Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader
August 2025 - Montreal - Toronto
Rue Ste. Catherine, Montreal QC
We had gone to Mile End in 2017, another cool area nearby.
January 2018 Montreal Leonard Cohen
August 2018 Montreal Pride
Saturday after a good night's sleep we had breakfast in the hotel before setting out.
Bird's eye view of our morning walk.
Saturday's steps 11,000!
We are in the midst of a heat wave in Eastern Canada and trust me, it is HOT!
Heading south towards the Old Port, with a very loose plan.
Featuring the highest residential tower in Montreal and the largest mixed-use residential project in Quebec, Maestria Condominiums dominates the city’s urban landscape.
Place des Arts is a major performing arts centre and the largest cultural and artistic complex in Canada.
It is on rue Ste. Catherine and it is a pedestrian street with Complexe Desjardins, a mixed-use office, hotel, and shopping mall complex across from it.
We continued along Rue Ste. Catherine as it becomes the Quartier des spectacles and the Latin quarter.
A large mural honoring the 100th birthday of Canadian artist Françoise Sullivan was painted on a Hyatt hotel wall as part of a collaboration between Art of Canada and MU MTL. This mural, located at 1415 St-Hubert St., is a significant tribute to Sullivan's artistic legacy and Montreal's vibrant urban art scene.
Along with the Under Pressure street festival, the Gay Village is celebrating Pride this weekend with parties and a parade.
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We headed south to Old Montreal, this area has been highly regentrified. In the distance is the Jacques Cartier Bridge and Molson's.
Molson, a well-known Canadian brewing company, has strong ties to Montreal. Founded in 1786 by John Molson, the company's original brewery was located in Montreal and is the oldest continuously operating brewery in North America.
L'Héritage du Vieux-Port is an old Italian-inspired refrigerated building from the 1920s that blends perfectly with the monumental contemporary style of the concrete structure. Classified by the Old Port Society and federal authorities as a historic landmark, its façade has been completely restored and refurbished. The magnificent building was built in 1899 and converted into luxury apartments in 2006, it has 9 floors containing 208 units including 5 townhouses of nearly 7500 sq ft on 5 floors.
Enough with the touristy stuff, we head up into the heart of Vieux Montreal.
Old Montréal, home to the city's most historic and newest attractions, provides an unbeatable glimpse into city's many lives throughout its extensive history. While the memory of Jeanne Mance, Jacques Cartier and de Maisonneuve can still be felt on the cobblestone streets, Old Montréal and the Old Port make up one of the city’s most constantly evolving and dynamic quarters, with attractions ranging from cathedrals and museums to an observation wheel and river cruises.
Salmon tiradito $22 Salmon sashimi, aji Amarillo ponzu, potato crisps
Birria tacos $21 Braised beef, Monterey Jack, onion and coriander, served with beef consommé
We enjoyed all the selfies and photo shoots taken by this arch as we ate our lunch on a patio.
Les chuchoteuses ("The Gossipers") is a 2002 bronze outdoor sculpture by Rose-Aimée Bélanger [fr] installed along Montreal's Rue Saint-Paul.
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Besides it being Pride week, Montreal also hosted Otakuthon, a large anime convention where attendees can enjoy cosplay. Otakuthon 2025 is scheduled for August 8-10 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal according to AnimeCons.ca.
We had done 11,000 steps by the time we returned to the hotel at 2:30 and it had been a very hot day. 30 C. We tidied up as John's son was picking us up for dinner at their place.
Waiting outside the hotel, this ad is for apartment rentals in the building next to the hotel.
Montreal descriptions of apartments is unique.
Apartment listings with "½" in the number of rooms (e.g., 2½, 3½) refer to the number of rooms, with the "½" representing a partial room like a bathroom.
Sunday
Steps 17,000!!! A busy HOT day.
We didn't head out until noon as we were meeting family for brunch at 1:30.
Walking along Sherbrooke St.
McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter, the university bears the name of James McGill, a Scottish merchant, whose bequest in 1813 established the University of McGill College. In 1885, the name of the university was officially changed to McGill University.
McGill has an enrolment of more than 39,000 students. Its main campus is on the slope of Mount Royal in downtown Montreal, with a second campus situated in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of the main campus on Montreal Island. The university is one of two members of the Association of American Universities located outside the United States, alongside the University of Toronto, and is the only Canadian member of the Global University Leaders Forum (GULF) within the World Economic Forum. The university offers degrees and diplomas in over 300 fields of study. Most students are enrolled in the six largest faculties: Arts, Science, Medicine, Education, Engineering, and Management.
McGill alumni, faculty, and affiliates include 12 Nobel laureates and 149 Rhodes Scholars, 3 former prime ministers of Canada, and 2 governors general of Canada. McGill alumni also include 9 Academy Award winners, 13 Grammy Award winners,15 Emmy Award winners, 4 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 121 Olympians with over 35 Olympic medals.
More McGill Campus, looking towards Mont Royal.
Fierté Montréal, also called Montreal Pride, is an annual LGBT pride festival. Montreal Pride is one of the largest LGBTQ+ festivals in Canada alongside Pride Toronto, and the largest LGBTQ+ gathering in the francophone world.
John and I spent many years working for BMO in Hotel Bonaventure. The hotel only occupies a few floors at the top, the rest is retail/commercial tenants. The hotel is connected underground to Central Station.
Today, Montreal Pride Festival attracts more than 3 million local and international visitors for 11 days of community, cultural, and festive activities including free shows, panels, and the parade.
Down in Old Montreal.
Yikes! In this heat, we are eating under the awning on the fifth floor of Hotel Nelligan's, Terrasse Nelligan.
Hotel Nelligan is situated in four historic buildings that have been carefully preserved and enhanced.
In 1852, the easternmost building, located at 100-104 St-Paul Street West, was damaged by a fire that ravaged neighbouring Place Cartier. The building was then rebuilt by William Murray, who turned it into a three-storey warehouse that stocked wholesale groceries and fabric.
From 1867 to the mid 1880s, the western part of the building housed the Canada Paper Company. Later, the building became a warehouse for pharmaceutical products, and remained so until the mid 1960s.
For the next four decades, the building changed hands numerous times. In 2001, it was purchased by the Antonopoulos family, who undertook major renovations to integrate the building with the one adjacent to it, linking them through a magnificent interior atrium space.
In 2002, the merged structure was inaugurated as the Hotel Nelligan, a name inspired by the renowned 19th-century poet Émile Nelligan.
The second building, located in the middle of the currently expanded Hotel Nelligan, was originally a three-storey warehouse selling fabric and cloth. In 1866, it became a pharmaceutical warehouse belonging to the Lyman family. Between 1922 and 1964, it served as a pharmaceutical laboratory.
Between 1964 and 2000, this historic building housed a variety of businesses, until it was purchased by the Antonopoulos family in 2001, who transformed it into the plush, contemporary boutique hotel.
The westernmost structure, adjacent to the two other buildings, was also destroyed by the fire of 1852. In the months following the fire, pharmacist and pharmaceutical products wholesaler William Lyman purchased the property and built a four-storey warehouse and store.
Until 1909, the building was occupied by the Lyman family and their assorted businesses, all in the pharmaceutical field. A paper company took over occupancy in 1915, and remained in the building for more than three decades.
The Antonopoulos family purchased the building to expand the Hotel Nelligan, annexing it to the existing hotel.
We shared a Cheese Platter.
John had a Bloody Caesar - Ketel One Vodka, Clamato, Salsa Inglesa, olive juice, Tabasco I had a Mangosa - Sparkling wine, Grand Marnier, mango, and orange.
There was 1 burger, 1 Eggs Benedict, 1 omelet ordered.
John and another had the cherry tomato salad with labneh, thyme oil and preserved lemon.
Two of us had the sea bass ceviche. All the food was sheer perfection.
Once brunch was over we headed into the air-conditioned bar downstairs for a couple more drinks before we headed back.
Place Jacques Cartier.
We were tempted!
After a small nap we headed back out for a Montreal staple that we couldn't pass up!
Ste. Catherine St.
Monday
Breakfast, again, at the hotel. I had a BLT on a croissant and John had an omelet.
We had a plan in mind, for after we checked out as our train was not until 4:38, but I revised it and took John somewhere he had never been. We left our luggage at the hotel and we Ubered, in the interests of time and the heat! Once we arrived at Mont Royal and Park Ave. we started walking east along Mont Royal. The street is pedestrianized during the summer. This makes it a great place for a leisurely stroll to enjoy the Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood.
Lots of great buildings.
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A sprinkler!
John, cooling off.
Notre Boeuf de Grace, the chain's name is a play on NDG, a Montreal neighbourhood, Notre Dame de Grace. We ate at their location in Pointe Claire a few years ago.
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This was hot, thirsty work, John eventually spotted a tavern that set us back to the 1970s!
We headed back slowly as we had lots of time to kill. This bar was called Saint Sacrement.
We shared a poutine!
We got an Uber back to the hotel to collect our luggage and then walked to Central Station.
Central Station or Le Gare Centrale. Note the Via sign over John's right ear.
As we left the city we saw a building with a prominent blue circle on its facade, the Haleco Highrise, located in Griffintown. It's an 18-story building with a large white circular facade, and its north-facing side features a mirror blue and green circle.
John spotted the Plensa sculpture on the way into Montreal and I caught it on the way out!
The Source, modern sculpture by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, erected at the end of the Bonaventure Expressway. This is my entry for Natalie's Public Art.
However, our first stop was Dorval, where they encountered mechanical problems with the wheelchair ramp and wasted 45 minutes getting that fixed.
We had already been advised, via e-mail, "Due to forecasted extreme heat in the coming days, trains travelling on August 11th could experience a delay.
Extreme temperatures can force the infrastructure owner to impose speed restrictions on certain routes for safety purposes, which could result in delays at departure or on route for certain trains."
This definitely was a problem as we ended up being 3 hours late arriving in Toronto at midnight!!!My cod meal wasn't very good. John got the same gluten free meal he had on our way to Montreal.
WEDNESDAY John's regular weekly golf and he had a great game with his new driver 82!
We tried, and liked crispy fish skin in Singapore.
Croissants in Union!
You can find most anything in Union these days, including a liquor store.
I scored some Simply Spiked samples again today.
I finished Fall of Giants as soon as I got on the train in Montreal to go home. I was so disappointed as I thought I had a lot more good reading to do. The second book in the trilogy was not available.
On arrival at Union we were met by a sea of taxi drivers waiting for the tired and weary passengers. We walked over to Front and York and got an Uber.
Tuesday we slept in until 8:30-9:00 after a late night and we had a lazy day although John did take a golf club in and got gas.
WEDNESDAY John's regular weekly golf and he had a great game with his new driver 82!
I had planned on going to College Park but once on the subway they announced that trains were turning back at College, with no service between College and Bloor due to a medical incident at Wellesley. This sounded like an incident at track level. I decided that it would be chaos at College so jumped off at Dundas and only went to T&T for vegetables.
Walking down Yonge St.
Some exotic items at T&T. We have chicken feet or gizzards with chili.
Spicy pork stomach.
We tried, and liked crispy fish skin in Singapore.
I scored a couple of Absolute vodka and cranberry samples at Union.
THURSDAY John did a Costco run.
I went to Cleo's to check out their sale, they were doing an online sale with an extra 20% off, however, I thought I it would be better to try them on first. I ended up buying a $60 pair on sale for $20 that were not on the online sale, I know, I checked first.
And just like that, the patio at Union is already being dismantled. I'm not sure why they bother putting it up for less than two months. Patios can easily run from April to November, depending on the weather.
I was early for the 12:45 bus so I got us Starbucks salted caramel mocha frappuccinos.
FRIDAY
I went out at 12:10 while John left at 2 for afternoon golf with a friend. It was another hot one, but not a scorcher, but there is still no rain in the forecast!
I grabbed a slice of pizza at Pizza Pizza (Canadian).
I went to Winners (nothing), Farm Boy, Bulk Barn and Metro.
Look at these local strawberries!!! I had to make sure I had enough room to carry them home!
Sunset on the 15th hole at Crosswinds Golf and Country Club, taken by John.
COOKING
Saturday Montreal family chicken sausage, corn, zucchini, potatoes
Sunday Montreal family Terrasse Nelligan
Monday Montreal - Toronto train
Tuesday lamb shepherd's pie with cheesy mash
Wednesday Korean BBQ snow peas, bok choy, onions, bean sprouts and rice
John finished a jar of peanut butter however there is always at least a spoonful left so I thought I could make a dressing.
Spicy peanut dressing. Make a one-jar meal by mixing this dressing in the jar first. Add to the peanut butter jar about a tablespoon each of soy sauce and rice wine vinegar (or lime juice) and a teaspoon each of sesame oil and hot sauce. Close the lid and shake the jar until the dressing is combined. Toss in some noodles, shredded carrots and lettuce, and enjoy!
Thursday rotisserie chicken nachos
I made limoncello granita for dessert and it was sooooooo good!
Friday chicken BLT sandwiches
I know, Andrew, two weeks in a row!!! without steak! Last week we were away and this week John was golfing late and didn't get home until 9:30!
WATCHING
Finished Departure. Interesting last season, it was filmed in St, John's Newfoundland and Labrador.
We also finished MasterChef Australia season 17. We had picked the final two contestants from the beginning.
READING
Canada has a Margaret Atwood postage stamp
I want one! It says “A word after a word is power”
I finished Fall of Giants as soon as I got on the train in Montreal to go home. I was so disappointed as I thought I had a lot more good reading to do. The second book in the trilogy was not available.
So I read Clean Hands, a good easy read.
I finished Killing Time which is a good read although a bit silly. Spoiler Alert - undercover cops wouldn't use their real names!!
The meals look good. We have not tried Departure yet and are currently watching Person of Interest.
ReplyDeleteYou really got in some walking. And I'm sorry it was so hot. Thank you for sharing all the photos.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to have one of those Margaret Atwood stamps.
Looks like a terrific trip to Montreal!
ReplyDeleteYou did really well walking so much in that heat. I enjoyed seeing Montreal via your lens. I left a comment on your public art post (the Source). Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
ReplyDelete