazing finalists!

Montreal continued!

Our tour day was packed with the treasures that make Montreal such an experience . . . . 

Can you just imagine these glimmering at night ?????

The Museum of Fine Arts

This sculpture is made of glass and is displayed OUTSIDE!

Playing spoons together - great fun!

Another fun fact about Montreal - Montreal is home to the world famous Cirque du Soleil.(we saw the tents!)

Montreal, Montreal c'est magnifique Montreal!

TOUR DAY!

Our kids had a well deserved day off.  We rode a hop-on-hop-off bus tour of Montreal. Here we gooooo . . . 

Here you have the hot and cold of it! Love the optimism of Marisa, who promised along with Johanna that they would buy us a latte if they were cold.  They came back with wallets intact!

Scottish brick - Scottish architecture

Parks and green spaces were everywhere as we toured.

 First stop was the Notre Dame Basilica  which was built  with non-Catholic money and designed by James O'Donnell (note the spelling!) 

Notre Dame Basilica altar
What looks like gold in this church IS GOLD!

Beautiful carved wood everywhere

Largest pipe organ in Canada - 7000 individual pipes!

VERY INTERESTING - all the stained glass in the church
do not depict biblical scenes - instead scenes from the
religious history of Montreal. Incdredible!

There MIGHT have been a latte or two involved . . . 

with a cronut (shared)
a croissant/donut with cream filling YUP!

Then it was off to the Science Centre - enormous where

they had the 'Inside/Out' exhibit - fabulous! But the favorite and most absorbing part was Science 26 . . . .  the kids were completely immersed in all of it!

Marisa solved this in record time!

Dylan did not look up until he did too!

Marisa in a simulated womb (Tamara!)
Note the zen-like pose.

No problem - up she went!

All 3 loved this - solving a giant water wheel puzzle was not easy!

That MIGHT be one of our kids up in the air - NOT SURE???!!
I am pretty sure that is Nicholas Paun!

BIGGEST helping of poutine yet - willing to share - not so much!
HAPPY - totally and completely!

Johanna came for a beavertail and got a beavertail - they are SO good!

Just chillin' out waiting for a bus - look who we picked up!
YUP! Nicholas Paun who spent the year here at McGill!
He got us around and we had such fun seeing him again.

Nicholas and Dylan

Scottish architecture 

The LGBT Village - blocks and blocks of these pink 'bubbles'
Spectacular - and very festive!

Today's fun fact about Montreal - there are nine bridges surrounding the city of Montreal.