Monday, May 14, 2018

May 14, 2018.Montreal, QC

I brought my bike all this way in the hopes of having a chance to ride it--this morning was sunny and warm so this was it! I retrieved it from the kitchen closet and headed toward old Montreal. After several wrong turns, once looking at the map, and asking a friendly dog-walker I finally was on the Lachine Canal Bike Path!


There were several construction zones where I had to ride on the grass or the gravel, so I was glad I brought the hybrid bike! There were red chairs along the way, just as we found last year in the Thousand Islands National Park. When I got to a construction area that put me on a busy street I turned around and headed back.


I rode back to the Old Port, and after losing my way a few more times I finally reached the hotel, took a shower and we headed out on foot toward Mount Royal. By the time we got there Rana had had enough walking so we did not take the steep path up the mountain. 


We walked down the street to a Metro (subway) station to buy two-day passes for all buses and Metro trains. On the way there we found Rivard Street--Rivard is our grandmother's maiden name and Rivards were here in Quebec in the 1600s.


Rana did not want to take the Metro, but since we were already in the station and the train was there, we got on it and quickly made our way to St. Joseph's Oratory, the most popular attraction in all of Quebec.


I walked up the many steps to the oratory, and went to several chapels while inside.


There were miracles performed at St. Joseph's in the past, leading to sainthood for Brother Andre (it's founder. I think people are still praying for miracles here.



While in the Basilica (domed section) someone was playing the spectacular pipe organ.


Finally we got on a bus, and then changed to the subway to get back to our hotel. Rana was not feeling very well, so I left her here while I walked out for dinner. (Apparently our Ethiopian vegetarian lunch did not agree with her). Total biked today: 15 miles, total walked: 7.7 miles. My feet hurt!

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