First stop on our way to Halifax, we had a 5 hour layover in Calgary on our way to Montreal so of course I had to see my first Nephew Luukas! It was so great to have dinner with him and catch up.
We took the red eye to Montreal and then walked back and forth on St. Catherines about 3 times before we finally decided to take a cab to old Montreal where we walked by a pile of souvenir shops until I finally broke down and walked into one of them to see if I was missing anything.
So far, nothing different from Vancouver. Maple syrup, Moose teddy bears, etc. So we did not buy anything. Yet.
I’m not big on ‘what nots’ but isn’t it funny when you go into souvenir shops, everything looks like junk, but then you buy a couple keychains and bring them home and suddenly you wish you had bought more so you have more to give.
I remember going to Paris and buying eiffel tower keychains and I found a letter opener that looks like a sword. There it did not look special but now every time I use it, I think about Paris and I wish I had bought 5 of them to pass around!
I snapped this pic because I liked how a big chain worked to blend into old town.
Ever wondered what train travel looks like? Well I sure have. So here’s a picture of our private cabin. VERY SMALL. The shower is in the same room as the toilet so everything gets wet.
During dinner, our beds got turned down (above). That’s my bottle of Evian. It’s the only water I like when I’m travelling. Terreeia says it tastes milky but I love it.
Did I sleep on the train? Well it sure didn’t feel like I did but probably a little.
Here I am seated for lunch in the dining car. Terreeia just bought me this sweater at Zara in Montreal before we got on the train.
An old fashioned sail boat in the Halifax harbour.
Here’s something I’ve never seen, all over downtown Halifax restaurants have just extended the sidewalk and built a patio on the existing sidewalk.
Today, we are driving up to Maitland! Terreeia is so upset that she has just missed lobster season by one week! Last night we had biscuits and molasses at Chives Restaurant downtown! So good!
Maria! I could shake you! Montreal is the second largest city in Canada and the largest French speaking population in North America- and you say “nothing different than Vancouver”?? The art, the gardens, the music, the buildings, the food, the independent shops, all uniquely Quebecois. It is too bad that you didn’t do any research before your trip.
She was referring to the typical tourists shops – mainly all the same items no matter what city you are in.
Yes, and they’d only just arrived.
I love seeing these photo’s because I can travel vicariously through you:) We have talked about doing this same train trip for years now….need to just DO IT!
Me too on the vicarious travel. Used to do a lot, but not since 2003. Loved Montreal and took my sister and cats on that trip in 2001. Loved Vancouver, too!
Oh Maria, too bad that you couldn’t have had a longer stay in Montreal as the shopping itself is the greatest. Its nothing for us Ottawa-tonians to hop in the car and make the two and half hour trip to do so (as it is much closer than Toronto). âş Have fun and wishing you bright ‘n sunny skies on your holiday. Warmly -Brenda-
Enjoy the trip reports, keep ’em coming. And as a total girly observation, I really like your hair straight as seen in the photo with the cute white sweater!
Love following your trip, wish I could be there too! Sweater is great!
Maria, Sure wish I could have tagged along with you! I love to travel. We have never been to Montreal before and that is on my bucket list. So glad that you are keeping us posted with great pictures.
Have fun on the rest of your journey!
Hi maria,
So happy that you got to see Luukas. I must say that I am jealous that you got to go to Montreal. As you know, Miia lived there from September to August, but I was not able to go there. Looks like such a great place. She loved it there.
Happy travels, Maria. You look great in the cream sweater Terreeia bought you!
Oh….your train photo has me thinking…we are taking a “sleeper car” for the first time…it does look thrilling…franki
I’m living vicariously through you right now. Absolutely love your smiling photos. Mental note to self, look online for that sweater! Have an awesome trip.
My two cents on what nots… no one appreciates them after you bring them home as much as you do because they don’t have the memory to associate them to. Now a postcard with a note sent from that special place is different because you really have thought of them. Thank you for sharing these lovely posts!
Thank-you for sharing pictures of your trip esp the
train as I have always wondered about train travel but
have never done it. It looks very interesting up there and certainly different than Austin, Texas.
Your nephew is very handsome!
It was like a mini adventure in pictures, I really enjoy
seeing your vacations!
Carol
You look gorgeous! What fun…and I know what you mean about touristy things. I’ve taken to searching for art. I purchase sketches or tiny watercolors of anything in a place I’m travelling…a card or something…not a print…an original. That makes me feel I’ve travelled when I look at them at home later hanging on the wall. No maple syrup for me either:)
Talking with friends about making a trip to Nova Scotia, PEI, etc in a few years so I am eagerly watching your blog posts!
My favorite souvenir to buy is Christmas tree ornaments – even things that aren’t necessarily intended for that purpose can often be strung on a ribbon, plus they stay packed away most of the year and don’t clutter up my daily life! I have a Canadian Mountie ornament plus 2 others that I bought in Vancouver 20 years ago and every year when I bring them out in December, they bring back fond memories of that wonderful trip.
Biscuits and Molasses, donuts dipped in molasses and even molasses in our beans were a DownEast staple when I visited my Maine Grandma and Aunties. I want to visit Halifax someday and see what other similarities there are.
Thanks for the nostalgia Maria! I worked for Via Rail for 10 years (before and during university) and did the same trip you did in a sleeper to Montreal on my way to Europe. It was amazing! Train travel really gives you a sense of distance and the crazy expanse Canada. I hope you enjoyed it, so fun đ