Old Montreal

     Day 2 in Montreal started off just like any other day; I woke up.  From there, things took a turn for unique.  I watched a speech given by the Washington Post journalist and very right-winged George Will.  I witnessed the domination of Germany over USA in the World Cup, and then I hit the streets of Montreal (Old Montreal to be exact).

     Vieux-Montreal, meaning Old Montreal in French, started as a fur-trading post in 1605.  Later it would house individuals such as Benjamin Franklin and Charles Dickens.  Today, it acts as a tourist area with restaurants and shops lining the cobble-stoned streets.  We found a self-guided walking tour online and took our time about experiencing the oldest part of Montreal.

Bagpipes and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

George Will talking about baseball and politics.  I suppose they go hand in hand.

The Place d'Armes and Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal with my lovely mama.

The oldest building in Montreal.

Inside of Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal.  The interiors of churches still surprise me.  You can never say, "If you've seen one, you've seen them all."

The Chapel within the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal.

Breathtaking.

Even more breathtaking with my main squeeze in front.

Strolling (or strutting) down the oldest road in Montreal.

Action shot.

I left my Superman gear at home because I didn't realize phone booths still existed.

Cirque du Soleil setup.

Bonsecours Market where you'll find local artisans and can purchase anything from paintings to fresh veggies.

A pretty church that overlooks the river.

July 4th BOOMs and Tubes

     I write this to you in a nasal voice.  Why?  Because I shotgunned a beer (the drinking method of poking a hole in the bottom of a can and chugging it) for the first time yesterday, and instead of it going down the hatch, it came right out my nose.  Thankfully, PDub came to my rescue, stopped me from drowning in Bud Light, and finished the thing off himself.  They really should offer lessons before allowing a (perfect) lady to attempt such a manly thing.  I may not throw like a girl, but I certainly shotgun like one.

     Anyway, our 4th of July weekend was eventful; there are no excuses for having a lame USA birthday whenever you live near the Capitol.  Our day started at a friend's house, who lives directly across the street from the Supreme Court, and involved mingling with close friends, drinking USA brewed beer, and eating BBQ and pizza.  We then headed for Virginia to watch the fireworks.  July 4th, a reason to set things on fire and watch them explode.

Nothing says America like "We, the Pizza" pizza.

Half of our view for the firework action.

The other half of our view.

Oooooo......

The advancement of fireworks.

Ahhhhhhhhh.....

Ooooooo.....

Ahhhhhhh......

Oooooo.....

Ahhhhh......

     Our weekend ended with a tube trip down the Shenandoah River.  What was supposed to be a nice relaxing day ended with bruised shins from a rocky bottom, sunburned backs, and serious sinus issues from a shotgunned beer failure.  Three-day weekends definitely call for a follow-up vacation.

Cheers to a tuberific time!

Having your tubes tied on a day like this makes the most sense.

Open-mouthed selfie.

Shenandoah Mountains.

Frisbee time!!

Our anchor to extend the length of our tube trip.  Success.

My view for the day.  Strappy sandals are so in this year.

Old Train Stations and Rooftop Terraces in Montreal

     On Tuesday, PDub and I boarded an airplane and crossed the well-guarded border to our neighbor in the north.  Canada: home of maple syrup, hockey, and the word "eh."  Our destination was Montreal, where over 1,000 petroleum land managers gathered for their national meeting.  No, Paul and I have not changed our careers, but it just so happens that my mom has been a petroleum landman for over forty years now.
     PDub and I have become tag-alongs, attending the opening reception, free lunches, and fancy dinner/dances.  We basically skip everything educational, take in the good stuff, and hit up the city in between.  Our first evening involved an opening reception at the Gare Windsor Station (built in 1887).  Once an actual train station for the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Windsor has become a provincial historic landmark and event location.  The theme of our evening was "across Canada" with glaciers to tipis to lighthouses.  To top things off, the association went all out by hiring some Cirque du Soleil folks to entertain us.  Fun fact: Montreal is the birthplace of Cirque.  After the reception, we headed to Vieux-Montreal (Old Montreal) for a rooftop, sunset, and cocktails.....a perfect evening.

Our room overlooked Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral.  Some call it Jordan, Queen of the World Cathedral.  Now, that sounds much, much better.

The opening reception took place at Gare Windsor Station, an old train station turned historic monument a.k.a. event destination.

PDub would not allow me to sit Indian style.  He said that was officially out of style.

Giving the terms "shrimp cocktail" a whole new meaning.

Because why wouldn't there be a swing and a therefore a photo shoot?

Royal Canadian Mounted Police ensuring the area was secure and posing for pictures.  Definitely a high-stress job!

Just hanging around in unitards.  My favorite pastime.

PDub and I attempted to reenact this later in the evening.  Bonus: no one got hurt.

Cue: Ribbon Dancing music.

Cocktails on Terrace Nelligan overlooking Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal.