Botanical Garden’s Natural Wonders: Voted Puerto Vallarta’s third best site by Trip Advisor

Nature lover, Robert Price, founded the Vallarta Botanical Garden in 2004, and with the endless flourishing species that cover this haven of 60 acres, Mr Price –  the gardens’ curator – continues to give much love to its appealing tapestry of natural colours and sounds – a natural habitat for over 211 bird species as well.

I took many photos; the ones you see here represent a fraction of its floral munificence.

 

 

I wandered into four conservatories each featuring native Mexican plants, cacti and succulent plants, orchids and rhododendrons. There’s even a peace garden whose international plants represent universality. This tranquil area is crowned with a multi-faith church at the top of the ascending stairs.  

 

 

An extraordinary accomplishment is the Tillandsia House. Highly popular in North America, Europe and most recently in Asia, tillandisia has finally arrived here:  the gardens is the first public structure to display these amazing plants in Mexico.

 Walking trails reveal themselves naturally; they’re not manicured inventions.  Within the plethora of flowers and exotic trees, coffee, vanilla and cocoa plants thrive  here.

 


One of my favourite paths was the remarkable Horcones River Trail.  Waters descend from surrounding canyons, converging to create a natural swimming basin.  Bordering the trail is constant cascading water circling around huge round rocks. It’s beautiful.

 

 

Your ticket into the gardens is good for two consecutive days, but make sure you eat upstairs; the food is sensational, and don’t leave without visiting the lovely gift area.

 You can also book this excursion at the hotel. I decided to take the 2 buses you need in order to reach this rewarding destination.  Then again, you can always hop in a taxi.

The gardens’ educational programs receive donations that qualify for the Canadian Children’s Shelter of Hope Foundation, and for many garden projects.

 For more information, visit the website: www.vgardens.org.  Email them at: info@vgardens.org

Puerto Vallarta:

http://sntravelandartswithoutborders.blogspot.ca/2017/03/puerto-vallartas-vacation-at-las-palmas.html#.WMLwazg0WSo

Garca Blanca:

http://sntravelandartswithoutborders.blogspot.ca/2017/03/garza-blancas-stunning-residency-reserve.html#.WMLwxzg0WSo

Montreal Symphony Orchestra Inspires with Brahms and Goes Beyond

                  

                                            

An exciting program of stellar beauty

 Maison Symphonique, February 22, 8.pm

The excitement was palpable as people piled into the stunning Maison Symphonique. 

 

M. Pouliot enthralled us with his performance of Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s “Violin Concerto in D major, op.35.” His sensitivity was magical. His virtuosity was most notable throughout the piece where 3 movements brought moods of sentimental sweetness and sadness where high-note diminuendos showed exceptional control that wowed us. These moments mixed tenderly with robust melodic passages that seemed to foreshadow the exhilarating finish. It was pure genius. His exuberance brought new meaning to the word “vivace” – part of the finale’s moniker.

Blake Pouliot

Vasily petrenko

Although the program opened with “Plages” – a piece by Serge Gallant – this daring composition stood in a striking contrast to Korngold’s gentle music meant for Holly movies. Gallant’s work vividly suggested a Hitchcock horror film or a Magritte surreal painting with its minimalist images.  The 12-minute composition was interesting and dramatic; crescendos, ethereal moments and ominous moods steeped in instrumental dissonance made “Plages” a poignant piece of alarming music.

 

The final wondrous work, Brahms’s “Symphony no. 1 in C minor, op. 68” comprised four main movements – the last offering 4 contrasting parts that built from and Adagio to and Allegro con brio. This complex piece that opens with a percussive boom in repetition journeys into a woven series of melodic developments that switch keys. One part gracefully repeated a melody suggestive of Beethoven. Lyrical in line, and profound, the culminating trumpet call at the end surely gave the work its well-deserved standing ovation that capped the entire evening’s triumphant performance.

photo credit: Nancy

Responsible for leading the orchestra into a passionate display of musical brilliance was Vasily Petrenko. Is it any wonder, the title of the concert was Brahms According to Vasily Petrenko!

Visit www.osm.ca

non-captioned photos by Cindy Tom

CAP SAINT-JACQUES: A PARK FOR ALL SEASONS

What a glorious day to put on my cross-country skis and take to Montreal’s largest park, Cap-Saint-Jacques. The sun was beaming directly overhead, and since the temperature was unseasonably high – at least 5 degrees above zero – I knew that the cold would not be an issue today.

Cap Saint-Jacques offers an expansive landscape where the great Lake of Two Mountains comes into view on several of the park’s trails. There’s a 32-kilometre network of natural terrain that comprises four immaculately groomed cross-country trails (the turtle, beaver, squirrel and the 10.9- kilometre-long rabbit trail); plus non-skiers can enjoy five kilometres for snowshoeing and seven for simple walking; and you can bring your dog on those trails.

 

 

Setting out with patroller, Diego Savard, we took the Turtle trail. It meandered through trees and offered gentle inclines to add variety to the outing. Diego is an intrepid backpacker – having trekked in several South American countries – his favourite being Ecuador - a country that somehow seemed to match the temperature of this day (if one  cared to really stretch the imagination). It was just so warm out; in fact, I had to take off my hat and sweater while skiing with him. Streams were melting.

 
In the distance among the trees, about one kilometre from the start of the 2.4-trail, I spotted a cozy building. Diego led to this sugar shack. I peeked inside, but we needed no food to re-energize ourselves.

                                                                 


We then took the juncture for the Beaver trail which gave a longer outing; its 6.8 kilometres brought us to the stunning 1916 Chateau Gohler where you can eat your own packed lunch or enjoy their wonderful soup and more. Money spent there by hungry skiers goes to the Boy Scouts of I’ile Bizard – a lovely region that spreads out to the west of Cap-Saint-Jacques.

                             

                                                                                                           

                                                                      

                                                   

At one point, we came to one of the huge bays where summer bathers converge to enjoy the park’s big beach. We noted more birds flitting among the trees at the water’s shore. Diego even walked onto part of the lake pointing to it s north as he revealed he had skied across it where he landed at Oka, another place renowned for its trails and beach.

Cap-Saint-Jacques is only 35 minutes outside downtown Montreal. Once there you feel you are in an oasis of pure untouched nature, and you can glide right through the trees as I did today. 

There’s even nighttime skiing. The park supplies your headlight, and after you finish the selected trail, you can sip hot chocolate and roast marshmallows, right behind the welcome centre there. A unique way to share family fun or rev up the romance in your life!

Cap-Saint-Jacques is peaceful; the staff is super friendly, and the area so accessible; it’s the perfect yearlong antidote to city stress.  I look forward to spending some summer days here, swimming, strolling and stepping into a kayak. 

For information, go to: www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/grandsparcs.

                                                                                           
                           A SUMMERY DAY WITH MY DOGGY AT CAP-SAINT-JACQUES

It was the Canada day weekend - a perfect July 3^rd sunny day to take my dog Zak to one of my favourite nearby  nature getaways: Cap-Saint-Jacques. It is one of three Quebec parks that allows you to stroll with your dog on a 5- plus kilometre walk. Greeting me at reception was Alexander, and though he was so nice to me, it was Zak who stole his heart. Nothing like a little cute dog to make everyone smile. Meeting more dogs was fun for all.

It was a day for us to bond in nature amidst beautiful birdsong and bucolic waters that around the circular perimeters, I saw Rivièrie de la Prairie, Lake of Two Mountains, Oka and Ile Bizard. Water everywhere and unfortunately the recent catastrophe in this region showed itself as I rounded curves of land bordering the water where I  saw bushes in water.

Walking along the path sheltered by forest, I bumped into Charles, a man in love with his boxer-mastiff dog, Minion who towered over my little maltese-lasa apso mix dog. Together, wee romped through forest and ventured along the water where Minion delighted in cooling himself off. 

We also headed to the Cap’s farm, and passed the horses, a chicken coup and the sheep that lazed inside a big barn.

I entered into the little store selling some organic produce plus maple syrup. Lots of the land here is dedicated to growing organic vegetables.

 

Nature here is gentle with wild flowers dressing up the greenhouse, paths and fields that we strolled among.

Charles told me that three weeks ago aside from the fox he saw. Three coyotes surrounded him. That in effect is why I insisted Charles come with me for the rest of my walk. He had a long stick, but we saw no coyotes. I was lucky to bump into Minion and Charles, for I was really quite alone as I started my stroll. 

What was to be an hour sauntering into nature turned into three. It was a day of surprises and enjoyment. Zak and I were most happy. 

I will return to explore the beach here and maybe even screw up my courage to do some kayaking.

Tourists need not drive to the Laurentians to immerse themselves in nature that is only a 30-minute drive from downtown. Cap-Saint-Jacques is kind of addictive and its terrain invites you to explore it on foot, skis, snowshoes and bike. What more could you ask for? Come on folks, it’s summer and this place is the perfect area to saunter into to enjoy oodles of varied vistas as the sun shines down.

                      For information, go to: www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/grandsparcs.

                                                                

  

THE SCENT OF THE FRENCH - MUSICALLY FLAVOURED

Montreal, January 16^th, 7:30 pm, Bourgie Hall

Arion Baroque Orchestra palpably lightened up the heavy feel of winter by featuring the uplifting music of Telemann, Lalande and Rameau. These 17^th-century composers were enchanted with French musical flavours that consisted of a swirling melodic melange of imaginative fantasy, frills, and contrasts. Most of the evening highlighted pieces that were strongly accented in a surprisingly intricate melée of instrumental play, influenced by the notable charmingly gallant spirit that characterized the court of Louis XIV.

The guest for the evening was the British/Brazilian world-acclaimed violinist, Rodolfo Richter whose understated manner perfectly suited the demureness, colourful surprises and melodic sweetness, particularly noted when he and the orchestra’s artistic director, flutist
Claire Guimond shared passages of joyous instrumental dialogue on their respective instruments in the Telemann concerto.

Michel-Richard de Lalande’s “Grande Pièce royale, S 161” – one of three of the court composer’s “Caprices” offered a variety of musical flavours that greatly pleased the king. This six-movement suite in G minor included an austere chaconne, an exciting fugato, along with a sweet air in the major key – even a gavotte that featured a pair of oboes in wondrous harmony that miraculously yet perfectly contrasted with periodic heartfelt passages from the bassoon. The flourishing finale burst with exhilarating gusto that gorgeously reflected this movement’s name: Vivement.

Georg Philipp Telemann’s “Concerto for flute, violin and cello in A major, TWV 53:A2” first appeared in the production of the composer’s Musique de table. The work' s stunning variety of instruments is matched by an enthralling mix of tempi, fun and fury within contrasting movements: Largo, Allegro, Gratioso and another Allegro. His gift of alternating French and Italian styles stands out in these four exciting parts.

 

Jean-Philippe Rameau was last but certainly not least on the evening’s delightful program.  His creation of a comedic musical ballet bouffon titled Platée was first performed at Versailles in 1745 during the wedding of the Dauphin with Maria Teresa of Spain. This balletic opera is not without surprises, for in the tale, Platée, the nymph bride-to-be looks like a frog! The music is positively exhilarating. The twists, turns and sudden bursts of contrasting sounds are mixed into lively dances that take their bow by succumbing to a tumultuous instrumental storm.

 

The concert lasted just over an hour, yet our hearts were filled with joy. The music tricked us into thinking that La belle ville was in fact Paris not Montreal – even as we braved the towering snow banks outside Bourgie Hall.

The website is www.arionbaroque.com

The Montreal Symphony Orchestra: Glorious and Great

 

The Montreal Symphony Orchestra has garnered a prestigious international reputation. Each concert creates a rich tapestry of symphonic music preformed with exceptional virtuosity. With close to 100 concerts given a year, this acclaimed orchestra is an inspiration to classical music aficionados and performers alike. The MSO enthralls audiences the world over with its amazing maestros. 


 
Kent Nagano, the MSO’s brilliant artistic director, brings genius and passion to each performance; 92 permanent musicians and chorus perform under his baton.


 





The orchestra has recently welcomed assistant director, Adam Johnson to the ranks; his remarkable talent and exceptional experience musically merge with 
 immediate impact.

                                              Read my review here