Canada - Montréal

The following pictures will represent a small number of the many pictures being taken enroute to Maine and Canada.  Pictures will be added over a period of the next several months so please check back.  Up-dates will occur about every three or four days.

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June 24th, 2004

Montréal with a population of just over a million is a wonderful city to visit.  In size, this native Californian would compare it to the City of Long Beach, California.  As we approached the city we noticed an absence of english on the road signs.  This wasn't too much of a problem as we had good maps and the GPS sitting on the dash (thank goodness).  What we didn't know was that we were entering Montréal during a holiday.  It was a celebration of St-Jean Baptiste honoring the patron saint of French Canadians.  It is an official holiday and everyone turned out for it., singing, dancing, fireworks and anything else you can think of was going on.  Traffic was great, we could advance five feet (just under two meters) about every five minutes.  We found ourselves in what is referred to as Old Montréal.  We spotted a police officer and first asked if he spoke english, then we inquired as to where we could park the car.  In broken english he replied "anywhere!"  Needless to say this was no help as anywhere did not exist for the moment.  In due time we did manage to leave the car and wonder through the throngs of people to enjoy this part of Montréal.

My pictures will deal with some of the people and the architecture.  I will try to identify them but for some it is not possible, enjoy!

St-Laurent

Skyline of Montréal

I believe this to be the History Center

Merchant street sign

Delightful apartments we found in a small alcove off of the main street.  Note the spiral stair between floors.

A relaxing way to sightsee.  Even motorcycles were having difficulty in the traffic.

Merchant street sign

The local bicycle shop

A view of the shops and people

Merchant street sign

A fellow playing a recorder.  I took this picture from the side as I was sure if I asked him if I could take a photo there would have been a charge.

Note the parking restriction sign.

Looking down the street

One of the many street entertainers

Catching Joan with an ice cream cone

Many of these building were built in the 1700's

This is the entrance to an old hotel built in 1861.  In 1880 Sarah Bernardt found accommodations at this hotel during her American tour.

A great band and the people watching.

Champ de Mars

Another street entertainer, big hit with the kids.

Looking down one of the busy streets with the many people enjoying themselves.  While all business was closed the street shops were open and doing quite well.

Above:  City Hall

Left:  Just to the left of the main entrance.

Typical street sign

More people and merchant signs.

I saved this for last because it is so unusual.  This is modular housing.  You would purchase the module that you like and it would be added to this pile of modules.  The designer apparently figured out how to set up all the hook-ups and passageways so that added modules could become a part of the whole, hmm!

Our original plan had been to stay in Montréal for several days but due to the holiday I did not think we would be able to find lodging.  As usual things worked out.  Joan has a cousin living in up-state New York and another in New Jersey.  Joan's sister has taken a plane from Los Angles to New Jersey and she and cousin Jean are driving up to up-state New York, so you can guess where we are headed.

Next:  New York and Cousin Charlie

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