Hotel
Created by Todd Mundt
Thu 12/21/06 (day 1)
Getting to Montreal
Our trip to Montreal today was uneventful - at least in terms of delays or other travel mishaps. For the first leg of our journey, we flew to Toronto through Detroit. We had 3 free hours in Toronto before boarding the train for Montreal, which gave us just enough time to take the subway up Yonge St. to Wellesley, and to have lunch at Spring Rolls, before heading back to Union Station.
This is the second holiday where we've taken the train from Toronto to Montreal, and I must say it's one of the most enjoyable parts of the trip. There's no cramped airplane experience, and you have four hours in which relax and enjoy the scenery. This year, we're taking the train one way only - we'll fly out of Montreal, and we think this will help speed the return home. After all, when you're ready to return home, you're ready, if you know what I mean.
We arrived in Montreal at 8pm today - and cabbed to the Auberge in the Old City. It was rather warm for a December night, so after we unpacked, we got outside and spent about 40 minutes walking up and down the streets of Old Montreal. Every year, it changes, and this year, in particular, it seemed there are many new shops and a few new restaurants.
Our original plan was to eat at Gandhi, the Indian restaurant. But we ate on the train, and so we postponed our Gandhi meal to another time.
One thing you'll notice about the Old City is that there are many art galleries - not unexpected. What fascinates us is the wide range of patrons to which they cater. What I'm trying to say nicely is that you'll find really interesting artwork next to some really garish product. Well, it's all subject to one's personal views about art, but we always find that just about anyone with any taste in art could find something here to purchase.
There was a lot of activity in the city this evening - lots of people out for a good time. And from the looks of things, there are more people living in the Old City than has been the case for many years.
We've had a tiring day of travel, so I'll try to wax lyrical about the city tomorrow. For tonight, though, we're very happy to be back in our favorite room at our favorite auberge.
This is the second holiday where we've taken the train from Toronto to Montreal, and I must say it's one of the most enjoyable parts of the trip. There's no cramped airplane experience, and you have four hours in which relax and enjoy the scenery. This year, we're taking the train one way only - we'll fly out of Montreal, and we think this will help speed the return home. After all, when you're ready to return home, you're ready, if you know what I mean.
We arrived in Montreal at 8pm today - and cabbed to the Auberge in the Old City. It was rather warm for a December night, so after we unpacked, we got outside and spent about 40 minutes walking up and down the streets of Old Montreal. Every year, it changes, and this year, in particular, it seemed there are many new shops and a few new restaurants.
Our original plan was to eat at Gandhi, the Indian restaurant. But we ate on the train, and so we postponed our Gandhi meal to another time.
One thing you'll notice about the Old City is that there are many art galleries - not unexpected. What fascinates us is the wide range of patrons to which they cater. What I'm trying to say nicely is that you'll find really interesting artwork next to some really garish product. Well, it's all subject to one's personal views about art, but we always find that just about anyone with any taste in art could find something here to purchase.
There was a lot of activity in the city this evening - lots of people out for a good time. And from the looks of things, there are more people living in the Old City than has been the case for many years.
We've had a tiring day of travel, so I'll try to wax lyrical about the city tomorrow. For tonight, though, we're very happy to be back in our favorite room at our favorite auberge.
Planned Activities
Thu 12/21/06 (day 1) - Montreal
Fri 12/22/06 (day 2) - Montreal
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Sun 12/24/06 (day 4) - Montreal
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Mon 12/25/06 (day 5) - Montreal
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Tue 12/26/06 (day 6) - Montreal
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Unscheduled - Montreal
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Unscheduled
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A few of the returning favorites:
1) Les Passants du Sans Soucy - I love this little auberge, situated along the oldest street of the Old City. During the day, it bustles with tourists; at night, there's the clip-clop of hooves, carriages transporting people down the narrow streets after dinner. And late night, there's quiet. The rooms are wonderful, the staff delightful and accomodating, the omelettes what one would expect from a fine French kitchen.
2) Bonaparte - this is a fine hotel, too. We have dinner there on Christmas Eve. Our eating is broadly ethnic and weighs heavily toward The New, so a traditional, perfectly prepared French meal (with Canadian influences) on the night before Christmas is a treat.
3) Mont Royal - We walk from the Old City to Mont Royal on Christmas Day, usually leaving around 10am, generally arriving back home around 2pm. If the weather is too cold, we "cheat" by walking through the Underground City for much of the way there. Let's face it, there's not much else to do when you're on vacation on Christmas, and the walk is a good way to get a little exercise outdoors.
Those are what I would call the mainstays. We'll piece the rest of the trip together as we go.
Their list of recommended Montreal restaurants begins here:
http://endlessbanquet.blogspot.com/2005/…
http://endlessbanquet.blogspot.com/2005/…
Camellia Sinensis, 351 Emery, 286-4002 (Quartier Latin)