DAY 33 - "I can't eat all this paper..."

We left Québec City in the morning and, cup holders full, headed southwest to Montreal.

It was my turn to drive and I took us the entire 262 kilometers without even a whiff of a curb check.

Where Québec City was quaint and almost whimsical in a way, Montreal is an earnest grown-up.

The largest city of the Québec province, and, for over a century and a half, the financial and industrial center of Canada, Montreal boasts an assortment of warehouses, factories, mills, elevators, churches, and refineries that add to the richness of the city’s diverse architecture.

We figured this was our last taste of sophisticated city life for a while, so we splurged on our accommodations for the night and opted to stay at the Hotel Place d’Armes across from the Notre Dame Basilica.

It was contemporary comfort combined with old school elegance...complete with rooftop bar!

We landed well before check-in time, but were able to stash our bags with the concierge and ditch the car with the valet.

Le Grand Poutinefest was well underway down by the marina and we had to get there.

It did not disappoint.

The entire “event” was five food trucks, 20 picnic tables, and 5,000 people all fighting to find a seat and inhale plastic bowls of junk food.

Yes!!

Steven and I made a bee-line to the truck offering Poutine Saucisse...or Hot Dog Poutine...which was apparently, as the 16-year-old kid taking orders put it, “for children”.

Two please! Merci beaucoup!

Nancy went with the Duck Poutine and David the BBQ...all were delicious.

We strolled around the city the rest of the day, digesting the sights and our lunch decisions.

It topped out at about 87 degrees, but we found a really nice breeze on the aforementioned rooftop bar and quelled the schvitz with the spritz.

Again, this is becoming more of a food journal, but once we get into Ontario, our adventures should reach well beyond our plates.

And, hey, I think our French is improving! Although, I definitely sound more like Chef Louis from The Little Mermaid thank I do Edith Piaf...

On to Niagara Falls!

“Hee, hee, hee...hon hon hon!!!”

DAY 34