Day 13 - Rainy Mont-Réal

Sa, 04.08.18

Day thirteen is coming and therefore the daylight is ready to spread. I wake up, because our curtains aren't closed enough, so that the light is getting through. But not to worry, it's already half past eight.

Andi is still sleeping, so I have enough time to look a few things up and make some notes. As he awakes we eat some müesli for breakfast to get ready for the day. On this day we want to explore Montréal by feet.

First point on our checklist, we want to climb 'mont real' - the city's own mountain (or hill for swiss conditions with 233m). So we don't really have to climb, it's more like walking and going up stairs. As we arrive, the clouds are getting darker. But we start our flipflop-hike up to the top ;) Now we are classic tourists, but we knew that it will be more like a walking-highway than a hiking-trail.

It's hot and humid, although the sun isn't getting through the clouds. Instead, it is starting to rain slightly. Without hesitating we walk on or better, up. After a couple of minutes we reach the chateau mont réal and a beautiful lookout. Mount Royal is like a big green island in Montreal with little lakes, picnic areas, paths, etc. So you see a lot of families, runners, cyclists, and tourists enjoying their leisure time. Note: It is still raining.

Because of the temperature and the rain, we are getting wetter. So we decide to descend and get back to the city. Next Stop: Café Alexandre. Purpose: Getting dry and eating something. During our stay there, the rain has stopped and we can continue our way through the city.

As we approach the harbor, we catch a glimpse of a big cruiseship called Aida, which will return to the Atlantic Ocean. Really impressive. We go on to see the famous Notre Dame church from inside, but there is no way in. A couple has rented the church for an exclusive wedding the whole day. This will be an expensive one - we can't think of how much it could cost to rent the biggest and most well-known church in Montreal.

Unimpressed, we continue on and visit the old town of the city with its different shops, restaurants, musicians, and artists. A lot of people are in the small streets. But it's charming. So we sit in a café and enjoy the colorful hustle and bustle. Finally, we walk back to our room and make some homemade fajitas :) That's the way we like it.