Vacation DITL in Montreal
Early 10th anniversary trip to Montreal, Quebec
Wake up in our swanky hotel
J heads down to get some coffee, so I read for a bit
A decadent breakfast in the room
Time to pump
Take a look at the hotel-provided map. Today our objective is Mont Royal
We plan our route in the hotel, then take a screen shot to remind us as we won't have internet while we're out
Heading out before it gets too hot and admire the architecture
Entering the park
We stick to the trails at first, but continue heading left and up the mountain. Pretty soon, we're off the beaten track but continue forging ahead!
We made it! Not the smartest climb up a cliff face in sandals and with 80% humidity, but we did it and were rewarded with this amazing view.
Our "trail" to get to the top. We weren't the first to "hike" this, but I doubt it is a city-sanctioned path. (If it looks like it goes straight down, you're right)
If we needed any more proof that we were going the wrong way, we now have to climb over this fence.
Now we're back on an officially-sanctioned trail and decide to stay there the rest of the morning.
It's at this point that J turns to look at me and says "I'm afraid of heights"
We round a bend in the trail and suddenly we are at the giant cross on top of the mountain
A bit later, we reach the Chateau-du-Mont-Royal
They've wheeled out a decorated piano onto the square, so J sits right down
And what does one play while in French-speaking Montreal?
Debussy, of course
We decided to check out the interior of the chateau before moving on
It was like an enormous converted hunting lodge
We continue walking around the park and find a lake. Of course, we need to check it out more closely
And finally, our ultimate destination: Mont Royal Cemetery!
We are headed here for a pamphlet about an arboretum tour through the cemetery.
A long-lost branch of the family tree, perhaps?
We only do a small part of the arboretum tour. Our feet were getting pretty tired
Along with the tree pamphlet, the woman in the cemetery office gave us another pamphlet with "noted people" buried in the cemetery. Here was one we found.
We also found the Jewish area of the cemetery
And the World War II-era military section
We head along Park Avenue and find this convent along the outskirts of the park.
And we're back where we started!
And this is where we were
We head back to our hotel via McGill University
Well, thank goodness we found this Jeep! I feel much safer now.
We quench our thirst with some Canadian beer when we get back to our room
Order room service
And take a well-deserved nap!
A latte when we wake up
We stop by the souvenir shop to get something small for the boys
Rest our weary, aching feet at the plaza
We head up to our hotel's top floor terrace to enjoy the last of the beer and champagne. It's lovely, but blazing hot, so we last approximately 8 minutes before heading back downstairs
We have some time to kill before dinner, so I draw a warm bath. I can't put down the book-- it's really drawn me in!
J relaxes too
Then we get all dressed up for our fancy "it's not quite but close enough" 10-year anniversary dinner
We are horrible at taking selfies
Did you know Montreal still had working pay phones?
We still have some time to waste before our dinner reservations and we're here, so we thought we might as well do the tourist-y bit. This is Old Montreal
I wonder how many people actually wear fur dresses?
We decide to rent Bixi bikes to get us to our dinner because we can't think of walking any further
Pre-dinner caipirinhas and chips
And we're seated out in the back terrace for dinner
We had the rabbit nuggets as appetizer, then J picked the duck breast with cherries while I had the lobster spaghetti. We ate until we were stuffed and every bite was delicious.
We talk and sip wine as the lights come on and evening falls.
We Bixi back to the hotel, an exercise in danger at night on busy streets
We read, watch TV, and fall asleep