DAY 13 - LAST DAY IN MONTREAL QUEBEC

"It was a dark and stormy night". No, it wasn't. I just had to say that. It WAS a gloomy and rainy morning though.

Gloomy

Bundled up for our bus tour. We are in Old Montreal which is most charming but also wanted to see as much as possible of the rest of Montreal. No one else was on our tour bus and of course we sat downstairs as the top is open and it was raining. Fortunately, we had a wonderful tour operator and our own private tour. We could have 'hopped' off but didn’t. Robert (the tour director) is from Montreal, loves history and, because we were the only ones on board, Robert shared extra stories and bits. As with most cities, there are many fascinating ethnic districts.

So starts the Bus Tour

Yup, only people on board

McGill University

Glass blown Tree

1976 Olympic Stadium - Nadia Comineci won her gold there. I know it's hard to see

Robert and Ted

We got off at the end of the tour on the far north side of Montreal. We (meaning me) wanted to go into the miles of shopping in underground Montreal. Sacre bleu – what is this???? All the stores closed for Labor Day – did not know Canada also celebrated Labor Day. Or did Ted arrange this? We could have 'hopped' on to a tour bus again as we already bought the bands (and Robert kept telling us we could ride back with him) but decided to get our walk in. 

On to our walk

Do you believe he found this???? And no, we did not go in!

The Art District was amazing - the architecture alone!

Notre Dame

Back down in Old Montreal near the marina the shops were open and we stopped in St. Paul’s for a late lunch. By the time we came out, it was raining again. So we returned to the boat and took a break for an hour. Ted 'fiddled' with the boat and I started a new book.

View from our table at St. Paul's

Still St. Paul's

By very late afternoon, we were itchy to take a last glance at Montreal so took our last walk. We love it here. There are all kinds of Poutine shops which surprised us but, fortunately – and shockingly – we are not poutine lovers. We were also very happy to get a pump-out before we left. For those who do not know what that means, please use your imaginations. Here is an interesting 'aside': the Dockmaster and Dockhands are all female - no males the whole time we've been here. They do everything...even transfer the season regulars' belongings in carts to or from their cars - which are pretty far away. Anyway ....Ted talked to the dockhands about having a pump-out and Amber said that they would come to our boat. They did – immediately – and VOILA, it was done! (are you noticing how much Frenchier I am now?) We are SO spoiled in this beautiful marina!

The Pump-out Lady

We are still in the ‘goldfish bowl’ and did not have to change slips. They said as long as we’re leaving in the morning, we can stay here.  The walls around the basin are so high – and people stand above looking down into it – hence the name ‘ goldfish bowl’. We thought the boats for the show were coming in today but no. The marina pretty much emptied out. End of season???? Nooooo.

Emptying marina

Simple Pleasures in the "Goldfish Bowl"

We don’t last long in the evening. I need Geritol. And for anyone who does not know what that means, you are YOUNG, have no need, and I am envious!!!

Tomorrow we start out for Ottawa - and return to the last 2 commercial locks we went through Friday.

Well, perhaps some good news on the “Comments”. I could publish a reply in Chrome browser. Did have to do the ‘not a robot’ thing. Hope you can comment if you want. Also, we had a few comments from some ‘first-time’ people in Days 9 and 11. So guess it’s working … somehow. Lynn Goodman put it pretty well – “it’s like getting into Fort Knox”. I also had to keep verifying the ‘not the robot’ thing.