Abbey & Lac Brome

Today I ventured over to the Abbaye Saint-Benoit Du Lac to hear their Gregorian chants at the 11 am Eucharist mass. I think I last listened to Gregorian chants in college some 20 years ago (really?  yikes!) studying for my music appreciation class, and it's been longer than that since I did the catholic sit-stand jig. While I like to think myself lofty like Gamache, my reaction was pretty much identical to Beauvoir's.  I only thanked god when it was over.  

But it was fun to go and see the place that inspired Penny's latest.  The descriptions of the life of the monks pretty much matched their fictional lives in the book.  Except for the murder part.  That they didn't mention when describing their daily activities.

The space aliens are descending upon the abbey!

I spent the rest of the day at Lac Brome/Knowlton.  Apparently, the town has historically been known as Knowlton, but in the process of the french speakers reclaiming their heritage and their state, have recently renamed it Lac Brome.  But don't quote me on this.

Whatever you call it, it was a nice place to spend the day.  Ate some good meals.  This area has a seemingly unending supply of locally owned bistros with great sandwiches, salads, soups, etc.  Relaxed at the beach park by the lake, imagining it frozen over in the winter, villagers cheering over a mad curling match.  Good times.

I went over to Cowansville thinking I would catch a movie, but then I didn't feel like it and just drove around town a little getting the feel. 

It's a bit much of driving all over the place though.  Tired.  Driving to Montreal tomorrow for the weekend.  Will be happy to be on foot for the weekend, checking out Outremont and joining the festivities for Jean Baptiste day.