We were very tired this morning and debated staying home, but it is our last day in Montreal and the sun is shining, so off we went, albeit very late. We got our handicapped parking space again and walked down Notre-Dame ouest (west) to Notre Dame Basilica. No weddings today, but the next English tour is at 2 p.m. and it’s only noon, so we walked to another spot on our list, the Chapel of Notre Dame and Marguerite Bourgeneys Museum on rue St-Paul est (St. Paul Street East). It is closed on Mondays. Back we went, very slowly and shopping as we went, to Notre Dame Basilica. We are in Old Montreal and shops and restaurants are open because of all the tourists. We passed a Wal Mart and Costco on our way into town and they were both closed. I didn’t know that Canada celebrated Labor Day, too.
The tour consisted of a talk by a guide about the history of the Basilica. The church was founded in 1642 when Montreal was settled. Originally a simple wooden chapel, and then a stone church, the current structure was started in 1824. The sanctuary and alter area are beautiful. I wish we had come for Mass yesterday when all the lights are on and the organist plays the 7,000 pipe organ.
A Basilica and Cathedral differ in that a Cathedral is the seat of the bishop and a Basilica is a honorary title bestowed by the Pope because of historical and architectural significance. This church was named a Basilica in 1982.
The rest of the afternoon was spent driving around Montreal, checking out neighborhoods. Somehow, there is a definite feeling of San Francisco here, without the hills. About 5 p.m. we headed back across the Pont Jacques-Cartier (Jacques-Cartier Bridge) for the last time and went back to Toby. The plan was to stop at a Fondue restaurant we had seen, but it was closed today. Instead we stopped at a fast food chicken chain we had seen everywhere. A lot like McDonald's, but all chicken items, including a rather good salad.
We watched our last Roy Rogers movie and got ready to move on to Quebec City tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment