October 10, 2023. Montreal.

Our final day in Montreal celebrating Lorna’s birthday today!

We had a relaxing morning at The David before we headed off at 10. The plan was to walk to the nearest Metro station and take it to the Atwater station where we’d visit the Marche Atwater (Atwater Market) like the grand one we visited the other day. We took the green line from the Place Des Arts station to Atwater.

One thing you notice very quickly is that the Metro is spotless.

Easy system to navigate.

The train car was very clean.

Our destination. I think the fare was $3.75 Canadian.

One thing one notices very quickly when visiting Montreal in the better weather months is the extent of construction going on throughout the city. Apparently much of it has to happen between May and October. Orange cones and detour signs are everywhere.

We’d thought the Atwater market would be close to the Atwater Metro station but it wasn’t so we had to hoof it a little but it was pretty much all downhill. This market is a little smaller than the one we visited on Sunday but it was still quite impressive as there were all the regular French specialty food purveyors represented.

Pumpkins galore – the Quebecians love Halloween …

Mums of every color…

Lorna’s favorite.

Gourds…

Cheese!

A boulangerie…

And lots of meats!

As it was getting to be around lunchtime, we left the market and headed over to the nearby Little Burgundy neighborhood where we thought we could find a restaurant. Cafe September is a bustling place filled with 20-something’s presumably on their lunch breaks. Good food and vibes despite the fact that we felt like their parent’s age. 🤣

Birthday mimosas

Tomato salad with burrata

Avocado toast

Since we were heading back in the direction of The David anyway where we were, we decided to continue walking rather than finding a Metro station.

Part of the walk was through a residential area with what looked like townhomes like this.

The neighborhood. Lots of housing.

A number of properties in Montreal have outside staircases like this that reach multiple stories. Not sure what they do in Winter.

This city has a lot of squirrels, pigeons and house sparrows. On the walk back, even saw some black ones.

Interesting staircase sculpture in a downtown park.

Final walking route map but this includes the Metro ride.

After stopping at the hotel for 1/2 hour, we set out for the Chateau Ramezay to see its interior this time. Interesting history, mainly of a lot of dead White guys.

The chateau dates back to the 18th century. It was originally constructed in 1705 as the residence of Claude de Ramezay, who served as the Governor of Montreal. The building’s architecture is a fine example of the French colonial style. During the 18th century, the château witnessed various significant events, including the surrender of Montreal to the British in 1760, marking the end of French rule in Canada.

In the 19th century, the building had several different purposes, including serving as a governor’s residence and a museum. In 1895, it was transformed into a historical museum, making it one of Canada’s oldest museums. Today, Château Ramezay offers visitors a glimpse into Montreal’s history through its exhibits and beautifully preserved period rooms. It stands as a testament to the city’s colonial past and its role in the development of Canada.

A model of the early chateau.

The beaver fur trade was once a major industry in Quebec in the 19th century.

Ben Franklin once visited the chateau.

The kitchen downstairs.

The contraption on the right – the family dog would be placed inside and like a hamster wheel, when it would run, it would spin the wheel which would then turn the spit of meat cooking over the fire. A dog-powered rotisserie.

We walked back to The David and needed a rest before the evening’s plans. We’d ordered tickets to L’expérience AURA at the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal at 6pm which was perfect to make our reservation for the steakhouse celebratory birthday dinner at 7 at Gibby’s, a short walk away in Old Town.

Aura is a spectacular light and music experience inside the basilica. We’d yet to see the interior so we were looking forward to the show. Entering the church was quick and easy as an attendant scanned our electronic tickets as well as those of hundreds of others in attendance.

We’d seen a similar show at a church in Porto, Portugal last year so we kind of knew what to expect. There are two shows a night at 6 and 8 and I believe they run 7 days a week. The revenue generated helps the church to maintain the basilica which is probably a significant expense.

Gibby’s Steakhouse is a renowned and long-established steakhouse located in the heart of Old Montreal. Founded in 1969, it has become a classic and beloved dining destination in the city. The restaurant is housed in a historic building that dates back to the early 19th century, which adds to its charm and character.

When I’d made the reservation the other day, I entered into their online system that we were celebrating Lorna’s birthday at their restaurant. I didn’t think anyone would read it.

The portion sizes were huge and we couldn’t finish everything. Their mains include a salad or soup and choice of sides.

When we first arrived, our waiter James brought a freshly-baked small loaf of bread, butter, dill pickles and this bowl of bacon bits. He said it was a Gibby’s tradition to butter a slice of bread, put a slice of pickle on it and then top it all with some of the bacon.