Montreal - Day 1

We practically breezed through the Canadian check-point at Champlain and arrived at our auberge around noon.

Our hotel. Clean, reasonably priced, great location and very friendly staff. This B&B has great croissants in the mornings!

Bathroom - bright and cheery. Bath towels are thick and nice smelling; unlike some hotels' heavily Clorox-scented towels.

The mattress was "Tempur-pedic" like although I doubt it's the original. Bed could have been better if it was a Queen size instead of a double/full.

Our very own kitchenette and mini fridge.

Best of all, free Wi-Fi and a nice spacious work desk to match.

We quickly left our bags at the auberge and started exploring the City. So off we went...

Ok, left or right??? Where should we go first? Everything is in French but Montrealers are very tourist friendly. I think we got away with murder just because of our looks. We even had people asking us if we needed help. Fortunately, we met a very efficient tourist staff at the rest stop earlier on and he circled all the spots that we should visit. Merci!

However, I also quickly discovered the dark side of Montreal. Homeless people sleeping in random corners of abandoned buildings and some very openly. Beggars asking for spare change along the Rue. And, yes. They begged in French. Truly, it sounded glamorous even though the act wasn't.

Anyway, we started our exploration at the Old Port & Old Montreal. Cobblestone streets and historical buildings. Yes! That's my kind of town.

Ben Franklin stayed and dined here - at the corner auberge at Old Port.

This is the Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum (a contemporary art museum).

Notre Dame de Bonsecours Chapel with a big figure of Christ facing the Old Port.

Bonsecours Market or Marche Bonsecours along Rue de la Commune.

Carriage ride at the cobblestone Rue St. Paul.

Quaint shop signs and the state flag of Quebec - Fleurdelisé.

Al-fresco dining at Old Montreal.

Notre Dame Basilica at the corner of Rue St. Sulpice & Rue Notre Dame.

Inside the Basilica, after paying CAD8 per entry. A suggested donation would have been more appropriate, I'd think!

Noel is a X'mas shop that's everything X'mas throughout the year. Yup! Even when it's 80 degrees outside, it's still X'mas inside Noel.

Wherever there's a City, there's a Chinatown. Wherever there's a Chinatown, there are Falun Gong followers. Montreal is no different.