Montreal. Emancipation Tour. Part 2

View from my room

Next day I woke up as usual at 7 am, looked at window – Montreal was in fog, raining and 38 F freeze. I couldn’t believe that outside 38 F, Really? In April? Stopped wondering right after I saw how cold wind stopped Theo from enthusiastic run from the lobby. He also with the same enthusiasm returned back to hotel. Seriously, what is up with dogs and their love to hotels?

Cold or no cold, rain or sunshine- I was happy to explore Montreal!

In the morning I was pleasantly surprised by everyone’s greeting - Bonjour instead of Hi. I wanted to pinch myself it wasn't a dream! French sound is so sexy and foreigner…

First on my schedule was walking tour around Old Montreal, I had to meet my walking tour guide madam Petitmont ( she presented herself by translating her last name as Little Mount ) in front of Notre-Dame Basilica at 11 am. So I have time to prepare myself. I still had my tea with me and some pastry for breakfast – remember, I was on the budget and preferred to avoid unnecessary spending as it would be if I would’ve order breakfast in the room.

I did rethink my choice of clothes, said thanks to myself for taking a jacket with me, jacket was packable but still not warm enough for 38 F, took my umbrella and made my walk towards to Notre-Dame Basilica. Once looked up for direction I managed to walk on the streets of Montreal without worrying that I’m going to be lost. The mysterious feeling that I knew this city somehow didn’t left me ever since.

Arrived for a meeting my walking tour group on time and was pleasantly surprised that I’m not the only one adventurer who would be crazy enough to walk around Montreal on windy, rainy and wintery cold day!

Tour started from visiting Norte-Dame Basilica which was a big relief from the rain! Needles to say how beautifully decorated interior of this church is, truly Neo-Gothic architecture masterpiece!

From Wikipedia: Notre-Dame Basilica (French: Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal) is a basilica in the historic district of Old Montreal, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The church is located at 110 Notre-Dame Street West, at the corner of Saint Sulpice Street. It is located next to the Saint-Sulpice Seminary and faces the Place d'Armes square. The interior of the church is amongst the most dramatic in the world and regarded as a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture.[1] The vaults are colored deep blue and decorated with golden stars, and the rest of the sanctuary is decorated in blues, azures, reds, purples, silver, and gold. It is filled with hundreds of intricate wooden carvings and several religious statues. Unusual for a church, the stained glass windows along the walls of the sanctuary do not depict biblical scenes, but rather scenes from the religious history of Montreal. It also has a Casavant Frères pipe organ, dated 1891, which comprises four keyboards, 92 stops using electropneumatic action and an adjustable combination system, 7000 individual pipes and a pedal board.[2][3 Approximately 11 million people visit Notre-Dame every year, making it one of the most visited monuments in North America.

Rest of our tour was under the rain and as our guide assured, in very unusual cold weather. I appreciated her sense of humor and the way she presented Old Montreal. If she would’ve boringly stated all factoids I wouldn’t remember anything, but with her funny remarks I remember all the stories. Let’s say that I wouldn’t remember the fact that Jeanne Mance , she is statue of woman that sited underneath of monument in memory of Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve original founder of Montreal, was recently recognized and named as co-founder of the city, guide remarked that she expected any Day now that statue would be redone when we can see Jeanne staying and not kneeling.

Tour policy stated -rain or shine, well in my case it was continued in pouring rain.

At some point of the tour I understood that my eyes stopped on every restaurant or café we walked by. I wasn’t hungry but soaked trough and all I wanted is latte or cup of hot tea. And when my inner voice pushed me to realization that I’m about to freeze to death, I stepped out from the tour in seemed to be right direction since I found right away a cute little café and bakery. I walked in and asked for humongous cup of latte! And than I saw macaroons and other delicious thingy, they called it – sugar balls. I was ready to devour all of them, but choose three different kind though

I went to upstairs lounge and exhaled. It felts like heaven!

Needless to say that I overestimated my ability to eat them all together, I barely finished one sugar ball!

Got back to hotel and jumped into hot shower first and than warm bed. I had time to get my rest before I go to see Cirque du Soleil “Allegria” Woke up quietly and need to pinch myself again that my long time dream about to come true!

I always was saying that someday I’m going to see brand new CDS show in Big Top of Montreal! I saw so many documentaries and stories about how special is a Montreal audience! So, now I’m here, unfortunately not in my fancy blouse that I prepared for

it, - c'est la vie, (hello, one more French phrase I know !) , Theo went on the wet and cold fast walk again, he is not fan of that kind of weather, and I started to walk downhill to the Old Port of Montreal where the Big Top is.

View was so fantastic that I couldn’t believe my eyes! And everyone speak French… I order Champagne in French and enjoy myself while texting on WhatsApp with Natalie and childishly bragging about how wonderful Big Top smells. She called me a bitch and I agree with her by saying, yes I’m very proud of myself bitch and also this tipsy bitch is about to see Cirque Du Soleil Alegria! The Bitch who’s Dream is just came true!

Needless to describe my emotions that I felt when I was leaving Montreal next early morning. I was very happy at last, I’ve managed to leave all troubling me situations behind! I rediscovered myself and found it that I don’t need anyone to make me feel happy!