flashman181

Today is public transport day. Buy a day pass and flog the crap out of it (Maul Montreal)🕺🏻. First up though check out some more coffee places. Ben and Florentine name rings a bell🤓

And it opens at 630 am. Sweet.

“Can I get a coffee for here “ ?

Sure, sit anywhere. 48 tables and no barista or counter maybe should have been clue . Bought out water. Great. 4 couples in by now. Then I see here at cash register get out 4 cups and pull of a jug of black coffee and start pouring.

“ ah no I wanted a speciality coffee please . Do you have Flat White” Wouldn’t dare risk Cortado. Blank look

No soup for you. Thanked her and walked out . Will go back for breakfast though one day, just have coffee first 😏 Back to Second Cup but for last time. The search continues

Usual adequate breakfast at Le Square Phillips had us ready to do 3 circuits of Montreal by Midday. Not quite but we did a lot as we bought one day pass. I have named thee the Rainbow Route 🌈 as we used all 4 coloured lines in a Venn diagram that would impress.

First up then is the Biodome, hereafter referred to as Boring Meccano Island. It looks less impressive up close but there were Lime scooters to explore the wonders of the island . A broken Pogo Stick would have sufficed . Casino not accessible, Fun park closed for the century etc. it was fun scooting from one temporary fence to the next but on 14 th lap became tiresome. Of course weather was cloudy so no great shots back to Montreal. I needed a sit down

Then it was time to head up to the Jean Talon markets up in St Hubert on another metro. Plenty of fresh produce and a so so Cortado was on offer but nothing special . Seen one massive market , seen them all. Supposed to be Little Italy but certainly a French twat in the “cafe” – a loose term for 6 tables and 12 chairs almost arranged in a pattern.

Next up was another colour out to the Olympic Village. Now this was impressive especially as clouds started to pass. My energy was flagging but carried on in the breeze 🤓

As we walked around there were many impressive buildings but perhaps the saddest was Dolly Parton’s Gravesite 😢

The sun was shining brightly now and as we came around the other side the true impressive nature of the site was on full display

As our intersecting station – Stuie McGill – was close to home we stopped off at our go to fancy bar Henri for a quick sherbert . We will attack the wine another day . Great place crawling distance from home. In case.

By now was on first name basis with train driver – Ryan naturally – as we boarded one last train to Mount Royal Park. And yes fans we have a new definition of boring. Now to be fair this was mostly my fault as did zero research but assumed it would be mostly ….you know…bloody parkland. What it was for the first 2 k of 10 k I made was a walk through trees with nothing else to see. Another 2 k would have seen some Chateau but may have needed resuscitation by then. How boring ?? Do you see any photos here 😏 A long slow walk home then for a shill. Bit of a hit and miss day but still great fun seeing more of Montreal and have to say the Metro is great. CLP said it was one of the best days she has had this holiday and I said it will only get better sweetheart as I handed her the laundry bag and told her it’s on the 11 th floor.

The doctor said I should only be in over night .

I discharged myself as knew CLP couldn’t really bear to be without me. The look on her face when I popped back in was ….well…indescribable really.

Anyhoo time to plan a late afternoon bordering on early evening drink and eat caper nearby. Each day the ankle and legs get a little stiffer although really have walked so much not surprised. It’s the downhill that kills the knees.

Once more we have seen what we had planned early and two relaxing days left one of which may involve rain. We shall cope .

Chose Bar Pamplemoose tonight for something a bit different but in end were very good but simple meals. Chicken and Lamb Shank. Once again service is not what you would call stellar

15 min walk to and from through a new part of town in early evening was tres pleasant. Plenty of pedestrian malls in streets in Montreal – well at least the ones without construction going on 24/7

And so another great day comes to an end which leaves us a couple of relaxed days ahead .