Montreal, Quebec, Canada

After we left Sydney, Nova Scotia we headed for Moncton, New Brunswick where we boon docked in the Casino New Brunswick parking lot for one night.  Got up the next morning and headed for Edmundson, New Brunswick and boon docked in the Grey Rock Casino lot.  After breakfast we headed for Montreal.

Montreal was our last planned destination in Canada. We were returning to French-speaking Quebec. It was time to get myself in a French frame of mind again. Our RV Park was outside Montreal in the village of Saint-Phillippe – Le Clé des Champs Complexe VR.  As we approached our destination we began to worry. Ms. GPS had taken us off the main highway into cornfields. We appreciated the pastoral countryside but wondered where our RV Park was among the cornfields.

Trusting the GPS, she finally led us to a beautiful RV Resort, probably the nicest one we had stayed in all of Canada. There were many Quebecois that were there for the summer. I wished we had more time to spend there to enjoy all the amenities and the relaxing atmosphere.  There are residents there that own their lots and they are decked out so nice you would think you were in Beverly Hills.

 

 

 

I was looking forward to seeing the Basilica in Montreal. We had been told by people we had met from Montreal that they are known for their bagels (?!) and smoked meat. Since we did not want to take our truck we took a bus into the city. Montreal is the largest city in the province of Quebec with a population of about six million. Our destination was the old city where the Basilica was located. In the line for the bus we met a lovely young man – Kareem. He told us that he would walk us to the area as his office was located close by. He would also give us a tour of that part of town. I noticed it was about 1:30 in the afternoon and mentioned that it seemed late arriving to work. He said it was OK as he owned the company.  We appreciated the information Kareem provided us but particularly enjoyed his company. He said it was very fortunate that we met each other on the bus. (It sure was.) Besides French and English, he spoke several other languages and had been to 40 countries. I believe his mother was Pakistani and his father was Scottish.  Kareem apparently means “generous” and he certainly had a generous manner. When we parted ways he gave us his business card and told us to contact him if we ran into any problems, day or night. Needless to say, our introduction to Montreal was very pleasant due to meeting this generous and kind young man.

 

 

 

 

I was on a mission to Fairmont Deli known for it’s bagels. Locals say they are even better than NYC bagels. Kareem gave us general directions which ended up much farther than expected. We were told by a local about a Jewish deli called Schwartz’s, also called Charcuterie Hebraique de Montreal ( Montreal Hebrew Delicatessen). Schwartz’s is the most famous remaining Montreal style smoked meat restaurant in the city. Well, I could get smoked meat here and by this time we were very hungry.  It was the best pastrami sandwich ever. We certainly walked far enough for this world famous sandwich.

Futher information about Schwartz’s: 1) It has been the inspiration for a theater production – “Schwartz’s: The Musical; 2) It’s been the subject of two documentaries – The Concert Man and Chez Schwartz; 3) Celine Dion is a part owner of the restaurant.

After our scrumptious sandwiches we made our way back to the City Center. We were not able to make contact with Uber so we hoofed it back to the City Center. We skipped going to the Basilica as the line was long. Instead we took a horse drawn carriage ride around old town and down to the wharf. (I admit I felt sorry for the horse, Jessie, but the driver seemed to treat her well.) We enjoyed the tour and our guide who was born in Montreal had much to say about the city. After this, we walked back to the bus station and went back to our trailer at the pretty rv park.

The next day we took the bus into Montreal again. We went to the Notre-Dame Basilica. It is built in the gothic-Roman style and highly decorated. It’s considered one of the crown jewels in Quebec’s rich religious heritage. I lit a candle of course in the Basilica. The vaults are colored deep blue and decorated with gold stars. It’s a sensory experience as you sit in a pew bathed in the different shades of blue.

Miscellaneous information regarding the Basilica: 1) In 2000, the state funeral was held here for former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre  Elliot Trudeau. His son, Justin Trudeau gave the eulogy. Justin Trudeau is now the Prime Minister;  2) Celine Dion and Renee Angelil were married here in 1994; 3) Rene Angelil’s funeral was held here in January 2016.

After this we appropriately went for a bagel just a few steps from the Basilica. I don’t think it’s the best bagel I have ever had, just different. “In contrast to NY-style bagels, the Montreal bagel is smaller, thinner, sweeter and denser, with a larger hole, and is dipped in honey sweetened water before being baked.”

We decided to tour the city by taxi which allowed us to see more of Montreal and have the benefit of a native. Tony (our taxi driver) took us to Mount Royal which is a volcanic-related small mountain, immediately west of downtown Montreal. It is a year-round public park designed by Frederick Law Olmstead famous for his work on Central Park.

It is 200 hectare (495 acres) which occupies part of the mountain. It lies in the midst of Montreal Island and includes the highest point in the city.  We took photos at a couple viewing points. Peter climbed to the top of the summit and took a video of the city from that vantage point. (I climbed part of it.)

 

 

The summit of Mount Royal – 360 degree video

As a part of the tour of the city we went by the University, the biosphere, and Olympic Park. There was so much we could do, but we were running out of time.  At the end of the end of day, our taxi cab driver dropped us off at the at the bus station so we could head back to Sainte-Phillippe. The bus and metro station is an elaborate facility which includes shops, a large food court, and an ice skating rink. We decided to grab a quick dinner before catching the bus home. Meantime Peter informed me that he was going ice skating. “How can I be in Canada and not go ice skating?”  JY & PRC

Not quite the Olympic skater I use to be – (ha) – didn’t stick the landing