This is the LAST post for this blog. To go in chronological order please start with http://or-or-bust.blogspot.co.nz/2015/06/days-0-3.html
Day 85 - 22 August - Montréal - 31 miles
At the Montréal KOA they gave us directions on how to get to the underground rail system. We were up by 6.30am and by 7.15 were driving to Longuenil-Université-de-Sherbrooke, the outer terminus for the yellow line. Because it was a weekend, we didn't have to pay to park. We got all-day passes on Montréal trains and buses for $10 each.
We took the yellow-line train to Berri-UQAM, the orange line to Mont Royal and then the number 11 bus to Mount Royal Park. The Kondiaronk scenic lookout in front of Chalet du Mont-Royal offers a panoramic view of Montréal and the St Lawrence River beyond.
Ed walking across the Kondiaronk scenic lookout toward Chalet du Mont-Royal.
Chalet du Mont-Royal is a magnificent hall in the French Beaux Arts style at the top of Mount Royal. It was designed by Montreal architect Aristide Beaugrand-Champagne and built in 1932 under a scheme similar to the Works Progress Administration in the USA.
Inside there are pictures of Montréal and enough space to host a banquet for 500 people.
There is beautiful detail of craftsmanship throughout the building.
Tea at Les Amis de la Montagne, a 10-minute walk from Chalet du Mont-Royal
In the mid-1800's residents of Montréal became concerned as trees on the Mount were cut down for firewood. The area was designated a park in 1876. The original landscaping was designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted, best known for designing Central Park in New York City.
We walked down the hill and into the city.
The Church of St. Andrew and St. Paul
Museé des beaux-arts de Montréal
Steps of the museum
The museum had an extensive special exhibit of Rodin sculptures occupying 10 rooms. In all there were over 300 works on exhibit, including sculptures, drawings and photographs.
At the Rodin exhibit we were free to take photos--as long as we didn't get too close.
Auguste Rodin
The Cathedral 1908
Bronze, Georges Rudier Foundry, cast 1962
Auguste Rodin
Thought (portrait of Camille Claudel) 1893–95
Plaster cast after the marble at the Musée d’Orsay, Paris
Auguste Rodin
Gustav Mahler 1909
Plaster
Auguste Rodin
Iris, Messenger of the Gods, medium-sized version
About 1891–93 Patinated plaster
Auguste Rodin
Bust of Jean d'Aire model for Burgher of Calais (1884-9)
By the time we emerged from the Rodin, we were close to being museumed out. Still, the museum had many other things, so we took a bit of time to look. We were delighted to see this oil by Salvator Rosa. We have his etching of the same scene at home.
Midge posed bravely below this hanging rock in one of the museum halls.
It's always fun to read the slightly overblown art-critic-speak that accompanies the works. If nothing else, it reminds me of what a philistine I am when talking about art.
It was lunchtime, so we left the museum and took the subway toward the old city.
Across from the Hôtel de Ville, we found the À propos café, where we got excellent paninis.
The five-storey Hôtel de Ville de Montréal, from outside the À propos café.
Château Ramezay is a museum of the city and home of former governors.
Interior panelled room of Château Ramezay.
Doors to Cour d'Appel du Québec
Stret scene from Starbucks looking across to McDonald's with Ed's reflection in the window. If you blow up the image and look very closely, you'll note the McDonald's yellow "M" has a small red maple leaf in the center. Guess that makes it suitable for Canadiens. Well, that and the poutine they serve.
Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal
Banque Nationale
Les chuchoteuses on Rue Saint-Paul by Rose-Aimée Bélanger (2002)
Rue Saint-Paul (I think)
Montreal harbor on the St Lawrence River
Dome on Bonsecours Market from the marina.
Bonsecours Market
Dome on Bonsecours Market
Place Jacques-Cartier was a pedestrian district lined with restaurants and shops. Artists and performers were in the center.
Great chocolate gelato from a Place Jacques-Cartier shop.
Colorful wall in the subway on the way back to Longuenil-Université-de-Sherbrooke.
Midge using her pass to enter the subway.
Ads for Montréal exhibits ... at least we'd seen one and the Aztec one looked like what we had seen at Te Papa in Wellington.
We were back at the KOA by 6.30pm.
Day 86 - 23 August - Montréal to Mere Point, Maine - 263 miles
We were up at 6am for an early breakfast and on the road by 7.40. The first part of the trip was through fertile Quebec farmland,
Lac Massawippi, 88 miles east of Montreal.
We entered the US at the northeast corner of Vermont from Hereford, Québec and were soon crossing the Connecticut River into New Hampshire.
The Balsams Grand Resort, on Lake Gloriette, Dixville, NH
Waterfall at Grafton Notch State Park
With only 2 hours to go, we went through Newry, Bethel, Paris, Hebron, Minot, Lewiston and Durham, Maine, reaching the starting point of our trip, Mere Point, at 2.30pm.
So, one adventure ends and another begins.
