Looking Towards the River

That shining ribbon of light is the St. Lawrence River. Montreal, an island, sits in it. Hidden from view all summer, from this vantage point, when the leaves are off the trees in winter, the river appears. It is the gateway into the interior of North America with ships now able to bypass the Lachine Rapids which stymied the early explorers, and travel via the St. Lawrence Seaway into the Great Lakes.

My mother was born in Russia before the revolution and came to Canada in the 1920s. I remember her telling me that she had learned about the river in school - probably as they studied the geography of the world. She was excited to actually see it. I often think of how it must have felt to be an immigrant at that time, to know you were never going back. Connections with the past were via mail which could take many weeks to arrive. How instantaneous everything is now as we connect through our devices and not only hear but see our friends and relatives from far off.

Winter Takes Hold

Winter Takes Hold, originally uploaded by susanvg.

A cold damp wind blew off the river. The current is strong here. Ice forms and breaks, carried off down the river faster than I was walking. There is something bracing about walking in the cold, bundled up in boots, jacket, hat, scarf and warm gloves. You can dress against the cold, but not against heat. And the joy of coming in to a warm place and sharing a cup of tea with a friend feels all the better after a walk.

Slowly now, the days will get longer, giving more daylight time to enjoy the crisp winter days.

June 14/10: Perching on Rocks

June 14/10: Perching on Rocks, originally uploaded by susanvg.

First I started taking photographs. Then I committed to a year of daily photographs. Then I started creating connections with others who embarked on the same journey; relationships formed. I admired their photographs (and often their writing) and wished I could capture images of the same quality. So after over a year of daily photographs I succumbed and bought a new camera and suddenly it's back to zero, trying to get a good shot.

Some days are just too busy for photo jaunts, but the drive to get a good photograph pushes me to go out. I have walked more, gone to more parks and noticed things I did not notice before - and now I am trying to "shoot" some birds. I guess I had better learn their names, be conscious of their habits if I wish to get the perfect shot.

You never know where photography will take you, but it takes you out of the house. I see fellow photographers and ask questions, look where their eyes look and start to see even more. Now I am thinking of joining the Montreal camera club, of taking a photography course in the fall.... I love to share my world with others, especially with those new friends from around the world who care enough to stop by this spot and leave a comment. Your words encourage me to try harder, to stay with it and to write.

May 5/10: Walking by the River

May 5/10: Walking by the River, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Montreal is on an island, but it is sometimes easy to forget that. As I go through daily life I only catch glimpses of the river as I drive. Today I walked by the river in René Lévesque Park in Lachine. There are many sculptures in the park from these odd legs (there are 5 of them) to a whimsical picnic and many others. This sculpture, Site/Interlude is by David Moore. Situated beside the river they demand a stop to not only look at them, but to sit for awhile and admire the river.

Jan 31/10 Montreal and Beyond

Jan 31/10 Montreal and Beyond, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I've lived in Montreal all my life and yet there are things I never get tired off - one is the view from the summit in Westmount. I love to see the layers, the nearby trees, now stripped of their leaves, the buildings and then the river. Montreal sits in the middle of the St. Lawrence River. I've always felt it was an important waterway. My mother, who was born in Russia in 1913, told me she had learned about the river in school there and was looking forward to seeing it when they immigrated here in the 1920s. As a child, this made me feel we were "on the map" - as if any place isn't on the map.

I love to look beyond the river to the mountains far in the distance and think about the peace the countryside brings, so different from the bustle of the city. Vistas like this are about the long view, the breadth of possibilities that exist in all these layers.

And I love the ever changing skies, today filled with sun and the energy that brings. The walk up the hill to get here is always rewarded by time to stand and just look before I set off downwards again.

Day 104: Sunset over the city

Day 104: Sunset over the city, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I saw the sun was setting and wanted to catch that light that seems to set buildings on fire. Instead I found a soft light bathing the city, the sky and the mountains in the distance. As I hear of rivers overflowing in other parts of the country, I watch our mighty river flowing up to Quebec City and then off into the gulf. The hills in Montreal give us splendid views, but also views showing how much the city has spread out beyond the other side of the river.