Yesterday we drove into Canada. We crossed the border just a few miles from Jo and Bob's house. Crossing the border into Canada was easy....just a couple of minutes to stop and talk to the Canadian border guard and we were off. We used our passports & Mom used her passport card for the 1st time. Coming back into the U.S. took much, much longer.....but only about 20 minutes or so since this is such a small border crossing area.
Montreal is located in the Canadian province of Quebec. In the province of Quebec, the primary language is French....but many of the Canadians are English speaking as well. (The other Canadian provinces have English as their primary language.....that causes some controversy within Canada....but having French as the primary language in Montreal made the city all the more charming for us as U.S. tourists). The city of Montreal is also an island....so, it is very, very important to know your bridges and your directions so that you end up where you really wanted to go....this is especially so because the signs are in French, so you want to know that Pont means bridge (for example).
Jo wanted Mom & Dad to see and experience the Basilica in Montreal. It is absolutely beautiful. It is very, very large. It will hold 3200 people seated (and about 11000 people when it's standing room only). Our guide indicated that everyone will stand when there is a need to hold more than 3200 in the church, such as the funeral of a head of state in Canada. The Basilica is where Celine Dion was married. Besides the large church there is also a smaller chapel which can be used for weddings (much smaller weddings) and baptisms. I can't imagine how much it would cost to reserve this site for a wedding. When there are no weddings, visitors can come into the basilica to admire all of its beauty (at $5/person)...so, I imagine it would be quite pricey to have a wedding ceremony there....
The Basilica has lots of handcarved wood, painted surfaces and real gold trimmings. There are beautiful stained glass windows and a few stained glass skylights at the ceiling. The organ is huge as well and there is a 10000 ton bell that gets rung at times of greatest ceremony (such as a state funeral) and that bell can be heard from miles away.
After lighting some candles and enjoying the Basilica, we walked a little in the Old Montreal area and had lunch at an outdoor cafe. Some of the buildings in Old Montreal are from the 1750s. It was interesting to see a Ben & Jerry's sign written with a French description on an old stone building along the old plaza. The cafe where we ate is located in a plaza that used to be an open air market. We saw some colorful characters (Mom thought the tattoos and the brightly colored yellow, pink and orange hair on some of the younger folks was, shall we say, interesting?), but I thought the 2 guys in the Superman and Batman costumes were more unique. And, there was a clown making balloon flowers. Now, most of us would think that was cute and fun. But, my sister, Jo, hates clowns. She really, really hates clowns. I don't quite understand the real reason other than they are costumed and scary (to her) but it is quite comical to listen to her talk about clowns. She would not go near the clown in the square, but Mom W, Dad R & I were brave and we got close to the clown. He told Mom he had to go to the clown university to learn how to make his balloon flowers.....I think that's probably a stretch of the truth. (Maybe, Jo's right and clowns aren't very trustworthy!).
We had a great day in Montreal. My only regret is that I took a picture of a cigar store Indian figure....but forgot to buy the Cuban cigar that I had planned on!.....sorry, Jack.....
15 comments:
Jo corrected me and said that clowns aren't scary.....they are evil. Very Evil Creatures and that her daughter, Janene, will agree with this wholeheartedly. I think there's a horror movie somewhere in their thoughts about clowns.....
The Basilica is amazing. Your camera really captured some great detail! I'd love to see that one day.
That clown doesn't look too scary or evil....But I don't love clowns either. I think they are rather annoying if they aren't in a circus. Especially the ones that won't talk and they copy everything you do and than follow you and walk and act like you. Maybe those are Mimes, but not thrilled with them either...lol Your clown looked harmless though.
Jo says there's no such thing as a harmless clown. Don't delude yourself. You put yourself in danger if you think a clown is harmless.
(Note: I'm her sister and I love her ever so and then some...but Jo does have some very weird thoughts and feelings about clowns!)
Send in the clowns!!
WELL I LIKE CLOWNS....I LOVE WATCHING THEM MAKE THINGS WITH THE BALLOONS...HA...THE BASILICA IS JUST BEAUTIFUL...I'M JEALOUS, I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO TO CANADA...LOOKS LIKE A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO VISIT...ENJOYING THE PICTURES AND UPDATES....CAROL
I think Tom would is a great clown! Mom looks good in her Yankee hat, remember she is a true New Yorker. Montreal looks like a great town to explore, maybe we will get there someday too. If you get the chance Toronto is also a wonderful town to visit. The views from Bob & Jo's house are really beautiful. Continue having a great trip, see you soon. Roy
Forgot to mention how pretty Jo looked in her red shirt..Very pretty picture of her.
What a fun trip, the basilica is very beautiful! I'm glad that grandma got to use her passport!
Love to all,
Susanne
We LOVE to hear your comments. Mom is laughing about everything that you are all saying.
Also, Nancy, I agree that Jo looks great in that color of red.
And, I really, really, wish that I had thought to give the clown a couple of bucks to come up behind Mom, Dad & Jo so that he could have been in the picture with them, too. That would have been great!
Are you serious? That clown looks absolutely sinister. Look at the picture of him with Grandma Woolsey! It looks like he is trying to reach into her back pocket and steal her wallet! Good on her for wearing her purse on the opposite side.
All clowns are inherantly malicious and should be avoided at all costs.
OK, Janene....your Mom said that you'd agree with her about clowns! Actually, I think you don't really agree, but just don't want your Mamacita to be embarassed by the fact that she's the ONLY one who dislikes those sweet clowns who make hospital visits to sick children and entertain everyone with their cute antics. Haven't you heard about Ronald McDonald and all the good that he does??? Besides all that, just think how great that picture would have been with that clown in the background behind your Mom, Janene...I really missed a great opportunity. Darn it all anyway.
If that dastardly clown has snuck up behind me it would not have been a pretty picture. My pummelling a clown with my purse while Dad and Dottie watch in horror would not a good photo op make. Down with clowns, including Ronald McDonald. Almost as bizarre as the Burger King.
I think the clown beat down would of been a great photo op. But I still think this clown is kind of cute, so wouldn't want to see him having to go to the clown Doctor...Nancy
That cute clown gave Mom a very nice balloon flower. And, Mom liked the flower. She said that she'd like to find a little child to give it to.....and, lo and behold, on our way to the car she spotted a little guy in a stroller with a bandage on his hand. (He'd been bitten by a dog, unfortunately). Anyway, Mom gave the balloon to the little fellow and that made Mom's day. So, the clown helped the little fellow by way of Mom.
Mom says that should put you all in your place...she liked that clown! He was kind....
but, Jo did say that she would have pummeled him if he got close to her.........So, if you want to see a malicious Jo, show up at her door in a clown outfit.
Ronald McDonald? Poster child for the childhood obesity epidemic? Yes, he's a real pillar of the community, that one. And haven't you ever seen the movie, "Killer Clowns from Outer Space?" Say what you will, but clowns are not to be trusted. First he's handing you a balloon flower, and the next thing you know, you've been hit over the head with a giant mallet and stuffed inside a cotton candy pod, where you will transform into an evil clown yourself! You folks are lucky you got away when you did!
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