July 17-19                                        Montreal, Canada

We were slow to move after our long and stressful day coming into Montreal.  Finally, we left the boat as the afternoon began to cool and walked up the hill to explore the area.  We were at the “front door” of Vieux Montreal.  People were everywhere.  We walked the old streets and looked into the small cafes, bars, and shops.  Notre Dame Basilica was nearby and we admired its French Gothic architecture.  Across the side street was an excellent Christmas shop (worthy of a visit) with many lovely nativities.  I was tempted but did not buy!

We decided to have a glass of wine and an appetizer before returning to the boat for dinner.  Jardin Nelson had a lovely terrace area and had been recommended.  It was a great choice for people watching and bruschetta of hearty bread rubbed with olive oil, lightly toasted, and served with chopped tomato and capers.

On Friday, I walked about eight blocks to McGill Maritime Services to buy charts for the downriver part of our journey from Quebec.  No chart books were available so each chart had to be bought separately.  It was expensive but necessary.  The GPS has proven to be reliable but I am more comfortable having chart backup.

While I was gone, David met a fellow boater, Wayne, who owned a ship repair service.  His company, established by his father years ago, repairs large ships that come through the St. Lawrence and dock in Montreal during the winter.  He offered to have one of his guys come to look at the air conditioner in the salon which had failed to cool for several days.  He also invited us to attend a dock party that evening with some of his friends. 

Wayne was a gracious host when we arrived at his party a little after seven.  Two chairs were set up and waiting for us.  His brother, an acoustic guitarist, provided an hour of very good music.  Everyone on the docks was sitting on their boats enjoying the music.   It was a fun scene.

At a break in the music, we left to walk to the Basilica and attend a special light and sound show.  Drapes had been placed around the huge interior.  These served as screens for the colored lighting and projected scenes depicting the early history of the city.  Alternately, the lights played off the intricate woodwork on the three levels of the sanctuary.  It was a great way to see this incredible building.

Dinner was at Versa, a beautiful little restaurant near the boat.  The cuisine was novelle French and was very, very good.  As it was late, we dined lightly.  I had sautéed octopus.  David had foie gras and a veal entrée.  He raved about the Brandy Alexander ordered for his dessert.  After a taste (or two), I had to agree he was correct.  It was excellent!  When we returned to the marina, Wayne’s party was still going strong.  We listened from the aft deck of our boat. 

Saturday was sunny but a nice breeze kept it cool.  We walked several blocks and caught a Gray Line tour bus.  The guide was very knowledgeable and the tour was well-planned.  Sitting on the top tier of the bus, we better were able to see the architectural details of the many buildings.  Montreal has a wide variety of architectural styles, traditionally French, Victorian, Beaux Artes, Twentieth Century Modernism, and Oriental.  The huge regional library had exterior wall of frosted glass panels.  The city is very clean with little graffiti and almost no trash.

A trip up Mont Royal took us to the large cemetery with more than a million graves and a huge public park with numerous facilities for sports and entertainment.  People were spread on the grass listening to music and sunbathing.

A major attraction of Montreal is the massive St. Joseph Oratory on the apex of Mont Royal.  It is a place for prayer and a pilgrimage site for years for those who seek healing and blessing.  Masses are held there but no funerals, weddings, or christenings.  Mexican workers, who emigrate to the Montreal area each summer and fall to harvest crops, come there on weekends to seek special blessings on themselves, their families, and the crops they will harvest.

Returning to the downtown area, we left the tour at The Village.  The main street of the area is covered with a canopy of pink plastic balls.  This is known as the Gay part of the city and has a diverse group of shops, restaurants, and residents.  It was entertaining and somewhat shocking to walk through the area on our way to one of the famous underground shopping malls.  Resa is one of the largest and most upscale of the malls which give Montreal’s citizens an opportunity to shop in comfort during the long and very cold winters. With a large center atrium dominated by a fountain, numerous walkways lead in every direction.  There are shops, cafes, professional offices, and many other businesses located underground and accessible from exterior entrances.  Although the weather was lovely outside, there were many people in the mall area.

We walked more than two miles back to the marina.  David is determined to use this trip as an opportunity to exercise and build strength and stamina.  He insists he sees more by walking and the effort is good for him.   The past five years were difficult for him health wise and walking was very limited.  It is great to see him improving.