Montréal 2023

Man, a lot happened this past week! I never have much going on anymore, it's a challenge to think of something to write about and now there's too much. But I figure I'll just start with my (third!) trip to Montréal, which, although it was for work, Jayna was able to join me, and given the timing, it kind of felt like my birthday trip in the end (happy birthday to me yesterday!)

My first time in Montréal was when I was living in New York and spent Thanksgiving there, I believe it was 2011 (12 years ago!!) and then I went for work in September 2018 and had so much fun there with Chrishon, and now I get to add March 2023 with Jayna to the list, and man it was still deep winter up there.

I had my work fair on Saturday, but Jayna walked me over and helped me set up my booth LOL.

Action shot courtesy of Jayna

After the fair, we were walking back to the hotel and passed by their winter festival that was still going on. It was really cute! But I don't think I was used to all the cold and snow yet cause I couldn't believe how so many people were just okay hanging out outside here.

Little mini Stanley Cup hockey games!

We passed so many beautiful little interactive art installations and beautiful lights and decorations, and it really did help bring some joy to such a cold winter! Below was a huge stack of dominoes that would make musical notes as they fell down.

This "Giant Ring" is less than a year
old - it was installed at the end of spring 2022

These pretty colors sparked so much joy

Because it was my third time in Montréal (and it's really not the biggest city) I had suggested we take time to explore outside of it, and Jayna found us a great day trip to Quebec City that included visiting the only ice hotel in North America (that is rebuilt anew and different every winter). We were on the fence about the ice hotel but it kinda ended up being the best part! I will say that I have never had a desire to stay in a ice hotel, and after visiting - I loathe the idea even more!

This was actually a chapel, separate
from the hotel. I'm down to renew my
wedding vows here one day!

Chapel's altar

See the nice row of benches for the guests?

Reception at the ice hotel

My George Costanza

Jayna enjoying a "Lou-Lou" aka Shirley Temple

My favorite photo from the day

All the rooms had different themes!

My special suite! The ballet room!

One of the tables in the room

After the ice hotel, we went into Quebec City proper. It was beautiful. It's kinda small and touristy, but it's quite hilly, and it's surrounded by beautiful old city wall ramparts, and lots of darling shops and cafes and restaurants. I thought we might have a hard time filling our 4 hours but in the end we were rushing, but maybe because we had such a great time over our poutine lunch and entertainment from the staff.

They still have Christmas decorations up everywhere

Inside their Cathédrale Notre-Dame

Parliament! (Quebec City is the capital of the province)

After the city visit, we went to Montmorency Falls, which is the largest waterfall in something... maybe North America? LOL. It is longer than Niagara Falls, although Niagara Falls has a much larger width. It was really neat to see it under so much snow and ice, I don't see that often.

The St Laurence River frozen over

We got some time to explore the city and my God did we walk a lot! And don't get me started on St. Viateur's Bagels who ONLY TOOK CASH (did you know Montréal is known for their bagels, supposed to rival NYC!) but we got to see some really great neighborhoods in the process.

It was a rough trip home but all's well that ends well, and it was such a great getaway (even if it was for work), and a chance to see Jayna, and I always love being in the francophone. And hey, a really neat unexpected perk was the way being in an unseasonably cold California doesn't feel so cold anymore about 5 days in 20 and 30 degree weather.