Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/12/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Seth Rosner said: >>> Beautiful daughter, gorgeous 4 1/2 year-old granddaughter and I are off at > the crack tomorrow for a four day New Year's package at the Chateau > Montebello in western Quebec province, described by Fairmont, formerly > Canadian Pacific, as the largest log cabin the the world. And it is.<<< Seth mon ami, And it is the largest log cabin hotel in the world, absolutely amazing with the huge fireplace in the centre of the main hall that reaches up, I think, four floors. And given it was basically all built by hand in 1930 it's a truly amazing structure. What a wonderful location to bring in the New Year, the Chateau Montebello! Been there a few times myself, unfortunately never on R&R always assignment of some kind. The most interesting was as the official photographer to the G7 heads of State meeting for the 1981 Summit when President Reagan passed around his bowl of jelly beans to the other members as they sat around the big conference table. :-) And security? Like amazing with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the American Secret Service and who knows who else, so I had security clearance to meet God if you like. So all these police officers had to know who I was and the first day even before things got going I was challenged everytime I turned around because of the 3 -4 Leicas hanging off me. They'd see the cameras and immediately assumed I was media so they'd jump like tigers. However a meeting with the senior officer in charge of the whole thing ended most of the problem. Also the secret service guys all stopped talking into the sleeve of their suit coats when I'd show up. . ;-) For those of you who don't know what that means: The secret service guys had tiny radios with a microphone threaded through their jacket with the micrphone in their left hand and a hearing aid type thing plugged into an ear for their internal comunication. And everytime you'd see these guys they looked like they were talking up their sleeves. Because I had free reign to go anywhere they were meeting I had several ID pins on the lapel of my suit coat, even that caused a couple of over zealous guys to hold me back the first day until they checked it out by, "Talking up their sleeves." ;-) However, once cleared they apologized, but what the heck they were doing their job and I just stood cool until they got the word. Trust me this was not the place to get mouthy and waving your rights, other wise I may still be deep in the hidden cellars of Montebello! ;-) I know you'll have an absolutely wonderful time, so ring in the New Year loud and clear with a single malt glass of cheer! :-) ted - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html