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. 

I Dream of Cottage Country

I lived near the thousand islands until the age of ten and like most kids growing up in Ontario, Summer was all about lake swimming and going to cottages. I fished, caught frogs, paddled inner tubes out to catch the wakes of passing boats and tried to build viable rafts from found objects. I loved the sound of the lake lapping at the underside of the dock as I lay still watching the fish swim in the sunny shallows below.

One of my best friends grew up in a family that owned a cottaging business with 15 cottages and as I planned our trip this Summer she and I conspired to get us out to her family's cottages for the ultimate Ontario lake experience. Everything fell into place and we just came back from three of the most fun days we've ever had as a family.

Breaking News: Poutine Officially Off The Bucket List

Frankly I had never heard of poutine until I was 20. Was I just terribly sheltered or did the whole poutine thing really become a trend around the year 2000? All I know is it's been a thing among both foodies and junk-food lovers for a while and everyone attributes it to Canada.

Joel decided to visit La Banquise poutinerie to see if they could satisfy my curiosity. And there we were, sitting on a picnic table with plastic forks in hand with about 4lbs of poutine in front of us.

So what did I think? Honestly, I'm not a fan. I fished around this sodding goo for a crisp fry and wished the gravy were on the side. And while I love cheese curds, their delicate flavour is lost in a gravy and they were just a rubbery texture floating in salty goo on sad mushy fries.

Joel ordered a meat lovers poutine with a MOUND of meats piled on top and he was similarly grossed out and ended up nibbling at the edges of mine instead. Austen barely touched his once he realized that it really wasn't as exciting as he'd hoped. 3 1/2 lbs of poutine hit the bottom of the park garbage bin and we walked home. Mission accomplished. Lets not do this again.

From Montreal To The banks Of The Mississippi

Last Sunday Joel and I took the boys on another side trip. This time were were taking a trip down memory road in Ottawa and Lanark County. Back when I was skating I lived in Ottawa from 1999 to 2001 and I haven't been back in fourteen years. We visited the dear friends I lived with for my last year in Ottawa. Joel had to fly to Boston first thing Monday morning but the boys and I stayed and joined our friends at their camper for a few days in Larnak County on the shore of the Mississippi. They swam, made sand castles and frolicked in the sun. 

It was a lovely week. Joel is now flying back from his work trip to Boston and Anaheim and we're packing up this house in Montreal tomorrow. Saturday morning bright and early we set off to Lyndhurst, ON to go to a cottage on Red Horse Lake. 

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.

Toronto Tales

We decided to spend the weekend in Toronto to catch up with my cousin, aunt and the 2nd cousins who are the same age as our boys. Taking the train was EASY compared to a long drive with kids stuck in carseats (not to mention the traffic and parking). And we do love a good walk. So Saturday morning bright and early we set out for an 8:55 train from Montreal to Toronto.

The Montreal station is a bit crazy at the moment because only some platforms are stroller and wheelchair accessible but the staff were great and we managed to haul the kids down to the train platform while a porter carried all our gear. Once on board the conductor was great with the kids and very helpful. We bought lunch and snacks and Austen played happily and explored the train cars. This is the way to travel with toddlers and preschoolers!

Union Station in Toronto is right downtown and about 20 minute walk at our pace to our hotel. The station is under renovations right now and was also a bit confusing with stroller access. When it's finished the whole experience for parents will be pretty easy I hope.

Our double stroller held the kids and our weekend bag (yes, we got it down to one) and served us well on the wide smooth sidewalks of Toronto. Our hotel was one of the cool renovated old houses run by Urban North Inns. We had a whole floor to ourselves and a warm welcome from a host there and use of kitchen and livingroom/patio. Highly recommend them for very reasonably priced Toronto accommodations.

On Sunday we met up with my cousins and aunt and headed to Toronto Island for the day. I've never actually taken the Centre Island ferry. As a kid we were always headed to visit our friends who live in a magical cottage on Algonquin Island and would take the Ward Island ferry. I also had no idea about the petting zoo and cute old timey amusement park for the little ones. I highly recommend it for families with kids toddler and up. The boys loved meeting their 2nd cousins and were fast friends.

We were the first ones at the petting zoo/farm in the morning

The Centreville Amusement Park - very cute old timey family fun

Austen got very brave and decided to hit both the log ride and the rollercoaster on our way out. I'm still shocked over that one.

After the visit with my family we headed across the island to our family friend's home on Algonquin Island. Total childhood nostalgia for me at every turn. We dropped in for a visit and then were off to catch a ferry back to the city to put the kids to bed. It was a great day. 

Imagine growing up in a neighbourhood with no cars... this is a dreamy street on Algonquin Island

Monday we headed to the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) with the littles and actually had to stop and play in a park because we got there before it opened. We're those people now. Austen loved the museum and I got to catch up with a dear friend who I have known for 25 years who met us there and was willing to join our rowdy group.

We headed back to Montreal that afternoon - quite a whirlwind trip. I definitely packed it too close together. Having a travel day followed by a big sightseeing day followed by another travel day was too much for the kids. They were tired and squirly on the train back to Montreal. Live and learn. Luckily they were fast asleep by the time we were arriving and with the help of the staff on the platform we got them tucked into "bed" in the stroller and rolled off into the sunset. 

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!