Bonjour!
There are not too many freeways to travel from Bar Harbor Maine to Montreal. The backroads of Quebec were very scenic. French was the language of choice for the next week. We visited the Old Port of Montreal where the narrow streets would remind one of a small European town with beautiful aged architecture from the 17th century. Many French people came to Montreal in the 1600’s to populate the country in the name of the King. We ate lunch in one of the many open air restaurants on the Rue Jacques Cartier. We walked down the waterfront to the Notre Dame Basilica, the cities oldest magnificent Neo-Gothic church. We also took a Gray Line tour of the city for an English speaking adventure through Montreal.
We went to the Olympic Stadium (Parq Olympique) where Montreal hosted the 1976 Olympics. While there, we took a ride up the highest inclined (45 degrees) tower in the world (542 feet). On a recommendation from our niece, Ellie, we toured the Biodome, an indoor building consisting of 5 different eco-systems. The penguins and the momma sloth were our favorites. It was truly amazing! Beaucoup extraordinaire!
Our timing when visiting the area was perfect. The week we were there was Quebec’s celebration Montreal Pride 2015 (Fierte Montreal Pride, parade took place at Boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest, gathering after the parade at Rue Sainte-Catherine Est). We were pleased to see such a huge turnout… solidarity definitely exists in Montreal.
On our way south from Montreal, we spent a couple of days in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. The Houses of Parliament on Parliament Hill were magnificent. We took a tour inside the House of Representatives and the Senate. We timed our visit to see the daily Changing of the Guard.
Changing of the Guard at Parliament Hill
Continuing south through Ontario brought us to Toronto. We ventured up the famous CN Tower that stands taller than any other building in Toronto. We spent time on the observation floor and the skywalk where there is a glass floor. This view has nothing on the glass floor at the Willis tower in Chicago. We also attended the Canada National Exhibition, kind of like a state fair on steroids. We had fun watching the Hollywoof Dog Show, starring agility dogs and their owners all from Canada and a Parqour demonstration.
Sallie was on the hunt to find some farm eggs and we stumbled on this beautiful farm about a mile from our RV park. Krista owns Harrington Lane Farm where she is “fully engaged in eco responsible and humane agriculture. Harrington Lane Farms is committed to actively maintaining and promoting sustainable and ethical food systems. Raising Icelandic dairy sheep, Boarder Cheviot meat sheep, Berkshire, Tamworth and Large Black pigs, heritage chickens, ducks and geese on pasture. This is all made possible with the help of our honey bees to keep the eco system and pastures healthy and sustainable. The farm is operated by wind and solar power and we heat with wood through the winter season”.
Mille merci pour lecture.
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