Canadians like pets, and in residential neighbourhoods it’s common to see people walking their dogs after an early diner, no matter the weather.
However, unlike French, Canadians are well-behaved and they pick up after their dogs—streets here are not dotted with dog poop.
The other day was one of these blah days. I was soaked by the time I got home. I ditched my bag on the floor and grabbed the camera with my favourite prime lens for a quick photo shoot—I wasn’t going to get any wetter.
I’m very ashamed to say that, for the past…er, 8 years, the pumpkin carving duty was often performed by my Chinese in-laws.
But this year, we decided to tackle the chore.
Cut me some slack, okay? Back in the days, October 31st was just a regular day in France—no pumpkin, no sugar-high kids, no candies.
North Americans take Halloween seriously. As soon as the back-to-school displays are gone, they are replaced by gooey candies and a wide range of merchandises sporting skulls, bats, pumpkins, skeletons and the like. Be afraid, be very afraid…
My story with Canadian cinema didn’t start very well. When I first came here, Feng dragged me to see Men with Brooms. Keeping in mind I barely spoke English and didn’t know much about Canada, I automatically assumed it was a comedy about… guys doing housekeeping, a bit like Mrs. Doubtfire. Well, turned out it was a movie about curling. I didn’t even know curling was a sport.
Soon, a long horde of newly-deads, including Colonel Khadafy, marched down Saint Patrick Street, blocking the traffic and scaring passer-by. Ottawa citizens stood no chance against the zombies, lurching and groaning for brains. The police could barely contain the madness. I stood on the side, trying to document the apocalyptic invasion. I risked my life for these pictures.
During the Thanksgiving long weekend, we enjoyed amazingly hot weather and we decided to spend the day in Ogdensburg, NY State. We always pass through the town but never really stopped to appreciate it. Time to do it justice under a beautiful Indian summer sun.
Observe the picture. Sure, nothing special, just a regular road in suburbia. Cars, lights, advertising on the side… and a frog dancing and waving on the traffic island.
A what?
Yes, a frog.
Oh, don’t you have men dressed as frogs dancing in the middle of traffic in your country? Aw, that sucks, sorry about that. You must live in a boring place.
Weather-permitting, I’m still looking for beautiful fall sceneries in Ottawa—this is the perks of living in the region! After Vincent Massey Park, I headed to Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General of …
