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. 

An evening in Old Montreal

We took the kids out to dinner this evening in Old Montreal. I love this part of the city. Yes it's super touristy but I love me some cobblestone.

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.

Our First Day In Montreal

The flights from Victoria to Vancouver and Vancouver to Montreal went really well. The boys were quiet and happy the whole way. They both slept through a lot of the second flight and Austen watched Zootopia with Daddy. The headphones we bought him before we left have been a godsend. The other MVP was the double stroller which Air Canada did check at the gate. I even saw someone with a double Bob - the largest beast of a double - and they managed to get on without even folding it despite there being 8 other strollers gate checked. So hats off to AC. They did a good job.

The kids were up late with the time difference and then up again at 6:30 ready to start the day... which, if you do the math, was really a 3:30am start for all of us. We were at Sir Wilfred Laurier park by 8:30 this morning after grabbing myself a coffee at Lapin Pressé en route. It's now lunch time. Caelen is down for his second nap. He is the sensible child. Austen on the other hand is singing enthusiastically to the Playmobil after a two hour stand-off over the issue of needing to eat food. No suggestion is good enough for this three year old today. He wants to be left alone to genuflect before the pile of toys generously left here by the family who rented us their home. Send more coffee.

The Great Montreal Gastro Tour of 2016

I have to say the best time in life to visit a city like Montreal would have to be one where one is breastfeeding, long distance running or cycling because every foodie site I look at makes me want to EAT ALL THE FOOD. Luckily Joel and I are both on a 3,000 calorie diet and plan to take full advantage of that.

Joel has quite a list of places he frequents when he's there for all his business trips. I've compiled an ongoing Google map with recommendations from Joel and some friends. Anything to add? Leave us a comment!

A Mini Live-Away Adventure X4

We've been suffering from the travel bug since the one year mark in our new home. Yes, I know. At one year I was holding a newborn baby with a nearly three year old gnawing on my ankle but that didn't stop the yearning to try to take them somewhere. We took a trip to LA and Carmel when Caelen was three weeks old and it went pretty well so we began to envision our next travel opportunity. Joel usually spends a good chunk of time each year in Montreal as he works with a team of guys based there and given the weak Canadian dollar we realized we could swing spending an extended period of time away in Canada especially if we could rent out our home here. And so it was arranged. This Summer we're taking off for a mini live-away adventure in Montreal. Expats in our home country but in a city where neither of us has ever lived. We have 8 weeks to organize a renter for the house, a cat-sitter (if renter cat-sits that would be great) hire a French tutor and figure out our side trips to visit friends and family. Oh yes... and that kitchen reno really must end. I'll be blogging this crazy Summer. 

Fun fact: In 2002 a much younger Stacey & Joel traveled to Montreal on their first trip together. 

Montreal

Mounted Police in the snow

Ice formations, Mt Royal

In Montreal on business for a few more weeks. It's beautiful but I wish Stace was here.
-Joel