Toronto

Toronto, a set on Flickr.

The metropolis that defines multiculturalism. Canada's largest city is a fascinating place to visit.

Iguazu falls from Argentina

Iguazu falls from Argentina
Originally uploaded by lusignan

Beautiful, powerful, deafening, spiritual, exhilarating...just some of the appropriate adjectives for Iguazu Falls. Put this on your list of places to visit before you die. Really, put this on the top of that list. The combination of the thundering waters, the glistening dark rocks and the immense greenery of the rain forest make you feel as if you are communing with nature.

Christ in the mist

Walkabout

"I'm on a walkabout. It's about collecting wisdom of emotions and heart and self and understanding. Being absolutely comfortable with your body and life and the earth, sun, and moon being the only truths. That's what my success is, getting underneath that." - Heath Ledger.

Potty

Ipanema Beach Bar
Originally uploaded by lusignan

I just returned to Buenos Aires after four days in Rio de Janeiro...where it was overcast and rainy most of the time. Nevertheless, Rio is stunning. Approximately 7 million Cariocas live in this city on the Atlantic Ocean. You are sure to see amazing scenery and great looking people. And according to many people, you are sure to get mugged or robbed. I must admit, there is a certain dangerous feeling out on the streets in Rio.....but nothing unsavory happened to me...and I was walking alone. I visited one week before Carnaval...and these people want to party. The street festivals were happening and the hips were shaking, in spite of the poor weather. The brazilians exhibit very few inhibitions, and the attitude is contageous. In my humble opinion Brazil and Argentina could not be more different. Let's just say....in Brazil, they samba and in Argentina, they tango.

Parrilla, Calle Bolivar, Buenos Aires

Parrilla, Calle Bolivar
Originally uploaded by lusignan

OK, let's get the meat issue out of the way. Argentina has the best beef in the world (sorry Alberta)...and the argentinians know how to work a parrilla (traditional grill). The meat is slow cooked on the grill and the taste is amazing. I have already tried the "bife de lomo" with papas fritas, followed by a bit of dulce de leche at an ice-cream parlour. There are many, many ice cream parlours in Buenos Aires and it really is the thing to do at midnight. I better get used to this pace fast.....no more crashing after watching the 11 PM news. And I had better watch it.....one of my resolutions is to get fit :-)

Window, Boeing 767

Window, Boeing 767
Originally uploaded by lusignan

En route to Buenos Aires, on American Airlines. Sleeping on the plane is almost impossible, especially when they serve you beef in red pepper sauce at midnight. Travelling by air is now a nightmare...delays in Montreal due to a sick crew member and in NYC due to a bagage handling error.....but finally arrived safely in Buenos Aires 24 hours after I left my apartment in Montreal. My apartment is in Barrio Norte...a district between Recoleta and Palermo. Excellent location for sight-seeing. Surprisingly, I find the city very manageable and I have walked from Barrio Norte to San
Telmo (birthplace of the Tango), Recoleta (Evita's playground), Microcentro (Obelisk et al) and Palermo Viejo (Buenos Aires hip, artistic, fashion epicenter).

Miami Beach Chic

Miami Beach Chic
Originally uploaded by lusignan

If I had million dollars.....I would consider living the vida loca for a while in Miami Beach. Interesting place, gorgeous beach, very international....and expensive.

In my life

Three trees
Originally uploaded by lusignan

There are places I remember
All my life, though some have changed,
Some forever, not for better,
Some have gone and some remain.
All these places had their moments,
With lovers and friends I still can recall,
Some are dead and some are living,
In my life I’ve loved them all.................

Mosaic on cross

Mosaic cross
Originally uploaded by lusignan

For a solitary traveler a cemetery is a perfect destination. The light was beautiful today and there was a crisp cold wind. As I walked among the graves, along the paths and up the hills I thought about my dear friends that, shall we say, have gone to the other room.

It was amazing to read the inscriptions on the gravestones and monuments. So many men and women with histories...buried under the fallen leaves. It is so true that in the grand scheme of things we are here on this earth for a very short period of time.

Let's make some noise.