Road trip!!!!

Before Xmas Sand and I took a little road trip up to Ottawa and Montreal, places I haven't been for a long time. We rented a car, which came with a CD and MP3 player which was awesome... except that Sand has CDs full of 10 hours of Thai pop MP3s 5555

It snowed the whole trip. A bit cold at first, typical of Ottawa and Montreal, but got a lot milder (just below freezing) for the last couple of days. I was able to show Sand my snow driving skills

The Parliament buildings were beautifully lit up at night with xmas lights. The National Gallery was fun for an hour or two. Had some great Vietnamese food in Ottawa's tiny Chinatown. I used to go to Ottawa often when I was a kid because my dad lived there. The place has terrible traffic now - its transportation network hasn't grown to keep up with its population.

Drove to Montreal from Ottawa in a snowstorm. It took 2 hours to get from centre of Ottawa to outside, then 2 1/2 hours to Montreal.

I studied at McGill for 4 years in Montreal, so there were a lot of places I used to go to often that it was fun to rediscover. I haven't been in Montreal in at least 10 years. People still speak French

We explored the mountain (big hill in the centre of town), the insectarium and botanical garden, Old Montreal, the Plateau, McGill, shopping of course - Sand couldnt go on a trip without it! I introduced Sand to Montreal's finest bagels at the Fairmount and St. Viateur bagel shops. One year while I was studying at McGill, I lived in the building right next to Fairmount bagels - hot fresh delicious Montreal bagels any time, 24 hours a day. Fun to visit some of the old places, and see that quite a few were still around!

Montreal is a very enjoyable city, very livable. However, winter is long and can be damn cold. The benefit is having Mount Royal right in the centre of town: sitting right there for (cross-country) skiing, skating, sledding and just strolling through the snowy woods. Sand thought she'd really enjoy living there... hard to tell just being there a few days of course, but I was reminded of having really enjoyed my life there.

Sand enjoyed the long drives... (well, I had to do all the driving) listening to music, watching the winter countryside passing. It's about 5 hours to Ottawa from Toronto, 6 hours to Montreal if you take a couple of short breaks and don't drive like a speed demon.

On the drive back we left at 5am, stopped in at both Fairmount and St. Viateur to get 5 dozen bagels to bring back for ourselves and as gifts for a couple of friends who would appreciate fresh Montreal bagels, smoked salmon and cream cheese. Got the car back to the rental place 5 minutes before it closed at noon after dropping off Sand at home, then straight on to some last minute Xmas shopping (it was Xmas eve). Xmas is hard work!

Will put up some snowy pics soon. In fact, you can see the pics that Sand put up right here!

Happy 2549 to all!

You sure know where to get the best bagels but how could you forget smoked meat, either from Schwartz or Lester ?

Thanks for your nice comments on my city.

Happy New Year to both of you, and to all TFers !

I didn't forget Schwartz, but alas didn't get the opportunity to go this time :'(

I was actually looking forward to a visit to Schwartz' the whole time but it didn't happen.

Next time!

Welcome back, Ling, and Happy New Year.

yeah he forgot the smoked meat shop

like a stroll down memory lane for me too....i grew up in ottawa...amd have been to montreal dozen's of times.....you didn't mention Nates or St.Catherine's street?????? and what about sparks street in ottawa or skating on the canal???did you treat her to a beaver tail?

Well Ste. Catharine street in Montreal is synonymous with shopping, so of course we were along there. No skating yet on the canal - though it was cold enough, I don't think it was reliably cold enough to prepare the ice without risk of having to redo it. In fact, there's been a thaw the last few days which would have ruined the canal skating surface. But I think in Feb. we might go back to Ottawa for the winter carnival and skating and ice sculptures, and to party in Hull, which we missed out on

She's had a beaver tail at the Zoo in Toronto, exactly the same as the Ottawa place.

fortunately, last time i was there at chrstmas time...the canal was ready to go...took my daughter...had a great day....but she would love shopping at Rideu Center eh?....anyway...enjoy!