Near our rental house is Eglise catholique Nativite-de-la-Sainte-Vierge, a fine-looking church that was not open when we went nearby.
We really wanted to go inside |
We visited in early April, which apparently was not late enough for all the snow to melt. One dead-end street was really a snow-end street!
You shall not pass! |
Also nearby was a playground with a fun climbing web.
Making his way to the top |
We went to Mont Royal, the mountain (though maybe it is technically a hill) to do a hike, not realizing the previous months' weather was against us.
Hiking trails? |
Now they tell us |
Another tool to use in the snow |
We did make it to one overlook, Belvedere Kondiaronk lookout. The Chalet du Mont-Royal is right behind the lookout.
Chalet du Mont-Royal |
View of the city |
Some more view |
Even more view |
With my son |
A bit from one of Montreal's founders |
A view from the other side of the mountain |
We drove around the Plateau Mont-Royal neighborhood and found a bakery for a snack. Patisserie Au Kouign Amann is a small shop with a lot of great stuff. The signature item is Kouign Amann, a butter and sugar cake with a crusty outside (think caramelized sugar), that was fabulous.
Best apple tart ever |
House special |
We visited the Google office in Montreal, which had all the usual fun amenities.
Cool sign |
Hot fireplace |
Free breakfast |
Play room |
Foosballers |
We stopped by the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal but did not go in. We were in a time crunch and the kids were a little burned out on churches. Also, they charge a bit to get in! The church has some sort of laser/light show in the evenings that guide books recommend but we were divided over it.
Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal |
Photo from a geocache |
The Basilique neighborhood is full of official and official-looking buildings.
Ministry of Finance, I think |
A monument to Lord Nelson is right in between the government buildings and the old port. It's all in English, I guess there's no French pride in Nelson.
Nelson Monument |
The base |
The other side of the base |
The weather wasn't warm enough for this fountain to be going, but the statue of Jean Vauquelin stands guard nonetheless. He was a French naval officer who fought the British on the St. Lawrence River during the Seven Years' War.
A dry fountain |
Vauquelin |
View of the city from Vauquelin's statue |
City Hall |
We tried to find lunch in Chinatown, but we couldn't agree on any of the restaurants that were open.
Chinatown |
Old port neighborhood |
Typical building (and a nice couple) |
We saw a sculpture called Les Chuchoteuses on a random corner.
Random street art |
Another touch of England was the Wolf and Workman pub, with a typical sign above.
Wait, what? |
Another cool-looking building |
Charming street with a flag in case the fire hydrant gets buried in snow |
Bank on a narrow street |
Another random art display |
We used a fancy metro entrance to make our way back to our lodgings.
Definitely French-looking |
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