Montreal Explored

Ah, yes, manageable, fun and fascinating Montreal. Two full days to explore the world's second largest French-speaking city. Since it was not our first trip -- it was Ben's third and amazingly John's ninth -- we could be reasonably selective about what to do.

Our first evening was on rue St. Catherine in the gay village, with a bad martini at one of the open air bars along the street, followed by a very good dinner of Asian food -- Cantonese style soup and imperial rolls, followed by mussels for John and chicken with crispy spinach for Ben. Much conversation with the neighboring table, an international interior designer, and his female friend.

The gites is extremely good and convenient. Maison des Jardins, owned by Luc Desjardins in the village gai. Enjoyed other guests, visiting from NYC as a group to celebrate one's 55th birthday.

We spent Sunday exploring the city on foot. An excellent show at the Musee des Beaux Arts of Napoleon I, a collection of 100 or so pieces. Then a walk along Sherbrooke and Crescent Streets and through McGill University. Dinner was ex quisite at D-Send of entre-deux-mers with duck confit and brandade de mouru.

Today off to explore Vieux
Montreal, a walk along the St. Lawrence, then to the older French neighborhood of Plateau Mont-Real. Lovely squares and interesting shopping and restaurants. We had lunch on a pedestrian way at a Greek restaurant and coffee on Blvd St Laurent. The homes in the region are French style built about 120 years ago by the
enterprising Quebecois.

Home as rain threatened and
as we go out to dinner before home tomorrow: