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Monday, 11 September. We awoke to cloudy day, but at least it wasn't raining. The continental breakfast in our hotel was quite good, with excellent croissants. The tables were very small, though, so we never tried to eat in a group. This morning we gathered after breakfast for a visit to Old Montreal (Vieux Montreal). We took the Metro to Place d'Armes and walked to Notre Dame Basilica (1829). Although we had seen it just three years earlier, Jane and I were still amazed at the beauty of its interior. The altar is the widest we've ever seen, made up of 32 bronze panels depicting the life of Christ. We also visited the Sacred Heart Chapel, very popular for weddings. It's larger than many churches. The tall reredos behind the altar is ornately carved from wood.
Next to the Basilica is the Supulcian Seminary (1658), Montreal's oldest surviving building. Across the Place d'Armes is the Bank of Montreal (1847), copied after the Parthenon in Rome. The Holiday Inn in Chinatown, just down the hill, has two large pagodas on its roof.
The group walked down Rue St. Paul to Place Jacques Cartier. This square is the heart of Old Montreal, very picturesque, and lined with sidewalk cafes on both sides. We spent a few minutes examining the square. One of the narrow side street, Rue St. Amable, was filled with artists hawking their wares. At the far end of Place Jacques Cartier is the Place Vauquelin, set between City Hall and the Old Court Building. Just beyond is the Champ de Mars, now a large open park, but with some remnants of the old city fortifications.
Walking back through the square, we came to the waterfront. We had lunch at the casual Pavillion Jacques Cartier on the Quai of the same name. By this time, most of the group was tired of sightseeing and wanted to do something else.
We all walked back through Place Jacques Cartier and the Champ de Mars so
they could catch the Metro. Jean and Ozzie went back to the hotel, and the other four went to
the famous Underground for shopping. Jane and I walked down the hill into Chinatown
(Quartier Chinois). We visited the Holiday Inn there, decorated with a Chinese motif and with two full size
pagodas on the roof. We continued on into the narrow, crowded streets, lined with Chinese
shops and eateries. (It would be too grand to call them restaurants.) The day had turned
warm
and humid, and we decided to head back to the hotel.
That evening the whole group gathered to go out to dinner. We decided to brave the Metro again and go to the Musee de la Biere (Beer Museum). It looked like an interesting place and was in the heart of downtown, only a block from a Metro stop. We were also influenced by the fact that it participated in a special two-for-one promotion by Visa card. It turned out to be an excellent choice. We each had a big steak dinner, and those so inclined tried the outstanding draft beer. I'm ashamed to say that the cost, with taxes and tip, came to about $8.00 (U.S.) a person. We almost felt like thieves. A quick ride on the Metro back to the hotel, and we called it a night. Page 1 2
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