Small boats like ours must give these large vessels plenty of room.
As we approach Montreal, the churches become larger and more ornate.
The biggest challenge of the day is entering the channel to the old port of Montreal. Here we had to fight a current that was against us at 6 knots. It was a white knuckle ride for the Captain. This is the clock tower that marks the boundary where the current diminishes at the entrance to the protected harbor.
The Duddon Pilot (back row) safely berthed in the Old Port of Montreal.
Moonrise at le Vieux Port de Montreal.
July 22: The weather today is gorgeous. After some very hot days, we are enjoying moderate temperatures in the mid 70s. So we laced up the walking shoes and headed off for a walk about into Old Montreal.
The promenade along the Old Port.
Vieux Montreal-Montreal can trace its history back to 1642 when a fortress was established here.
It has many historic buildings, scores of restaurants, cobble stone streets, boutiques and tourists. It is the second largest French speaking city after Paris.
It has many historic buildings, scores of restaurants, cobble stone streets, boutiques and tourists. It is the second largest French speaking city after Paris.
Place de la Commune
The admiral left her hat behind and had to improvise on the head protection gear.
Ladies immortalized in their favorite pastime.
One of our goals was to visit the large open market which is not in the tourist area. We were given directions-sort of-and after a few detours and about 3 miles, we finally made it to the market. And boy was it worth it!
The outdoor section of the market has every kind of fresh vegetable and fruit. All displayed perfectly.
Then there is the indoor section which houses every imaginable type of meat...
Cheese....
Pates galore...
Sausages by the dozen...
And of course breads....
Did I mention the pastries....alors!
We felt like we had died and gone to heaven. Captain Pierre has been practicing his French and is feeling quite at home. We felt no guilt in indulging after walking all those miles.
These were the cutest kids. They were all tied together in a crocodile to keep them together. They were admiring the ice cream selection.
July 23: We wised up today and purchased a multi day pass for the metro which also covers all the bus routes. The metro is easy to use so we took the metro and then a bus to the highest point in Montreal-Mont Real. It was given its name by the French explorer Jacques Cartier in 1535.
View of Montreal from Mont Real. Unfortunately, it was an overcast day so the photographs are rather hazy.
Le Captain.
Chateau Montreal
Le Croix de Montreal
July 24: Another day to play tourist and enjoy the cuisine of Montreal.
The Metro is frequent and fast. Definitely worth purchasing a three day pass. We felt like locals-only looked like tourists.
Artistic spin for the mail boxes.
Samuel de Champlain, "The Father of New France", was a French navigator, cartographer, draughtsman, soldier, explorer, geographer, ethnologist, diplomat ...
Notre Dame Cathedral. Every bit as ornate as its namesake in Paris. We attended a light and sound show that evening which explained the history and building of the Cathedral.
Inside the Cathedral during the sound & light show.
A 1920s wooden commuter boat berthed in the Old Port Marina. We were given a tour of the boat by the Captain who explained that it was used to ply the Hudson River between Albany and New York.
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