Monday, May 29, 2023

Random Bits of Montreal 2023

Here's some stuff from the visit to Montreal that did not make their own blog post...

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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