Day 32 - Final Day in Montreal and Dinner at Pigor

Oh it is really raining out!  

And both of us are tired and just want to do nothing!  But we are in Montreal!  Things to see, places to go..... 

We done our rain jackets, umbrella in hand, and hit the ground running. Well not running but walking fast.

Of course we are use to this weather -- We are from Vancouver where it rains a lot.  But today it is now misty and annoying.  You need an umbrella but you don't.  Does that make sense?

Also it seems people here just do not get rain or at least they are not use to it.  People on the sidewalk do not understand the umbrella etiquette.  When approaching someone also with an umbrella tilt your umbrella or lift it up or down so you don't hit each other.  Nope not here, people just do not seem to care.  

Traffic is almost at a stand still as the rain seems to have caused mayhem.  Certainly doesn't help that there are numerous road closures today due to events.  

Today there is a city biathlon where participants ride bikes in the city and then a relay run while they wear a tie and carry a briefcase.  

Montreal is also experiencing a boom in construction and road work.  Now this is a good thing but it does make getting around in a car (and even on foot sometimes) difficult.  I forget how in most cities in Canada they can not do road work during the winter months due to the conditions so it happens in Spring and Summer.

All I can say is we are glad we parked our car at the apartment and we are walking and taking transit.

When we get to the Metro we both feel like wet dogs.  

Today we are heading to the Atwater Market to meet up with my high school friend Estelle Arel.  I have not seen her since forever!   Right away she recognizes me and it feels like no time has passed. I am loving these reunions!

When we leave the market it is still raining and really not a great day to be touring.  We decide to head up to St.Catherine and walk around and when the rain gets heavier we duck into the mall.  

Neither of us is really into it.  Of course it does not help that we are both tired and we have been here numerous times so we don't feel the urgency to see the sites. 

So we both agree a quiet restful afternoon is what is needed.  And that is just what we did.

Tonight we are meeting up with my cousin Line for dinner at her son (Sidney's) restaurant called Pigor!  

Thankfully Montreal has Uber and we take a quick ride to the restaurant in Verdun.  

When we arrive I away spot Sidney and it so lovely to see him.  Sidney was actually born on Vancouver Island when Line and her then husband were living there for work.  I remember visiting Line when she just had Sidney and oh it is hard to believe this well accomplished Chef was once rocked in my arms.  Boy I feel old.

Sidney is a true chef who lives and breathes his job.  You can see how much he cares and the thought that goes into all the dishes is really beautiful.

Cocktails arrived and again I love a restaurant that takes the time to really consider their cocktails.  Not the usual stuff but a drink that speaks to the area, what is in season, what is right for this restaurant.  I had a Missy Vicky drink (well of course it has my name in it) which was a margarita but a margarita with Mezcale, Tequilla and jalapeno - a nice bite of spice but that is how I like it! 

pretty handsome guys!

Line and Jacques arrive and I swear the night passed in a flash.  Boy was it nice seeing her.  Line is such an inspiration.  Even as a little girl seeing my older (but not by many years) cousin being so cool and experienced inspired and drove me to be who I am too.  Line is now  a very successful business owner and I am even more proud.  Not to mention she also raised two amazing sons!  

The staff at Pigor are so kind and helpful and kept trying to speak to me in English but no I want to practice my French.  But rest assured if you only speak English they can take care of you completely. Even a menu in English.

Food here is recommended to be served family style where you order a few items and share.  Sounds good to me as we are family!

our amuse bouche

We leave the ordering up to Line and we are not disappointed.  

beef tartar

lovely tomato basil salad made with 3 types of tomatotes

Our starters start coming out - Carpaccio, Beef Tartar and a beautiful Tomato Basil salad.  

Main course was beef for two which was melt in your mouth served with sea salt and Wasabi which was gave a burst of flavor in your mouth.  

A Risotto with shrimp and spinach, so fresh and tasted like spring on a plate.

Dessert by Jerrome was a lemon pie deconstructed!  Just the presentation was a piece of art.

So if you are visiting Montreal at all make your way to Pigor and give my love to my cousin Sidney and be ready to experience an amazing meal.

Well we are full, we are drunk - lots of wine and champagne and so much love!

We Uber it back to the apartment. It is 12:30 am and we crash.  Thankfully we don't have to check out before noon.

Day 31 - We Get Around Montreal Hmmm

Love this art piece called The Illuminated Crowd made up of 65 sculpted people.  The work is by English Artist Raymond Mason.

When we finally get up and dressed we end up reserving our Airbnb for Fredericton in a few weeks.  Now we are set for even a little longer.

The weather forecast is a little ominous!  They are calling for rain this afternoon, about a 60% chance but it is very sunny, hot and muggy right now. But we are prepared just in case it rains.

We walk up to the Metro station and take the Orange Line up to the closest stop to the Holocaust Museum in the Jewish Quarter.  

It is very reasonable to enter at a cost of only $8 each and we spent around two hours inside.

We both thought it was very well presented and moving.  

Again we learned and were very moved by many of the exhibits.

In a section that described how the German people gained a hatred for the Jews and how it spread rapidly.  We learn that the Nazis handed out free radios to German families, and of course Nazi propaganda was spread on the radio.

In schools written on blackboards were the words Jews need to be expelled, or Do Not Do Business at Jewish Business.

Even little children were not immune. Board games that were played rewarded you if you could get rid of Jews in the game. 

Canada was not welcoming to Jews at this time, nor were many other countries.

And the spread of hate here was evident.  Hmmm history is repeating itself. Key is to learn from history and not to repeat it.

Remember you can not change what you do not acknowledge.

At the end was an Eternal Flame in Remembrance. 

Back on the Metro we get off in Little Italy and go to a restaurant that came highly recommended -- Pizzeria Napoletana.   It was good, nothing special.  I have certainly had much better Napoli Pizza in many other spots. Another crazy thing is this restaurant only takes cash! Come on welcome to the 21st century!  I am glad we tried it, but probably would not rush back.

We are close the Jean Talon Market so we walk over and stroll the aisles and enjoy the sights and sounds!  If we were here longer we would buy some stuff.  We agree that when we get to Drummondville we will go to the market and buy stuff there.

I spot Lobster - another thing scratched off my Scavenger Hunt List

Those yummy egg custard tarts that are so popular in Portugal - Antonio we are thinking of you

It has started to rain lightly and we are back on another metro line (we are getting our money's worth in the 3 day pass, cost of $18 each).  

Now we are heading downtown and to the McCord Museum that is located right near McGill University.

When we arrive it seems a little special.  There is a red carpet, and media is set up and wine!  But none of it is for us.  Seems there is a special event happening tonight. The premier of a new exhibit and the event is for the media.

We go to pay and even offer our receipt from the Holocaust Museum as you get 50% off entrance because of it.  But we are told it is free because of the event.  I knew the museum was open till 9 pm tonight but later find out that it is closing at 5 pm because of the event.  

We tour the first two floors and kind of skim past the aboriginal section. Not because we are not interested but more because is a little redundant to us.  We often visit Anthropology Museum in Vancouver and we have learned even more on our journey across Canada.  We are also loosing steam and we are really here to check out the exhibit about Montreal.

So cool - very modernly displayed and enjoyed the textile exhibit.  Remember is was not that long ago that Montreal was a hub for fashion with small business designing, sewing and selling their fashions.  

Stores like Le Chateau, Reitmans and many others started here.

Another cool art piece

When we leave the Museum it is pouring rain.  We pull out the umbrellas and decide walking back to the apartment is probably the best idea.  The bus could take us there but traffic is bumper to bumper and we could probably walk there faster.  This city has a lot of construction happening - roads and buildings - which does not help.  Plus I later find out the power went out earlier and that could of impacted the traffic.  

We are smart we just keep walking and we are back at the apartment about 20 minutes later.  A little wet but feeling invigorated.  Oh and tired, we logged 18,000 steps today.

Tonight we are staying in.  We are not hungry from the later lunch and we have a big day planned for tomorrow.

Day 30 - A Day Exploring Montreal

After a very relaxing evening and then a nice sleep in we take our time getting moving.  We have some breakfast - cereal and fruit salad.

I even get time to do my nails!

When we do leave we head up to the nearest subway station and buy a three day transit pass - $18 each for 3 full days of unlimited travel.  A great deal!

We take the train to Mont Royal Station and we wander around and then head towards Rue St. Laurent. 

The street is closed off to traffic and it is a long pedestrian walkway.  Stores have set up on the sidewalks selling their items.  Restaurants are selling food and have tables set up outside.

Bernie looked up Leonard Cohen's home address (he is from Montreal) and we stop and get a picture in front of it.

We walk a few more block and get a picture of the beautiful mural of Leonard Cohen.

If you don't know Leonard Cohen then here is a video of him from Youtube.

For lunch we stop at the iconic Schwartz Deli for lunch.  Since the road is closed off there are tables set up outside and we take seats and enjoy table service outside.  We each get a sandwich.  It was very good but since we rarely eat meat anymore it was not like what I remember.  I am glad we went but I could of skipped it and been okay too.

We continue walking down St. Laurent and check out the shops and the murals.  In fact it is the Mural festival!  

I did end up buying two blouses from a small boutique set up on the street.  They are so cute and perfect for the summer or for cruises!  

My cruise addict friends will know what I mean.  When I shop now it has to also work for a cruise.

We head down to the Village and walk along.  Check out the lovely pride flag colors that decorate the sky above us.

Then we take a gander at the pop up gallery set up in a vacant lot.  I am really noticing how Montreal really puts an importance on art throughout the city and having it accessible to all.

We walk own to Old Montreal and head in the Market Bonesecours.  We are killing time before our free walking tour that we signed up for a few days ago.

We meet our guide Kim at the meeting location for 3:30.  

The group is large and as we move from one to another then another the group keeps getting bigger!  By the time we leave the Church of Notre Dame De Bon Secours (about a half hour into the tour) the group is around 40!  

We look at each other and decide we have had enough.  We have done a few tours here before and so the information is not new, but one thing we know.  I would rather pay and have a smaller group.

I stop at a statue we have taken pictures at before.  

But my friend Devin and Justine took their picture 

at the exact same spot to show off her 

ring and announce their engagement. 

The statue is called:  LES CHUCHOTEUSES

by Rose-Aimée Bélanger, she was born in Guérin, Québec, in 1923. She exhibits her work in Montréal since 1995. She began her artistic formation at l’École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal in 1945. However, it was not until thirty years after, and eight children later, that she finally began to sculpt and create full time. Rose-Aimée Bélanger’s inspiration comes from the simple moment of every day life. In her feminine sculptures, her “rounds” as she likes to call them, the expression of the eyes is essential to their understanding and appreciation. The emotions are amplified by the sensuality of the curves. The artist currently lives and works in the northern part of Ontario.

We are not far from our apartment so we just walk back.  We pick up some salads for dinner and return to the Air Conditioned apartment.  It has been very hot here!

Although Montreal has amazing restaurants we are trying to be conscious of what we are spending money on.  Normally we have breakfast and dinner at the apartment if we can to save money.  Lunch is usually out.  We are on a fixed income now.

We are tired and after a good meal we are sipping a glass of wine and relaxing.

Thanks for following.