Day One: I’m in Montreal Y’all

So since I have a big trip coming up in the fall I decided to do a short city vacation and see a tiny bit of Canada since I’ve never been. Embarassing. I know.

I woke up really early since I always have a bit of trouble sleeping before a morning flight (you miss an early flight once and BAM you have a new anxiety…). Pair that with the minimal sleep I got Tuesday night after helping with late night breakfast at SPA, and I was just hoping my brain didn’t forget how to human. I packed everything last night and I think I managed to keep Darcy unaware until I brought out my backpack this morning. I got the dogs sorted for the day (huge thanks to Meredith for looking after the munchkins!) and hopped in my car to head to Dulles.

Since it’s such a short trip it was easier/cheaper to just drive and pay for parking. Dulles is anywhere from a 30 min. to hour long drive so even though my flight was set to leave at 9:45 I got on the road at 7 am. After some DC driving drama (garbage truck blocking the ENTIRE street…) I had a relatively easy 45 min. drive to Dulles. I parked the car and made the short walk to the terminal, checked my carry on (it’s a TINY plane), and got in the TSA PreCheck line.

Plot twist my friends, it was NOT quicker than the standard line this time.

Someone shoved a cardboard box through a machine, got it jammed, and we watched while the TSA agents helplessly tried to fix a sophisticated (and expensive) scanner with a large pole. I wasn’t late for my plane so I wasn’t anxious, but I felt bad for some other folks :( We all went to a different line and got through without any further issues though.

Now, one of the funny things about Dulles is that almost none of the planes actually park at the terminal. You find your gate, get on an AeroTrain shuttle, and they drive you to the actual gates.

I don’t think I ever realized they were labeled with state names..

However, apparently my baby plane was small enough to pull up to the terminal after all, so no tram today! I got settled in at the gate and checked to see if my bag was going to be joining me today, since I literally had nothing but a jacket, purse, and snacks with me.

Always stick an AirTag in your bag. It feels great to see the little dude safely at the gate. Also, hello car!

I got my passport checked again before we even boarded the plane.

I am loving the needlepoint happening on the plane. I thought better of packing cross stitch, but I’m glad someone’s getting some work in!

We got to Montreal earlier than scheduled and I was able to get through customs pretty quickly and caught an Uber from the airport to the Hotel Monville where I’ll be staying. Check-in wasn’t supposed to be until 3 but they were able to let me check in early and get settled in before I went in search of lunch (already loving this place). I decided to walk down to the Port of Montreal which is on the St. Lawrence River. Old Montreal is beautiful and there is a lot of public art and bike trails. Wish I could have brought my bike, but I’m not about to rent a bike without a helmet…

I stopped at a food truck and got a savory crepe for lunch, La Quebec Libre - ham, cheese, and SO MANY onions. I sat outside to eat and…it was supposed to be cloudy, but I may end up with a sunburn on this trip :(

The Crepe Box. Perfect name for a crepe food truck :)

I wound my way back through the Old Montreal to Chateau Ramezay the preserved historical house of the Governor of Montreal. It’s HUGE for its time with many heavily paneled and decorated rooms on the main floor and an entire second floor below it, with massive kitchens and dining spaces. It supposedly nearly bankrupted the governor when he built it, and it’s clear why…

Having to entertain on top of building this place must have been nearly impossible to afford. Yikes.

I found a familiar face, but he looks…younger?

After touring the house, I remembered that I had seen an open air market area on the way to the chateau and I popped over there to see what sort of things they had. I found a little shop that is nothing but maple syrup. Y’all I wish I could haul everything home with me. I settled for maple candy (required) and a cone of maple and walnut ice cream.

Obligatory photos of me shoving ice cream in my face. And the maple candy. This trip is just going to be one long sugar high.

I popped into a few shops on the way back and got a tea towel and a necklace in a little locally made crafts shop - very Made in DC-esque. Loved it.

Tea towel? Check.

I was making a rather large loop back to the hotel as I (fruitlessly) attempted to happen upon an ATM to get some cash, and walked in the direction of the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal. Y’all know I love me some cathedrals. This has got to be the most dramatic religious building I’ve ever been in. Enormous and highly decorated with an entire sea of stars painted on the ceiling surrounded by art pieces and statues, with the most insane looking altar I have EVER seen.

So much incense. I had forgotten how much incense Catholic Churches use. There were people coughing.

Had to video to get the entire pulpit. Just unbelievable. And the altarpiece is just wild with that lighting.

After walking through the basilica I was starting to come down off my sugar high and my feet had started to hurt so I decided to head back to the hotel for a break and to read for a little while.

After I crashed for a bit I decided to figure out where to get something for dinner…and I was immediately overwhelmed by options. Montreal has the most amazing diversity of restaurants and fusion foods. I’ve made a reservation for dinner on my birthday, but for tonight I decided to head to a small French restaurant a short walk away called La Steak Frites. Note to self: French medium-rare is NOT American medium-rare.

After dinner I walked through the little convenience store near the hotel, and it’s sort of like Whole Foods. A lot of really different things but way fancier than I was looking for. Where are the crackers? I need salt after all this sugar!

I got back up to the hotel room around 7 and decided to be lazy for the rest of the evening in this enormous bed with big fluffy pillows which are perfect for piling up and reading.