Montreal Day 3

18th Century Market (again), Parc du Mont Royal and a carriage ride ...

After a great dinner at our favourite restaurant last night, it was time to head back to our hotel

The City Hall beautifully illiminated 

The busy Rue Saint-Paul but never seemed to be overcrowded

The next morning we went to have another look at the 18th Century Market whilst it was a bit quieter. We caught a full re-enactment scene! 

Including loading and firing of the muskets! 

Anne with a couple of the local 18th century people 

After that we decided to take the car and drive to Parc du Mont-Royal which is on top of a hill and the closest that Montreal has to Central Park in New York. This is the Lac aux Castors 

Plenty of open space and plenty of Sunday picnickers arriving 

Beautiful park and a beautiful day!

The lookout over the City of Montreal was also very impressive 

More towards the centre of Montreal 

Here you can just see the Montreal Olympic Stadium in the distance 

Just to prove that I was actually there! 

Back to the old part of Montreal on our way for some lunch 

Our favourite restaurant - again. Thirsty work this sightseeing! 

This area seemed to "Wedding Central". we saw about three going on at the same time! 

This happy couple intrigued us as they kept crossing a busy road again and again whilst being photographed!

The Sulpician Seminary in the background is the oldest building still standing in Montreal. It was first erected in 1684. Horse drawn carriages can also be seen (see later), The statue with the turned up nose had only just been erected - it matched another at the other side of the Place d'Armes 

I wouldn't have chosen pink for the carriage but the lady driver spoke good English and that was definitely a benefit as she gave a good narrative whilst we travelled the streets for 30 minutes! 

The full rig - 1 horsepower! 

Our lady driver pointing out points of interest

En route we came across our hotel - Auberge Bonaparte 

Anne giving the horse a carrot on completion of the ride. Tomorrow we have a 3 hour drive to Quebec City

Montreal Day 2

Montreal Botanic Gardens and the 18th Century Public Market ....

The Montreal Olympic Stadium adjacent to the Montreal Botanic Gardens

This the tower of the Olympic Stadium that suspends the roof. There is a glass funicular lift that goes up the left hand side - you can just see the blimp on the left hand side!

We decided to visit the Montreal Botanic Gardens because of a special horticultural exhibition.

The International Mosaiculture event was back in Montreal after a 10 year absence. Around 50 stunning works created by horticultural artists from 25 countries. The striking plant structures lined a spectacular 2.2 km path through the Botanic Gardens

The structures seemed to be moulded shapes of soil held together with fine mesh from which the plants were growing

Quite spectacular in size and detail

A piano complete with keyboard. The girl is trimming the foliage and there were other attendants constantly watering the exibits

Some even had waterfalls built in!

I think this one was called Mother Earth

A friendly gorilla!

Terri and Anne with a couple of friends

Cute uh!

This one was called "The Phoenix"

This spectacular example was about 3 storeys high and called "The Tree of Birds". Two attendants were watering it from two cherry pickers

The Chinese Garden was also beautiful

Anne with a couple of friends in the Chinese Garden!

The Botanic Gardens cover about 75 hectares and there was no way we could see all of it in one visit

Montreal Metro on the way back to the old part of Montreal and our hotel

Point-a-Calliere, Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History. Around it is the 18th Century Public Market which was on for this weekend only. Examples of pottery, woodworking etc and many stalls attended by people in costumes of the day

Musicians in costume also scattered through the market

Lots of photo opportunities!

Bit incongruous with the car in the background!

Anne watching the guards marching

Montreal Day 1

Arrived Montreal, checked into our hotel, lunch and exploring ...

We arrived into Montreal around lunchtime. After checking into our hotel we were sitting in a cafe having lunch and watching this film shooting on the other side of the street!

Didn't seem to be much action going on! 

Typical street in the old part of Montreal 

This is Terri and Anne heading back into our hotel, Auberge Bonaparte. It is perfectly located, right in the centre of the old part of Montreal 

Horse drawn carriage rides ($48 for 30 minutes) are very popular  

Bank of Montreal Museum on the Place d'Armes 

Statue in the centre of the Place d'Armes 

Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal, also on the Place d'Armes

The whole of the Place d'Armes from the steps of the Notre-Dame Basilica

Inside the Notre-Dame Basilica 

The very ornate altar of the Notre-Dame Basilica 

The 7,000 pipe organ of the Notre-Dame Basilica which was being played when we entered the Basilica, fabulous! 

Montreal City Hall just next to the Place Jacques-Cartier 

Anne jumping for joy in front of a fountain near Champ de Mars 

Looking for a place for dinner is very hard as there are hundreds of restaurants to choose from! 

There seems to be restaurants on every corner and down every street 

The waterfront and marina had some expensive craft moored 

This the front of the Montreal City Hall from the Place Jacques-Cartier 

After dinner we wandered back to our hotel admiring the illuminated buildings and streets 

a beautiful night for a wander ...

Still plenty of people around after 9.30 at night!

The illuminated Notre-Dame Basilica. Time for bed!