Montreal – A Fabulous Destination for All Seasons

So in the middle of February of 2011 I headed off with Via Rail and rode in comfort to Montreal, which took about 5 hours from downtown to downtown. No hassles with airport security, and no stress due to road traffic, I was able to enjoy the leisurely ride, make use of the onboard Internet connection and arrived relaxed in Montreal. I was staying at the historic Auberge Bonaparte in Old Montreal where I got a personal tour of the restaurant and the rooftop terrace which provides a fabulous view of the Basilica of Notre Dame.

Auberge Bonaparte in Montreal
Auberge Bonaparte in Montreal

After a walk on beautifully illuminated Rue St-Paul and equally dressed up Place Jacques Cartier, my evening program included a visit to the Basilica of Notre Dame,  where I watched the show “And then there was light…” , an impressive multi-media show about the history of this outstanding cathedral.

The magnificent of the Basilica of Notre Dame
The magnificent interior of the Basilica of Notre Dame

As part of the “Montreal en Lumière” winter festival, I learned more about the city in an informative (and very tasty) culinary walking tour through Old Montreal  during which I got to taste foie gras, various Quebec cheeses and some of Quebec’s special maple syrup products. To work off some of these calories, I went snow-shoeing on Mont Royal with a guide from Les Amis de la Montagne. I had never snow-shoed before, and with all the information provided by the guide and a warming taste of mulled wine, it turned out to be an amazing afternoon.

Snow-shoeing on Mount Royal
Snow-shoeing on Mount Royal

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