After a 7 year absence from Montreal!

In late November 2006, we decided to go to Montreal as it had been 7 years since our last visit. We met our friends from Ottawa in Montreal. Our friends arrived on saturday morning and stayed at the Omni Hotel on Sherbrooke, a 5 minute walk from the Ritz Carlton

We decided to take Via 1 to Montreal early on a Friday morning. We packed a mixture of clothing, not knowing exactly what we may face when in Montreal. We stopped at a bookstore below the Royal Bank building, across from Union Station, to buy books and magazines.

I bought the latest of the Vinyl Cafe stories and it provided me with lots of good laughs during our four and half hur train ride.

The ladies who were in charge of the train on the way to Montreal were unbelievable - friendly, attentive and great personalities (GREAT SERVICE).

We arrived in Montreal, took a taxi to the Ritz Carlton on Sherbrooke Street and from the moment we arrived, the service at the hotel was A1 (GREAT SERVICE). From the time we checked in to our departure, we were treated with attention. The suite assigned to us was a large bedroom, attached to it a sitting room with large chandelier and a fireplace. High ceilings and great wall colours made it quite a relaxing place to be.

After unpacking at the Ritz, we went to walk all over the city to get reacquainted with Montreal. On the way back to the hotel, we discussed about ordering some ice to chill a bottle of Champagne we had brought with us from Toronto.

We reached our hotel and we went to the sitting room and lo and behold, there is a bottle of Champagne chilling with an assortment of fruits and cheeses. A card that was left with this "delicious surprise" tells us that it came from our dear friends the "H" in Toronto. We are god- fathers to their sons and they were aware that we would be in Montreal that week-end. Delightful Suprise.

Of course we had planned on eating and eating while in Montreal. Some reviews of some restaurants in Montreal coming in my next posting:

Friday night we were at Bu on Saint-Laurent. Saturday lunch at L'Académie on St-Denis. Saturday night at Express on St-Denis. Breakfast on Sunday at Beauties. Sunday lunch at a restaurant in old Montreal that was recommended by the concierge at the hotel (I will remember the name by the time of my next posting) Scratching head right now!!!!!!!!

Montreal is a beautiful city. I grew up in Ottawa and when it was time to party, Montreal was the place to go. Anyone remember the Limelight Disco?