K & L's Travel Blog

What fun to be traveling again! Taking care of outstanding chores before leaving is always a bitch: paying bills, managing appointments, communicating with friends and professionals, buying shoes and clothes, not to mention cleaning the stove fan vents, changing the bulbs in the overhead lights and downing the spider webs. And then there’s the yardwork. When you finally get on the road there is such a sense of relief and relaxation. And upon arrival, a sense of accomplishment.

We were wowed by the number of people in the Atlanta airport: an overwhelming river of humanity.  All levels of anxiety. Some way more anxious than us and others totally chill. Great diversity. I can’t stop staring. Lorena is flipped out because she forgot to bring a mask and there are only a few folks wearing masks. She tried to buy masks but was told the airport was totally sold out. COVID anxiety is still with us, even though we just had booster shots. 

Landing in Montreal involved lots of people too but we managed to find our way to the taxi stand and get to our Airbnb.  We are in a high-rise apartment building on the fourteen floor.  It is small but plenty for us.  The best part is a wonderful little balcony that overlooks a city scape.  

The next morning, we are so excited we get out at 7:00 am.  Nobody else is out at 7:00 am.  We walk and walk around the old city.  It feels very European with old buildings and French charm.  You can tell that the snow and cold weather influence the architecture because of the stone and solid building material.  The sidewalks and roads have lots of holes and damage from the winters.  Many planters and garden beds with Coleus and Hostas.

Our apartment is just east of the Old Town proper, off Rue Notre Dame. The Old Town is the most touristy part of the city. It is a beautiful warm Saturday and the families are out in full force.  In the main square there are street performers and weddings: a cellist plays the theme from The Godfather as the bride poses for a photo on the steps of a bank that looks like a church. There aren’t many dogs, which surprises us.  I find myself thinking about Sebastian frequently.  I think that making sure he was in good hands was such a big part of our traveling in the past that my mind naturally turns to “Is Sebastian OK?”

Sunday we woke up to rain and I spend time researching for a restaurant.  There are so many restaurants it is almost impossible to choose.  The ethnic influence is everywhere.  They fuse and fuse cuisines.  There is hardly a description of a restaurant that does not involve at least two or three cuisines.  

We decide on a food court for our lunch. Time Out food court is pretty upscale and extensive, and part of the underground city. We share a butter chicken, and must reckon with the fact we are hopelessly spoiled by Asheville’s Chai Pani (James Beard best in US 2022).

Our first nice restaurant is a wine bar, Cadet, small plate farm to table.  They don’t say tapas but that is would I would call it.  We order scallops, calamari and oysters but it is the fennel and grapefruit salad that most impresses us.  One hard thing is the prices of the wine.  At this restaurant the cheapest bottle was 45 USD and a small pour glass was 14 USD. At those prices I get one glass!

The walk back to our apartment along Saint Catherine is full of activity and colorful lights. The city feels very safe and welcoming.  We have lots more to explore.