Seeing Montreal

The Clock Tower

We are in a spectacular spot.  Today we walked a LOT.  We started by touring Victoria Pier, which forms one wall of our marina.  It was built in the 1800’s to control the powerful St. Lawrence current and the boats landing here to do commerce.  Now it is the home of the Old Clock Tower and is a long park.  Around the tip of Victoria Pier is the Victoria Pier Beach.  Lots of sandy, pretty aqua beach umbrellas, cool beverages and tan, tattooed and bikini bodies.  The only thing you can’t do here is swim. But there are misters to cool off in – and you get all the beach parts of the beach.  Remember, its Montreal. Today was a steamy 75 degrees and the beach was very full.

The Beach

Another attraction is riding a tour boat that features a fast trip north through the rapids on the St. L Seaway.  These boats zip forward for ½ mile through waves and rough water and then continue a tour for awhile and slowly and carefully make their way back to the home pier right next to our marina.   The boats are loaded with tourists wearing jackets and rain ponchos and life preservers.  Dennis asked if I wanted to take a boat ride.  I told him I’d already been on a boat ride.  We can do the rapids on our way out of here.

We walked around inside city hall – very grand; and the BonSecouer building that used to be the giant produce market that accepted goods from all the landing ships.  Now it is a shopping and restaurant arena for the tourists.  Our favorite thing today was a stop at the Basilica de Notre Dame.  Magnificent.  It was awe-inspiring and we may go back tomorrow to hear the tour/lecture about the building.  One of the most beautiful churches I have seen anywhere – including Europe.

Tonight we walked up Jacques Cartier place, the main open promenade, for a nice dinner and some street performers.

Notre Dame Chancel

Notre Dame Wedding Chapel