Mount Royal and Montreal Canadiens vs San Jose Sharks

Woke up, took a look out the window and oh, winter is back 😍
My plan for today was Mount Royal and a detour to RÉSO, the underground city here in Montreal.
Checked what the best route from the hotel to the Kondiaronk Belvedere, the viewpoint on Mount Royal, is and lo and behold, Eggspection is on the way 🤷🏼‍♀️ Not that I wouldn't try something new, but since it's so conveniently located. So I got ready and started walking. Yes, exactly, just walked there. Me with my sense of direction 😂 Well, now we know some new corners of Montreal. Andi and Mücke were in the same boat. They left shortly after us and also took a roundabout route to Eggspection. A quick breakfast and some time together, then Jörg and I set off towards Mount Royal, while the other two headed to the pub. Andi had apparently left his jacket there the night before.

There are different paths to the platform on Mount Royal. You can take the relaxed Chemin Olmsted, a hiking trail about 6.6 km (4 miles) up the mountain, or you can do it like us and struggle with full bellies over 400 steps up to 550m 🥵 Exhausting, but beautiful going through the winter wonderland 🥰 We got overtaken 3 times by someone who ran all the way up and down the stairs 😳 Jörg then theorized that he must be a firefighter who needs to train. Okay, accepted. Otherwise, I might have tripped him, like, you old show-off.

Upon reaching the top and catching our breath: wow 🤩 Despite the gray sky, a really nice view over Montreal. The effort was definitely worth it. I think if I'm here in summer, it will be the Chemin Olmsted.

We checked out the Chalet du Mont-Royal on the mountain before heading back downstairs.
A quick note about the Chalet: it is a building built in 1930 in the Beaux-Arts style.
Don't ask me what that style is, I just wanted to show off my knowledge 😂
The Chalet is publicly accessible, has a shop, a café, and is also used for events.

Once back down, googled the way to RÉSO, and what should I say? - Closed 🙄 I didn't remember that they, for some reason, are closed on weekends 🙄 The 2nd time here and the 2nd time in front of closed doors 🙄 Sandra and I were also here on a weekend in summer '22.
A quick note: RÉSO is the largest underground pedestrian network in the world. Over 32 tunnels spanning 12 km². You can reach the city's major shopping centers underground, with several subway stations, thousands of shops, restaurants, cinemas, and museums. Over 500,000 people use it daily, and it is especially popular in the cold winters.
Someday I'll make it there. So during opening hours, that is 😅

So we just took a round through Eaton. Mini shopping tour at Bath & Body Works, then we also popped into the pub to meet the other two. A, this time really small, 7up and we headed back to the hotel. Put my feet up for a bit and chill.
I had reserved a table at the Burger Bar Crescent for 3:30 PM. I really wanted to try their mac and cheese. Yes, it was delicious, but Zicki yours tastes better 🫶🏼
Right next to the Crescent, as if it could be any different, an Irish pub. Winnie’s Bar Restaurant.
With plenty of time before our first NHL game on this trip, we stopped here briefly. Finally got my hard iced tea. Well, what a coincidence, we were exactly there for the iced tea happy hour 🤷🏼‍♀️ Sometimes you get lucky.
From Winnie’s we headed straight to the Centre Bell where we watched the game Canadiens vs San Jose Sharks. Unfortunately, once again not a home win. The Sharks won 4:2.
After the game, what else to do, a nightcap in the pub by the hotel. We wrapped up our last evening in Montreal here. Over and out.