Unlucky

2024 Trip to Eastern Canada, Lighthouses

 

Right across the road from the lighthouse in Rimouski is the historic Maritime Museum de la Pointe-au- which houses the RMS Empress a ship that is sort of Canada’s Titanic. That vessel played a very important role in the history of Canadian shipping and navigation.

 

The museum commemorates the tragic sinking of the Empress of Irelandocean liner in the St. Lawrence River to Rimouski. It was the worst maritime disaster in Canadian history.  Of the 1,477 people on board, 1,012 died.  Actually what I read was that they were “lost.”  But I think reality is worse. The ship sank on May 29, 1914 near Rimouski.

The land has been declared a national historic site. The ship was considered a symbol of luxury at the time. It had spacious décor with rich wood panels and fireplaces. First class passengers were offered a music and writing room, a café, smoking room, and library. The ship and her sister ship were in their time the fastest ships making the trans-Atlantic run.

Shortly before she sank after a collision with the Norwegian collier SS Storstad, the Commander was told by the pilot, “I don’t think you should run into much fog for the rest of the night. Good luck commander.” Even though no passenger was given a cabin numbered 13, many on board suffered bad luck. In fact, it was the worst luck. On this day the Empress was unlucky as were most of her passengers.

Spiritual Light

2024 Trip to Eastern Canada, Lighthouses

 

 

Lighthouses can also have spiritual meaning.  In the Bible there are many references to light and nothing speaks about light as clearly and succinctly as a lighthouse. In verses from John 8:12, Jesus spoke as follows: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

 

It is one of the most significant passages in the Bible. It shows Jesus as the ultimate source of light and life. He provides spiritual light. He enlightens. He illuminates the way. He provides salvation from the dangers of life. Like a lighthouse Jesus can save us. That I think is the message.

 

You don’t have to believe in anything supernatural to appreciate the words and the meaning of such a passage. To some people a lighthouse can remind us of the divine spark of light in each of us. They can connect us to something greater than ourselves, particularly in the dark night of the soul.

 

The lighthouse can light the way to a spiritual path.

Lighthouses are not just Lighthouses

2024 Trip to Eastern Canada, Lighthouses

In the morning leaving Rimouski Quebec, we headed right out to the Pointe-Au-Père Lighthouse just north of town.

I have a confession to make—I love lighthouses. I cannot resist stopping to look at them and photograph them. Why is that?

 

Similar to what Sigmund Freud said about cigars, I say, “Lighthouse is never just a lighthouse.” Lighthouses have great symbolic value. Freud was obsessed with cigars.  When his nephew declined a cigar at 17 Freud was thunderstruck. How was that possible? He said to him, “”My boy, smoking is one of the greatest and cheapest enjoyments in life, and if you decide in advance not to smoke, I can only feel sorry for you.” He actually thought it was illogical not to smoke cigars. That is the way I feel about lighthouses. I wanted to see them all. And sometimes that was absurd. He smoked cigars almost continuously. He smoked about 20 cigars per day!

What then do cigars symbolize? Of course, many have said the cigar is an obvious phallic symbol. Of course, lighthouses stand proud and erect.  Is that what they refer to? Perhaps.

It has been said that a lighthouse represents navigation through the challenges of life. As Anne Volpe said, “They provide a sense of direction, safety, and hope. Lighthouses also symbolize the importance of staying on course, making informed decisions, and finding our way during darkness or uncertainty.” They offer guidance and assurance in tough times. In short, they help you to wade through uncertainties of life.

Lighthouses are often found in hazardous locations such as dangerous coastlines. Symbolically, they represent protection and security. Who would not want that? They offer hope that we will survive the dangers that surround us. They allude to a bright future. They are light inside the dark.

 

 

Yet the lighthouses are often found in secluded areas where they are isolated from harm. They suggest seclusion and solitude far from the maddening crowd. They provide tranquility in times of tumult and encourage reflection. They are allied with the search for truth. We need light to find the truth. And wisdom. Sometimes a lighthouse. And sometimes we just need luck.

Lighthouses must be strong for often they must endure brutal circumstances.  A lighthouse is a steadfast friend. Dependable. You can rely on the lighthouse in your life’s storms. Who would not welcome that?

After the danger of the rough sea, the lighthouse offers respite. They provide a warm welcome, a refuge, a safe haven. Lighthouses give us a chance to overcome obstacles and challenges in difficult times.

Lighthouses often are also shrouded in mystery and romance. I don’t know why? They are in remote areas which leads us to speculate about what life would be like living in a remote area, perhaps an island, in solitude for lengthy periods of time.

According to Volpe,

“Lighthouses represent the pursuit of wisdom, self-actualization, and spiritual enlightenment. They inspire individuals to strive for self-improvement, expand their intellectual horizons, and cultivate inner wisdom. They serve as reminders to seek knowledge, navigate life’s struggles with wisdom, and continually strive for personal growth and enlightenment.”

Lighthouses often symbolize eternal vigilance from other dangers. For example, they can represent political freedom, which as we all know, requires relentless never-ending vigilance and awareness. They require us to be attentive and aware and won’t tolerate indolence or laziness. In summary they require the best from us, including insight, courage, and determination to endure.

Long live lighthouses. Long freedom.

Rimouski Lighthouse

2024 Trip to Eastern Canada, Lighthouses

 

On our way to the east coast, we stopped in Rimouski, Quebec. It took quite a long time to find a room to stay. It turned out Rimouski was hosting a big hockey tournament. And in Quebec there is another religion that competes with art. That, of course is hockey. The town was filled with hockey fans and parents of hockey players. The hotel was jammed. There were hockey players everywhere.  It seemed like we got the last room in the town and naturally it did not come cheap.The players of course are hockey gods.

We stayed at the Hotel Rimouski. It was a large and nice hotel. The hotel restaurant was very large and completely filled with people who seemed to be having a great time. There is no doubt about it—Hockey is popular in Rimouski.

 

Pointe-Au-Père Lighthouse

In the morning in Rimouski, Quebec we headed right out to the local lighthouse on the edge of town. We saw it yesterday from a distance.  Today we would get a much better look. I admit I got a bit ridiculous about insisting on seeing the lighthouses. For one thing there are 40 lighthouses in Quebec and many of them are on islands.  No matter how much we meandered we would not see them all. And I always thought I was missing the best one.

Today in Rimouski Quebec I saw one of the most beautiful lighthouses I have ever seen. It was a magnificently sculptured lighthouse that stood out against a deep blue sky with distant fog in the background. This was the 3rd Pointe-Au-Père Lighthouse that was built in 1909 very near the edge of the city of Rimouski  in Pointe-au-Père.

It is the second tallest lighthouse in eastern Canada and consists of 8 concrete buttresses that reminded me of the great Cathedral of Paris—i.e., Notre-Dame de Paris. Often it is just called Notre Dame.  It was recently renovated after the great fire a couple of years ago. The buttresses here, unlike those in Paris, support a slender structure. Notre Dame de Rimouski perhaps.

 

The lighthouse is 108 feet (33 m) tall and its lines are pure.  It looked very modern. Sleek, jutting out into the sky like a sliver of white and the original was replaced with an electronic light in 1975. The grounds have been declared a national historic site.

Did you know that the maritime regions of Québec are home to over 40 lighthouses? A few are still operational, but most have been replaced by more modern instrumentation. Witnesses to a rich maritime tradition, these lighthouses, which were once navigational aids, now have a new purpose: to remind us of our past. Each lighthouse has its own personality, history and legends, and every one of them is worth a visit!

And I saw so few. What a dreadful pity. Even though we meandered!

 

 

Some Scenes Demand a Stop for all Meanderers.

2024 Trip to Eastern Canada, Meanderer, photography

 

 

If you pass by some scenes without stopping that is a sin.  I think this is one of them. Unfortunately, I have forgotten the name of the town. To avoid the taint of sin, we stopped to take a photograph of what at one time was a mill (I believe). There was no longer any sign of the mill but it was a lovely Quebec scene. I could not drive by without taking a photograph. That would have been a sin.

 

 

Are the Quebecois snobs?

2024 Trip to Eastern Canada

 

I used to think Quebecois were snobby, ill-tempered and totally dismissive of English tourists. Not anymore.  Everyone I encountered in Quebec laughed at me, rightly, for my pathetic lack of French. But they did not insult me or ignore me. They were actually polite and courteous. Even gentle.

It was a bit humiliating to ask Christiane constantly for translations. But that just shows up my ignorance. In Europe everyone speaks multiple languages and make no fuss about it. My German is terrible and my French non-existent. No doubt, I am ignorant and the French tolerated this without objections or mockery.

The French in Quebec have done quite well at preserving their language in the face of the overwhelming English language domination across all of North America. It really is a remarkable achievement that should be celebrated, even though they had to take some Draconian measures to make it work.  Like language police. But I like that they were able to do it. Almost everyone speaks French here. And many speak English too. Many more than those who speak only English. They like me, are in the ignorant minority.

I like the feeling of being in a different country. I know some don’t like it. I do. If you don’t, you should not go to Quebec. Then you are the snob..Snobs are in the eye of the beholder.Literally.

Religion and Art in Quebec

2024 Trip to Eastern Canada, religion

 

 

I must admit this photograph was taken of a church in Quebec town the name of which I neglected to take down. But I would be willing to bet it was named after a Saint. Quebec has hundreds of towns name after saints.  I never knew there were so many saints. We  don’t have any in Steinbach unless you count Andrew Unger.

You would be forgiven if you thought Quebec is a very religious province. This is an illusion.  It once was, but it is no longer. It’s not just that French women don’t want to have a lot of children anymore. Though that is part of it.  Quebecers also want expressions of religion, particularly by government officials, to be kept private.  They want a secular state. I agree with that to some extent.

The state should not impose any religion. No religions should be official. In fact, if you like religion, you should ensure the state stays out of it. The United States is one of the most religious countries in the world, and I think that is partly because it has insisted right in the Constitutionon that no religion could be “established” there. It is called the non-establishment clause. Many people think that because no religion was allowed to be established by the state each religion had to compete for adherence. Hence those religons have remained vibrant.  In states where there is an official religion, often it does not have to compete and hence the approved religion quickly loses its luster. Freedom of religion leads to robust religions. Established religions lead to stuffy religions. Freedom of religion includes freedom from religion and that is for the best, even for religions! Freedom from religion is important for others besides atheists.

In Quebec they try had—some would say too hard—to maintain a secular state. Just like France, eventually people rebelled against the dominance of the Catholic church and this spelled the doom of the church.

In Quebec I often get the feeling that art has replaced religion.  They are religious about art. They take art very seriously. Religion not so much.  Artists are everywhere and usually well respected. Priests and nuns are a dying breed mainly of old people who are literally dying out.

Yet Quebec also have magnificent churches. I took many photographs of them on our trip across Canada, and I usually tried to write down the name of the church. This time I failed to do that.

 

Notre-Dame-des-Neiges

One church I did take down the name was the church called Catholic Church Notre-Dame-des-Neiges in the city of Trois-Pistoles, Quebec on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River.  It was built from 1882-1887 and the architect was David Ouellet. The town is said to have been named for a silver goblet worth three pistoles, an old French coin, that was lost in the river in the 17th century. The coin is long gone. The church remains.

MAGA Canadian style

2024 Trip to Eastern Canada, politics

 

While in the Ottawa area, we learned about bullying on Parliament Hill encouraged by the current leader of the opposition, and no doubt, soon, the Prime Minster of Canada,Pierre Polievre . Bullies are popular in modern society, as shown clearly by our American neighbours. They are content to have one as a president.

I always thought Canada was a little better than that. Now I don’t believe that anymore. Pierre Poilievre aggressively insulted Jagmeet Singh the leader of the NDP who have entered into an agreement to support the Liberals as long as they would bring about a public dental plan for Canadians with a dental health plan.  Poilievre said Singh was a phony and fraud for not supporting the Conservative non-confidence vote which would have ushered in an election if it had passed. The mob on the hill was quick to join in the fray to harass Singh with foul language. These foul-mouthed bullies are MAGA Canadian style.

We live in the age of bullies. Even in Canada.

Time ain’t for Savin’

2024 Trip to Eastern Canada, Meanderer

 

As we were leaving Ottawa, I phoned my brother-in- law for suggestions on how to get through Montreal. He recommended we avoid the 401 at all costs, as it was always jammed with traffic. In Ottawa we got lost and had to rely entirely on our GPS to get us out through Gatineau. He suggested a highway that was “sort of a Perimeter” and would be slightly better. Slightly better than the 401 is all we could get. We encountered what we considered serious traffic jams, but were glad not to experience worse.

After being in a virtual crawl for about an hour we almost missed our exit to get off the freeway. My French navigator woke up just as I was about to go by it, and told me to hurry to the exit because a slow highway tractor was allowing me to dart in.  I had to cross a solid line to do that but my navigator was very insistent. As only French navigators can be insistent. Unfortunately, a local traffic constabulary was parked around the curve and immediately engaged in hot pursuit of me.  When I stopped the car to take my lesson, the cars that passed honked and hooted with mirth. But then my French navigator proved her worth. She batted her eye lashes  at the officer and explained we did not know that was not allowed in Quebec. As a result, the officer let us off with a warning. No ticket.

 

As a result, we took what we called ‘the River Road.’ It was very interesting. It really was a long line of small towns without breaks almost all the way from Montreal to Quebec City. It was a very slow but very pleasant drive. We were content. There was much to see and we were meandering.

We finally got off the freeway east of Montreal near Trois-Rivières where we got onto the road that followed the St. Lawrence River. We could not make time on this road, but we are not in Quebec to make time.

Time was much too valuable for that. As Jimmy Buffet said, “Time ain’t for savin’, no, time’s not for that.” I would say time I is too important for savin’.

 

 

The Fanciest Breakfast Ever

2024 Trip to Eastern Canada

 

In our modest Ottawa hotel we had the fanciest breakfast we ever ate. The hotel had what I would call a Persian Restaurant. We were the only customers. Our server was a striking Persian woman in an elegant black dress. The entire restaurant was in pink. Almost everything was pink. One wall was entirely pink with artificial pink flowers, candles, and fans. Asians know how to do fancy. There was a vast array of tables each with leather seats, but only one was occupied, and that was by us, and frankly I felt entirely out of place. I didn’t belong here, but I tried to graciously accept the lavish attention to our every need. Not just needs.  Even for things we would not have dreamed of needing. There was a video monitor with gorgeous scenes constantly changing.  The cutlery was gold. Not silver, gold!  Probably not real gold but looked extremely expensive. And in the background the most incongruous music—country music! I was blown away.

We were given buttons to use to electronically summon the waitress whether to pay or request further service. I had to admit it was efficient. The breakfast looked too good to eat. It didn’t seem right that such food would be served to peasants like us.  The food was excellent. She served us Persian tea with cardamon flavour. I had never heard of it before but it was delicious.

This entire meal was an otherworldly experience. We felt like we were in Iran dining with the richest people there. We felt like bacteria in this pristine and elegant establishment. It was one of the most unusual breakfasts we ever had.

Is it possible to have to much luxury?

Canada never ceases to amaze.