As most of you know I'm a city girl ( soon to be not but for now I still am ) I don't have a massive " spread "
in my backyard with a pool and a gazebo and a deck
I don't have a creek - or a forest within reach
What I have and what most of us city slickers have, are balconies.
Montreal is pretty famous for it's balconies - in the 70's Canadian Playwright DAVID FENNARIO produced a play called Balconville - and since that time, the standard reply for Montrealers who are asked what they're going to do this weekend is - " I'm going to hang around balconville "
Some are charming
some are weathered
some are tiny
some are multi layered
a lot of them are built over garages - or parking pads to optimize space
some are painted pretty colors
some belong on Gingerbread Houses
some resemble Manhattan fire escapes
some are added on top of extensions
some sit on top of garages
some are built to create much needed storage space underneath
some are in the process of being redone completely
some offer "standing room only"
some are hidden on roof tops
some are a mishmash of the original wrought iron and newer wood and chippy paint
All of them bring back warm memories for this city girl who can still remember placing a blanket or sheet
across them and having an instant playhouse.
Hot Town - Summer in the city - when you hear chatter and dishes clinking and laughter and music playing out of each open door and if you're really lucky - the sound of a lone saxaphone that some child is struggling with.
Now I know this is not for everyone - and I'm sure there's a lot to be said about listening to crickets - but because I've never known anything else - this is the melody of my life - and one I think will always be music
to my ears...............
I may or may not be sitting on my balcony with a glass of wine this evening......................
( cause at night it's a different world )
Sharing with
The Charm of Home French Country Cottage My Romantic Home
Is the back of your neck feeling dirty and gritty? (I can do it too!)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tour around - makes me want to hang around balconville too!!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Suzan! And although the sounds I hear in the country are of flies, mosquitoes, tree frogs, and robins, I would love to visit the city and hear the sounds of neighbors as you describe. The rooftop balcony reminds me of a movie I once saw, Green Card. Haven't thought of that for years and suddenly it popped into my mind. ANYway, hope you have a nice weekend. Thanks for the tune that's now in my head. :-)
ReplyDeleteCute post, Suzan. That's how I like to imagine city life...not the sirens and screaming traffic noise. I think you will miss it.
ReplyDeleteAh summer in the city...sounds charming - really. I've always been in in between world out in the suburbs unless we were visiting grandparents. We get some of the city sounds in our backyard. I'm looking forward to farm sounds when we finally move.
ReplyDeleteI've experienced the sounds of the city as well as the deepest darkest night skies of the country. Each has its own sense of awe, each can give you a sense of great wonder to be part of the world and each has its own sound. I came from a small town, my favourite was sitting on the porch, listening to my parents talking, enjoying relief from a cooler evening breeze at the end of a hot day as the neighbourhood slowly headed to bed. Thanks for evoking those memories.
ReplyDeleteWell that sounds enchanting too!!!
Delete( you forgot to mention the curtains slightly swaying in the evening breeze - that's how my mind works LOL )
XOX
melody of life, thats just so beautiful, such a wonderful heart felt post, I lived 40 some years of my 50 some years in the country, now I'm the city person with only a balcony, I love it as well, its different but I love it,
ReplyDeleteThanks for this beautiful post Suzan!! I've been in Montreal and I've seen those beautiful balconys that you show here, and I know the sounds of the city....
ReplyDeleteMy english it's very bad, sorry, jejeje....but I love Montreal, I love Canadá!!
Thank you so much!!
XoX
Your English is EXCELLENT Luna!!!
DeleteThanks for coming by!
XOX
How very cool that you're enjoying the same type of space now that you enjoyed as a child, albeit in a very different, but still fun way. :)
ReplyDeleteRunning up the stairs, gonna meet you on the rooftop...
ReplyDeleteI bought an old black iron balcony off Craigslist a couple of years ago. It was from an old apartment building. It weighs about 700 pounds (seriously). I thought about attaching it to my house or garage but I think it would tip either one of them over. I put a wooden top on it for now and use it as my potting bench.
I have lived in the country, I have lived in the city (Chicago), I prefer the city, because the country is a lot of lawn work. This very moment, my house is in a small city and I have enclosed the tiny backyard in a 6-foot fence, so it's like... an enormous balcony? that you can plant flowers in/on. I can still hear neighbors, but my probability of being attacked by a bear is minimal.
The balconies are really interesting, and the many different interpretations. My favorites are the first one, and the gray balconies on the brick house, because it looks like a tree house! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteLove those balconies, best place to hang out in the city. Reminds me of the Friends show.
ReplyDeleteHappy Mom's weekend
I enjoyed the pictures very much. I used to be a city girl as well and I lived in four different flats before I bought the cottage. My number one criteria was to have a balcony! I could not live without a little "outdoor space" of my own. Have a nice evening on your balcony and be careful with the wine!
ReplyDeleteAll those balconies are beautiful! I'm a country girl, but have always thought I would enjoy city life as well...:) I love visiting my daughter in the city! Enjoy a glass of wine for me as well...:)
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Vicky
Life On Willie Mae Lane
Come on come and dance all night.
ReplyDeleteJust don't spill the wine. OH that's a different song!
Bliss
These photos are beautiful! I had no idea Montreal was known for their balconies. I actually didn't realize how many different kinds of balconies there were until I saw this!
ReplyDeleteFYI: I'm visiting from the blog hop. :-)
One of the most charming things about Montreal are all the duplexes with their wrought iron balconies and stairs - always loved looking at them as I sat in the taxi from the airport to my head office in Longeueil.
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day, my friend.
I was going to mention the wrought iron - except I took these all in the perimeter of 2 streets next to me lol -
DeleteXOX
I love both scenarios. I love the city scene and the sounds that come with that and I equally love the sounds of the frogs mating in the pond in front of our house. I work in one and live in the other. It is a great mix.
ReplyDeleteHow fun to see all of those balconies. Wish I was having a glass of wine with you! I think I would miss the sound of my frogs and owls at night and the occasional coyote howl!
ReplyDeleteI'd party with you on one of those balconies! Any excuse lol
ReplyDeleteI want a balcony! But I guess I'd better get a second floor first. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteThat's my childhood! Sitting on the balcony, on a hot summer evening, eating a popsicle that cost 5 cents, watching people stroll by... Ours was wood, but all around us were the wrought iron balconies and staircases. Good times... Thanks for the memories, Suzan!
ReplyDelete