gail

Thanks to those who offered suggestions for trip - Mom/20-year old daughter (to mend her broken heart) trip to Montreal in July. Leaving from Boston, driving up I89 thru VT were at border within 4 1/2 hours, stopping for lunch at a great little pizza place in Royalton, VT. Border crossing wait was about 15 minutes. About 10 miles outside of Montreal we hit annoying traffic, lasting an hour - but still made door-to-door trip in about 6 1/2 hours.

Stayed at Embassy Suites/Old Montreal free on hotel points. For some reaons Ste Antoine did not show up on my GPS, so got a bit lost - but hotel check in was effortless with plenty of parking in front of hotel for guests checking in. Garage under hotel was a bit cramped, but adequate space unless you have a really big car. Room was wonderful - king bed in separate room with pocket door, nice living area with sofa bed, kitchen with coffee maker, sink, m/w - equipment and utensils available on request (which we did not). 2 TVs, large closets - plenty of space. Everything worked except WiFi internet was inconsistent the entire weekend (being an early riser I was trying to get some work done).

After free "Manager'sReception" drinks - 2 per person per night, including mixed drinks - not just usual wine and beer - we walked to dinner in Old Montreal at Portguese seafood restaurant (Solnar - or similar name). Sat outside. Portguese restaurant in a French-speaking city where the head waiter kept calling the roving guitar player "amigo". The pitcher of sangria further added to our confused mental state. Had mixed shellfish over rice dish - for 2 - very good. Walked back to hotel - about a 10 minute walk - would have been faster except for the drinks and sangria.

Excellent breakfast included in hotel - usual cold fare plus chafing dishes of pancakes, eggs, meat - but highlight was omelet station where one picked fillings, put them in bowl and cook prepared eggs. Plenty of food and seating, even though hotel was quite full. Next AM took Metro to Marche Jean-Talon, an open air produce and local products market. Wished I was cooking, as the products were beautiful. Had the best strawberry sorbet at one of the stands. Back on Metro to Ste Catherine shopping area. Back on Metro to Old Port area where we took passenger ferry to island. This would have been a great excursion if we were renting bikes - but a bit large to just walk around. Still a nice trip and a little relief from the heat. Back on ferry and walk to hotel.

More free drinks in the evening. Then to dinner in Old Montreal at Maska. Not as good as Friday's restaurant, but fine. Sat outside and listened to an excellent street performer duo. Salmon wityh mango salsa was good; creme brulee not so much - custard was odd texture and very very over-sweet. Still pleasant evening.

Sunday AM after breakfast drove to Mont Royal - since we were making fun of a famous 700 ft tall "mountain". Nice view of the city - but having driven thru parts of the Green Mountains in VT, seemed a little lame. Drove around McGill - found that interesting. Can't imagine students walking around the hills in the winter here. Then drove to site of 1976 Olympics. One of the most fascinating and saddest sites - I felt like I was at Chernobyl. Lots of concrete, dilapidated facilities, few people. Hard to imagine that after 30+ years they have not found something to do with this. Olympic Village across the street had been turned into apartments. They were trying to sell tours for $20+ - but we were able to wander at will in and out of several venues.

Back in car for drive back to Boston. Border crossing took almost an hour - and daughter was questioned quite a bit by US Immigration and Customs "take off your sunglasses" and "where do you go to school" "why in North Carolina", etc. Not quite sure what she did to warrant extra conversation. Stopped in Burlington, VT for very late lunch and then back home.

Nice trip, wonderful city - would have liked to spend more time since I have not been in Montreal in about 35 years.

Morningglory47

Thanks for posting.

OceanBreeze1

Thanks for your trip report, Gail.

Happy to hear you enjoyed the Montreal weekend. How is DD doing? Better, I hope.

Did you hear that a huge concrte slab fell on one of the Montreal expressways on Sunday around 9:30AM? Ville Marie tunnel. Fortunately, no one was inhured.

OceanBreeze1

injured

Kwoo

Enjoyed reading your report. We were in Montreal about 6 years ago for a long weekend. I'd like to go back & spend more time. I think we went to the same market, which we really enjoyed. We had the same impression, too, about the Olympic site. Isn't the Botanical Gardens nearby? I remember enjoying those, but didn't really enjoy the Olympic site.

Vttraveler

I am glad you and your daughter had a good weekend together. I am sure she appreciated your efforts to take her mind off the broken heart.

Our older son went to McGill undergrad and really enjoyed the school and the city. He managed to navigate the hills ok in the winter, but then he grew up in northern VT

I can't figure out what is going on at the border crossings these days. I was also asked to take off my sunglasses the last time we went through, and they asked several questions about my job. Even more disconcerting was the fact that we had to stop at Canadian customs on the way into Quebec so they could search (not very thoroughly) our car. No idea what that was about. We do go into Quebec fairly often and usually at small border crossings, different ones depending on where we are headed, so maybe that seems odd.

Kwoo

Did you have problems at the border crossings going into Canada or leaving Canada? We returned on Sunday from a week-long trip to Canada, and we didn't have any problems at either crossing. We entered Canada at Niagara Falls, and left Canada at the 1000 Islands International Bridge. There they did ask us how long we were in Canada & where we visited, but nothing personal, such as our jobs. They did ask us to take off our sunglasses, though. They did not search our car.

Vttraveler

The long delay and car search were on the Canadian side going into Canada.

the direction to take off my sunglasses and questions about my job were going back into the U.S. We are often asked to open the trunk going into the U.S., too, but the whole process does not take long. We were never asked about our jobs until a few years ago then my husband started getting the question regularly.

The longer delay and car search were on the Canadian side going into Canada As I said we go into Canada quite often and had never before encountered anything more than a few questions from the Canadian border officials. This last time we were headed to Quebec city and had lots more questions than usual, followed by the request to pull over. No explanation and the two people who searched the car, opened suitcases, etc. were not very pleasant when we said we wanted to watch as they searched.

OceanBreeze1

Lots of personal questions lately. Last time I travelled alone, I was asked about my marital status. The agent wanted to know why I was travelling alone. He said it was very unusal for a woman to travel alone....what?....I often travel alone! And, I do not think I am the only one! This was @ Toronto airport (Pearson) on my way to Florida. He wanted to know if I was meeting somebody when I arrived in Florida or if somebody would be joining me later. I was speechless....rare for me! He also asked detailed questions about my job. The interrogation went on & on.