Farewell Montreal

Our final week in Montreal wrapped up with the hottest days of our trip. Lots of swimming in the public pools and iced coffees in cafes. Our sweltering Air BnB place for the week was not the best choice but we made the most of the location. We had a family meal out at Maison Publique  and did some epic walks around the city and then we packed up for the airport. 

Heading home after five weeks away was strange and but also a relief. We learned so much about travel with two under four on this trip. Probably the most important thing I learned is that trailing along on a trip when Joel is working not all that much fun for me. Our side trips on the weekends were fantastic but the week days with Joel gone and me alone with the kids with no network or activities like preschool... it was daunting and isolating. The fun side trips told me that the kids are really happy to travel, we function really well as a family on the move and we plan to travel more in the future. 

Wordless Post In Honour Of Montreal Bakeries

Montreal: One Pastry At A Time

Here we are back in Montreal for week two of our month here. The kids and I set out three hours after I started to get Austen dressed. Because that's how long it took to negotiate getting Austen dressed today. I could have sat on him (while he made vocal impressions of an injured bald eagle) to make him comply but frankly we're on vacation and I actually don't care when we leave the house. At all.

We hit the bakery, Le Fromentier, to pick up a few quiches and a palmier and then went on to the hipster coffee shop, Lapin Presse, to pick up an iced latte for me. Parc Sir Wilfrid Laurier was full of stroller meet-ups of all kinds and we soon found a quiet corner to make sand-cakes (Austen) and eat sticks (Caelen).

We have a very relaxed remainder of this week planned before I take the kids up to Ottawa for a side trip and Joel takes off on a business trip to Boston and Anaheim.