The Dallas Courthouse?

C'mon guys.  I would hate to think that Montreal copied our beautiful downtown courthouse....Okay...its not exactly the same...I'm just sayin'...

Our first day in Montreal

We got to Montreal last night at 11:30, made our way through customs, found the luggage, stood for thirty minutes in the taxi line, and finally stumbled into Le Petit Hotel around 1:15. Peter, the poor little guy working the late shift, dragged our back-breaking suitcases up the few steps into the foyer, wheeled them down the hall and into the elevator and to our room where there are six steps up from the door to the room.  I was afraid Peter was going to have a hernia or a heart attack but he graciously managed and we rolled into bed around 2:30 AM.

So today was a relaxed day, just as I had planned it.  We missed breakfast but I crept down for coffee and we were on the street at the crack of noon.  The beautiful Notre Dame Basilica is just a few blocks but we had lunch first at a charming little bistro nearby called Modavie (which I assume to be a French bastardization of Way of Life), recommended by cute Matthew at the front desk after Tom told him he was craving a steakfrites.  Just like Paris according to Beloved and I had salmon so we were both happy.  

The Basilica--NOT a cathedral as the cab driver had rather rudely informed us on our late night drive from the airport--is one of the most beautiful we have seen, perhaps second only to the Cathedral in Albi, France which dates to the 13th century and is literally covered in vibrant religious art on the inside, some of it restored but basically the original in spirit and design.  This Church is also richly decorated with intricately carved vaulting and statues, a ceiling painted in rich primary tones, and lighting which enhances all of it to breathtaking effect.  By the way, in case you're interested, a cathedral is the designated seat of a Catholic Diocese chosen by the bishop of a given metropolitan area, while a Basilica is a papal designation based on some architectural, religious or historical importance.  St. Peter's in Rome is a basilica, not a cathedral.  Basilicas are strictly Catholic, while a Cathedral can be any number of denominations.  Twelve years of Catholic school and I never learned that.

While we were visiting Notre Dame, busy but not overly crowded, an organ recital was in progress.  The soaring vaults boomed with the deep resonant tones of a virtuoso organist. In deference to the setting, no one clapped between pieces, but when the artist played his last note, the crowd burst into spontaneous applause. Truly a spiritual experience to awe the most jaded of sight-seers.

Approaching Notre Dame Basilica from the back.

This picture doesn't begin to capture the beauty of this magnificent church.  It's worth Googling.

A charming charcuterie in the Vieux Montreal neighborhood.  Such a mouth-watering array of fruits, veggies, meats and pastries of all kinds. 

The square in front of Notre Dame Basilica 

And sweet Tom on the streets of Old Town

We're back from dinner now at a superb little Greek restaurant recommended by Matthew, one of our several attentive desk clerks, and I'm so relieved that this actually posted after many moments of angst.  There is some partying going on in the street but the bed is so comfy that even I will sleep anyway.

Leaving for Montreal

Tom's Dad was the third McQuaid brother to emigrate from Prince Edward Island, Canada to Baltimore, MD in the 1920's.  The first two brothers came because Baltimore had one of the only dental schools in the US at the time and for a reason I'm not privy to they had chosen dentistry as a profession.  Following his older brothers a few years later, Tom's Dad went to law school instead, but in any case if it hadn't been for those young adventurous dental students, I would not have met and married Beloved and would not be traveling to Montreal next week with PEI on the itinerary.  

Funny how life turns out.  

We took a driving trip to Canada about 35-40 years ago and I don't remember much except driving for what seemed like days through wooded countryside with nothing but the CBC on the radio to keep us company.  It was the only radio station available.  All talk, no music.  I do remember fascinating Quebec City and charming Peggy's Cove, also on our itinerary this time, but not much else.  

This trip will be a tad grander (thankfully).  We will fly to Montreal next week, stay a couple of days and then board our third Seabourn cruise from there up the St. Lawrence River to Quebec City, past the Saguenay Fjord, To Gaspe, then Charlottetown (PEI), Halifax, and on to the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME and Boston.  Along the way in the ports we should be able to see the lovely change of seasons that New England is so famous for and do our first real leaf-peeping in many years.  When we disembark in Boston, we will stay for several days and finally get a good look at that venerable and historic city.  Sad but true, I've never been to Maine and my total experience in Boston involves about two or three hours passing through one time many years ago on our way to Cape Cod.  No sightseeing at all, just a brief visit with some friends who lived nearby and a quick trip to (of all places) Filine's Basement!  I'm very excited to finally visit Beantown properly.