Archives for posts with tag: Montreal

Adventures in Québec: Day 13, the last day, part 3

December 1, 2012 //

After a short rest at the hotel, we ventured out again, back to Musée des beaux-arts. Until January 20, they have a special exhibit: Once upon a time… Impressionism, Great French Paintings from the Clark. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings from 5 pm, the admission is only $10. It’s a beautiful show in a beautiful part of the museum. There were a lot of people visiting. It was wonderful to see pieces by Renoir, Pissarro, Boldini and one of my favourites: Danseuses au foyer by Degas. We wandered home admiring shop windows and bought some dinner and airplane snacks on the way back to the hotel. A memorable adventure to be sure!

We weren’t sure if we could take pictures in the show, much less post them online, so we took architectures shots instead. The entire gallery is gorgeous, the old bits and the modern.

Stunning hallway.

An elegant detail.

The Holt Renfrew Holiday windows were very beautiful.

We want GJ to have this ensemble. The velvet jacket was over the top!

This would be a fun place to shop.

Tags Holiday windows, Impressionnisme, Montreal, Musée des Beaux-Arts Montréal

Categories Art, Travel, Uncategorized

Adventures in Québec: Day 13, the last day, part 2

November 30, 2012 //

We headed back towards the hotel in search of sustenance. Our hotel was right beside the Notre-Dame Basilica, which is incredible, especially at night all lit up. Very near the hotel is a lovely shop and tea house called Ming Tao Xuan, which we had wanted to try since the moment we saw it. We sat down in the beautiful dining area, and were presented with a VERY extensive tea list. We chose two teas, a Green Pu-Erh and an Oolong, plus vegetarian dumplings and spring rolls. We were given instruction on how to pour each type of tea and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, the tea and the snacks.

Notre-Dame Basilica.

Our tea service at Ming Tao Xuan.

Tags Ming Tao Xuan, Montreal, Notre-Dame Basilica Montréal, tea house

Categories Food, Travel, Uncategorized

Adventures in Québec: Day 13, the last day, part 1

November 30, 2012 //

We woke up sad that this adventure was almost over, but the day was crisp and clear and we were excited to be out in it. After a lovely breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant, Sinclair (can’t speak highly enough of Le St-Sulpice Hôtel), we headed up to the Metro station. About 20 minutes later we were near the Montréal Botanical Gardens. It was open, but mostly prepared for winter so beds were empty and not too much to see; still a magnificent place to be, peaceful and quiet. It must be magical when all in bloom.

Sinclair Restaurant at Le Hôtel St-Sulpice.

Les écureuils partout! Jardin Botanique Montréal.

Lovely displays of alpine gardens from different parts of the world.

Just to the right of this exquisite view, men in hip waders were removing the apparatus of a lantern festival a few nights before.

Chines GArden, my favourite. Just to the right of this exquisite view, men in hip waders were removing the apparatus of a lantern festival from a few nights before.

Lovely detail. I look forward to coming here again to learn about the creation of all these gardens.

“Infinite Pleasantness” – yes please!

A beautiful pavilion.

Art shot in the Japanese Garden.

Winter sun makes for long shadows.

GJ caught me admiring a beautiful yellow witch hazel in bloom. We used to have an orange one; I just love them.

This was an interesting sculpture. The view from this chair is of hundreds of squirrels foraging for, and/or burying food.

Twisty trees, shadows and reflections.

Swallow nesting boxes in the marshy area.

The vibrant colours of autumn have gone, and left these subtle, mysterious hues behind.

Tags Botanical Gardens, Chinese Garden, gardens, Montreal, winter

Categories Food, Travel, Uncategorized

Adventures in Québec: Day 12, St-Henri, Little Burgundy and Griffintown

November 29, 2012 //

We wandered back towards the Old Port through these wonderful neighbourhoods, looking for a few galleries and shops we had found on the internet. Three galleries we recommend visiting are: Arsenal, Darling Foundry and Parisian Laundry. Back to Vieux-Montréal and a warming snack. We ended the day having a delicious Vietnamese dinner in Chinatown.

Loved these dressers in an antique shop window.

Detail.

We passed our hotel, seeking something to warm us up. We found a gorgeous building that turned out to be an art gallery mall on rue St-Paul. It had a sweet little cafeteria where we had hot chocolate, coffee and a little pear tart.

Heading back to the hotel past Place Jacques Cartier.

Tags Arsenal, art galleries, Darling Foundry, Hot Chocolate, Montreal, Parisian Laundry, Vieux-Montreal

Categories Art, Travel, Uncategorized

Adventures in Québec: Day 12, Hot Chocolate with my breakfast

November 29, 2012 //

We were pretty cold by the time we got to Atwater Market, which is incredible. It was the only one of Montréal’s many outstanding public markets we were able to visit. From there we wandered looking for somewhere to eat and found Midi 6. We enjoyed omelettes which included those perfect croissants for $7.75. And, of course, Hot Chocolate, my obsession. It was rich and delicious. The dollop of sweet cream on top was just enough.

The upper floor of Atwater Market is mostly butchers.

Warmed me up right to my toes!

Absolutely superb breakfast at Midi 6 in St-Henri.

Tags Atwater Market, Hot Chocolate, Montreal, St-Henri

Categories Food, Travel, Uncategorized

Adventures in Québec: Day 12

November 29, 2012 //

Tuesday morning we were up early and headed out to explore the neighbourhoods of St-Henri, Little Burgundy and Griffintown. We could have taken the subway, but it was a clear, windy day and we decided to walk. From the bottom of St-Sulpice we turned right and headed out along the port and continued along the Lachine Canal. The walking and biking trails were unforgettable. Lots to see and very few people. I suspect in the summer and on most weekends more would be out enjoying this part of the city.

The view to the iconic Habitat 67.

A whole city that is in itself art, plus a lot of public art.

Floating barge spa, how awesome!

More pretty buildings and lots of parks and green spaces in Montréal.

This was so cool, a vegetable garden planted beside this overpass. It looked like it was actively being used.

The view of where we had been the day before, Mont Royal Chalet.

The Lachine Canal is still in operation and a National Historic Site.

GJ is always taking pics of me when I’m not looking. I like that this captures both of us, sort of.

Love this moody shot.

This building was beautiful, right on the canal. There were several “For Sale” signs in windows.

Tags Habitat 67, Lachine Canal, Montreal

Categories Art, Travel, Uncategorized

Adventures in Québec: Day 11 part 3, Mont-Royal

November 26, 2012 //

Leaving Mile End we headed down rue St-Urbain to rue Rachel and entered Parc du Mont-Royal through Parc Jeanne-Mance and past Monument à Sir-George-Étienne-Cartier. We thought we may as well walk up the paths a bit since we were there! So off we went. There were a lot of people walking and running. We made it up as far as Chalet du Mont-Royal and took in the extraordinary view from the Kondiaronk Belvedere. It was almost dark as we made our way down rue Peel towards our chosen dinner destination: Chinatown.

Approach to the Cartier monument with Mont Royal in the background.

Looking up at Monument à Sir-George-Étienne-Cartier.

Looking back towards Parc Jeanne-Mance.

A few weeks earlier and this view must have been ablaze in red, orange and yellow leaves.

Chalet du Mont-Royal

That view! I bet it’s magical at all times of the year.

Found a really sweet little place for dinner which served Hong Kong-style delicious food. I had vegetable chow mein and GJ had a beef hot pot.

Tags Chalet du Mont-Royal, Kondiaronk Belvedere, Mont Royal, Montreal, Montreal Chinatown, Monument à Sir-George-Étienne-Cartier, Parc Jeanne-Mance

Categories Art, Food, Travel, Uncategorized

Adventures in Québec: Day 11 part 2, Hot Chocolate

November 26, 2012 //

At Café Olimpico, I enjoyed, of course, chocolat chaud. GJ’s choice was café latté. I loved the way they were both served in tall glasses. It was a very fine chocolatey delight, rich in flavour, but not heavy; very satisfying.

Yum, my CC on the right.

Tags Café Olimpico, Chocolat Chaud, Hot Chocolate, Montreal

Categories Food, Travel, Uncategorized

Adventures in Québec: Day 11 part 1, Montréal

November 24, 2012 //

Day 10, which was Remembrance Day, it had been very cold. So on Monday I thought I would layer up with icebreaker and smart wool. My luck, it was a weirdly warm day and I suffered! But it was a fun day. We departed the hotel around 10 and took the Metro to the Mont Royal Station. Montréal has an exceptional transit and subway system. We took it several times and found the subway clean and efficient. Met up with our TO friends and had a great breakfast at Café el Dorado. Then we walked up through Mile End, window gazing and drinking coffee (GJ says it was “No shit, shut up and drink your coffee” coffee: possibly the best coffee he’s ever had) at Café Olimpico. Left our lovely friends and walked back towards Mont Royal.

The Mont Royal Metro Station.

Super cool fibre art embraces a boulevard tree.

Yes, it’s a fire hall. This would have been turned into condos where we live!

Apparently the best bagels. We look forward to trying them soon.

Around every corner, extraordinary architecture.

One of the many tin ceilings we saw on our travels. We want our next home to have this feature!

We sure enjoyed hanging out with this beautiful, beautiful baby!

The amazing café old-school sign.

Tags Café el Dorado, Café Olimpico, Mile End, Mont Royal, Montréal Metro, Montreal

Categories Food, Travel, Uncategorized

Adventures in Québec: Day 10, Montréal

November 22, 2012 //

For our first full day in Montréal, we met up with some friends who were visiting from Toronto. We enjoyed some yummy crêpes in Vieux-Montréal at a café called Muru, wandered around in Chinatown, explored Musée des Beaux-Arts (which is free for the permanent exhibits) and then left our friends and had delicious salads for dinner at M Café.