Montreal

September 16, 2009

Today we did Montreal. I had a bit of trouble understanding folks, I thought Mainers talked funny, these folks up hear really talk funny, couldn’t understand a word they said, and their road signs are nothing like I’m use to. It seemed like I was in some foreign country. Our campground provided written instructions on how to get to and take the Metro, in English, which proved to be of little help since the signs were definitely not in English. We did not find the metro station we were looking for, but lucked into another, which required we switch trains part way to downtown. I was a basket case, (geez, THAT’S an understatement), but Jean just kept asking people and guessing at what they told her until we actually came out just where we wanted. (I’m surprised that he admitted that). In an effort to settle me down, her first stop was a big church, decorated like Catholic Churches are suppose to look like. I hope you can tell from the pictures. Right away Jean spotted the confessionals, but lucky for me not a priest around or I would have been atoning for my earlier sins. The statues through out were carved from wood rather than stone.

The chapel, which was also very beautiful, had been rebuilt following a fire, and is much more modern than the original but none the less remarkable.

My sins atoned for, (almost) Jean figured it was time to feed me, so off to the wharf we went. Jean saw all the big ships and was sure she would find a lobster shack. No luck so we settled for a little hole in the wall restaurant with enough atmosphere that Jean forgot about her lobster roll.

What is called Old Montreal is really a mixture of old and new building standing side by side. One street paved with cobble stones and the next a modern roadway, one very narrow and the next 4 or 6 lanes. We had already eaten when we found the outside mall area, it was lined with restaurant after restaurant, one pricier than the next. Even the alley ways were filled with artists selling their wares. Jean found a necklace which just fit her and so she got her shopping fix. (I think that was to atone for the lousy attitude I had to put up with all day). I must have given her a bad look for she hustled me off to another church to finish the day.

Jean got us back on the metro train and to the parking lot with ease, but getting back onto the highway was a challenge. Again a problem with est and ouest. We had to circle around right smack in the middle of 5 o’clock rush and I was talking to myself again, wondering if we would ever return. Jean settled me down by reminding me that there was a rum and coke waiting for me and all would be well shortly. So it was and so ends today’s report.

Sep 16, 2009

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