By Bonnie Carroll
Old Town Quebec in Montreal, located adjacent to the Old Port of Montreal, is one of the most charming adventures travelers will experience in Quebec, Canada. The historic architecture in the Old Port area has such an attractive order to the eye and creates its own historical and fascinating story of the original settlers. The original French wooden structures were destroyed by fire and were later replaced by the British with the stone structures that visitors associate with the city today. The statues and city buildings offer an interesting and inviting view as they lead to the port, where a park and impressive Ferris Wheel offer amazing views of the St. Lawrence.
The nearby exquisite Notre Dame Basilica featuring the Casavant Organ is a staple of Old Montreal history and was dedicated in July of 1829. It is a national historic site of Canada, and always a centering point for historic curiosities. The revival architecture is stunning, and the interior of the church is amongst the most dramatic in the world with vaults of deep blue featuring gold stars. The sanctuary is done in blues, azures, reds, purples, silver, and gold. The stain glass windows depict scenes from Montreal history, not religious scenes, and it is no small wonder approximately eleven million people visit this Basilica each year. During my recent visit, there were so many visitors it was difficult to find a place to sit or stand.
The design style of this wonderous city is renowned, and the venerable stores and boutiques on Sherbrook, along with other boulevards, are a go-to for serious shoppers passing through. Mount Royal and Mc Gill University both offer breathtaking views of Montreal and provide visitors with a good feeling for the people living in the City of Montreal below. I highly recommend taking an afternoon break at the Palm Court in the Ritz-Carlton on Sherbrooke for their extraordinary high tea.
Dining in the Old Port of Quebec is such fun, and I loved The Chez Suzette at 3 St Paul East, where every crepe desire imaginable can be met and in style. The historic three-story building provides comfortable seating and is terribly warm and inviting after hours of serious shopping on a cold fall or winter day. The waiters at Chez Suzette are efficient but have a nonchalance about them that I personally found Québecois cool.
The Chez Suzette was full and included large family groups, tour groups and everything in between, but they all seemed as happy to be there as we were. From the chicken supreme crepe entrée to the Sundae Suzette dessert, it is all authentic and luscious. I so enjoyed our family lunch and the goodness that just kept on coming, washed down with delicious fresh lemonade. Also, worth a try is the rich lobster bisque with cognac, and the delicate escargot in garlic butter sauce.
The historic winding streets filled with interesting shops, museums, and restaurants in Old Town Montreal are simply charming, and offer a very enjoyable opportunity to spend a few hours gathering historical information and collecting fun keepsakes to take home.
As a devotee of fine photography, I found a visit to the World Press Photo Exhibition showcasing the annual World Press Photo Global winners an amazing opportunity to experience the best of visual journalism chosen from thousands of entrants, that highlighted the climate crisis, community, war’s impact on civilians, and the importance of press photography around the world.
The photo of the year went to Mads Nissen, featuring nine photos of Afghan people living under the Taliban without international aid. This exhibition of the World Press Photo Foundation was held across the street from the entrance to the Port in Montreal, but the exhibitions are themed shows, and the locations vary. For inquiries or to donate visit www.worldpressphoto.org.
My hasty adventure through the Old Port of Montreal ended too quickly as I returned to my ship docked in the Port to begin a trip up the Canadian coast to visit Quebec City and other intriguing destinations like Saguenay, where I had a date with a seaplane to see the Fjords. My beautiful view of the Montreal Old Port and skyline as the sun was setting will forever remain in my memory, and in my photos, as one of the most meaningful visits I’ve shared with my family in their homeland, and I am looking forward to my next delicious and interesting visit with great anticipation. Oh, Canada!
For Montreal tourism information visit www.mtl.org.
