The solution (until someone "sweeps out" the Chicago route) was to meet in Montreal, to which he can fly direct. And that was the plan for June 4th. As an added bonus Thomas came up from New York as well. We made arrangements to meet up Saturday morning close to their hotel.
Out of the house at 7 am, we made it to Dorval Airport's construction zone by 9, where Fred and Thomas were waiting for us. Thanks to an SUV lent to us by the garage (while the photographer's car is a "guest" there) there were no space issues, and no one had to be strapped to the roof of a Smart car. Probably illegal too........
The first order of business was a cup of coffee. There was a problem with the water supply in the city of Dorval, and there were signs all over not to drink the tap water. Definitely elsewhere then! Off we went to Rockland Shopping Center, conveniently located, and in possession of plenty of parking. We found a Starbucks, and then we found an unoccupied set of couches at the side isle of the still quiet mall.
Time to catch up, compare Ipad apps, and hear all about Lysistrata Jones, the play for which Thomas did costume design.
After a good gab, we had a stroll through the mall, much improved after the expansion into the space previously occupied by the now defunct Eaton's. A general sprucing up appears to have also taken place, and the place no longer looks tired. Instead it looks hip and airy, with lost of light. I find a purse I looked at before, but now it is on sale for 40% off. Yes please!
There is only so much merchandise we can peruse, so we got back in the car and made our way to the Plateau to buy some bagels at the St-Viateur bagel factory. A bakery just does not get more stripped down than that. A good part of the front of the store is taken up by bags of flower. Then there is the production area, (kneeding station, boiling pot, oven) a cash, and one single refrigerator with some cream cheese and lox. No place to eat, no frills. Yet they are the premier bagel place in Montreal, and Thomas told us that a deli in New York has their bagels flown in from this place. Their website offers daily shipping to the US!
For the rest of the day, each time we got back in the car, it smelled heavenly on fresh warm bagels.
The next stop was Old Montreal, where we parked near Pointe-à-Callière, and went in search of a brunch-y type restaurant. We strolled along de la Commune street in the sun, and settled on a covered patio on Place Jacques Cartier. Were ordered chicken sandwiches with brie and roast vegetables, French onion soup and nachos, and I have Niçoise Salad with seared tuna, and capers the size of cherries. I always thought that capers were pickled immature flower buds, but these looked more like small figs.
Pointe-à-Callière in the distance, seen from Place d'Youville
The photographer was seated with a great view over place Jacques Cartier, and was easily distracted by goings on. There are street acrobats, cartoonists, musicians and there seemed to be wedding parties absolutely everywhere. He's just itching to get it on film.....that is, in zeros and ones......
A nice ride for a special day.
We took a stroll up the street and across to the Champ de Mars behind city hall where archaeologists are busy exposing (and restoring?) the old city walls. The interpretive boards placed at the site were in French only. At the fountain next to city hall we found a wedding photographer trying to get that perfect shot.
Old city walls with "new" Down Town in the background.
On we went to the Marché Bonsecours and it's cute boutiques, and had a peek in the Notre Dame de Bonsecours chapel next door. We then had a leisurely stroll along St-Paul street which is conveniently partially closed to traffic from 11-5 in summer, and eventually ended up back at the car.
We drove up to the lookouts on Mount Royal, one looking east towards the Olympic Stadium, (sarcastically referred to as the big "O"), and the other looking over Down Town from upper Westmount. Then we drove to the back of St-Josephs Oratory, and climbed onto it's balconies to admire the view south west. Caterers are setting up drink tables on the balcony, and we are temporarily confused why? We climb the outsude steps to the upper church and find the graduation ceremony in progress for the Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal's engineering students. Will Montrealers ever truly be able to hear the name of that school without thinking of what happened there? I centrality can't and scan the audience from behind the doors to see if there are a lot of women. There are.
The view west with the Olympic Stadium
View of Down Town from Mount Royal
View west from St-Joseph's Oratory
We walked through the rest of the complex, and by then it is time to consider getting a bite of dinner.
We made our way back to the west island via the lake shore, and marveled at the continued improvements along all of the stretch. We chose Il Centro and are not disappointed. Service is attentive, and the food is delicious. Somehow there are no mosquitoes on the outdoor patio!
Not so mirage anymore.......
At this point it is time to drop Fred and Thomas at their hotel. They have to get up ridiculously early to catch their flights, and we still have to drive home.
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