Our Montreal Adventure

Yesterday’s adventure to Montreal started at 5:50. That was the time that Hannah Rachel and I had to get up so that we could get ready to leave on the bus at 7:30. We got up, got dressed, made our way to the bus station, got breakfast, and were on the bus by 7:20. Let me just say that I am now a spoiled charter bus passenger. We had FREE WiFi and electrical outlets on the backs of our chairs. I will never be able to ride on another charter bus and not miss the ones we rode on today. As soon as the bus left the station, Hannah Rachel passed out, and I read a past issue of Hello Canada that I stole from the hotel found on the coffee table in the lobby. The trip took exactly 3 hours and 15 minutes, and we were off the bus and eating lunch at a nearby Subway by 11 am.

After eating lunch, Hannah Rachel and I began to make our way down to the better part of town, but we weren’t able to do that without first walking through the Quartier Latin. This area was kinda sketchy, but we made it out alive, despite seeing at least 3 different ambulances and several cops making arrests. We finally made it down to the main shopping area, and we couldn’t help but stop by H&M and Forever 21. We had put off doing any kind of shopping until this week. We didn't go crazy, but items were bought at both stores, each hurting my checking account a little more each time. I was even a nice big sister, and I bought my younger sister a few things from the only Forever 21 in Quebec J How sweet of me! Ha

When we had had our fill of shopping, we decided to try and explore the Underground City. The internet wasn’t kidding when it said that you can get lost down there. It was very confusing, and it apparently can go on for days. 

This was just a tiny part of the underground city. It looks like an empty mall, and it goes on forever. 

After not knowing where we were going for a little while, we finally decided to head back up to the main level. We decided that while in Montreal, we should probably do something “studious,” so we walked down to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, but not before stopping at Holt Renfrow. Holt Renfrow is an extremely pricey department store that I can only compare to Bergdorf Goodman in New York City. It had everything from Zac Posen to Carolina Herrara to Michael Kors and even Manolo Blanik. It was crazy fabulous and light years out of our price range.

We finally made it to the museum, where we looked through some of their collection, which included my all-time favorite: Monet. 

Degas is my close second. 

There was even a little bit of Picasso. 

They also had a collection of items that either featured Napolean Bonaparte or were owned by him. It was all tres interresant.

Napolean's shirt, hat, and boots.

After finishing with the museum, we decided to try and visit the old part of Montreal, or Vieux Montreal. We hopped in a taxi and rode over to the cathedral over in the old city. The cathedral was built to somewhat resemble Notre Dame in Paris. The chapel connected to the back of the cathedral is known as the “Wedding Chapel.” The chapel is booked up to 2 years in advance for weddings, so anyone that gets engaged now will have to wait until Summer 2013 before they can get married there. Both the cathedral and the chapel were absolutely amazing.

Old Montreal is very similar to Quebec City, and one street in particular looks exactly like one of the main streets in Old Quebec. Hannah Rachel and I walked down the street just looking around, and we decided that it was time to eat. At 4:30 in the afternoon. We found a place that served pastas, veal, steaks, etc. Our food was absolutely amazing. I didn’t take any pictures of my salad or my veal pasta, but I did get a pic of dessert! 

The whole time we were sitting eating, we would hear cheers coming from the street and from the restaurant’s bar. The USA women’s soccer team was playing Japan for the World Cup, and all we could hear was cheering. We were so frustrated that we had no idea what was going on in the game that we got our waiter to give us updates every so often. Too bad the US lost…

After diner, we did a little souvenir shopping, and then decided that we were ready to head home. We hopped in a cab, and we made it over to the bus station in time to catch the 6 pm bus. We had originally planned to leave at 8, but we had done enough walking and shopping in Montreal, and we were ready to go home. We were able to get on the bus at 6 and we were back at our hotel by 9.

I am very glad that Hannah Rachel and I got to go on our little adventure yesterday. It was nice to get out of Quebec City for a day and to be able to say that we’ve been to Montreal. We don’t have any major adventures planned so far for the rest of the trip, but you just never know J

Later!!