Classic and modern

Sunday
Having had a very early start the last two mornings (about 4.30 am!) we decided to sleep somewhat later this morning! After breakfast at the hotel, we walked down to the Basilica Notre Dame - I wasn't bothered about seeing the inside of it again this time (even though it is magnificent), but when we were here this time last year, they were digging up the square in front, and re-paving it, so I thought we would have a look at the end result and take some photos. Unfortunately, it wasn't really the best time of day for photographing the Basilica, as the sun was behind it. From there we walked to the Museum of Fine Arts - quite a long walk, but it was a beautiful day, and I just love walking in Montreal. The city's architecture is quite eclectic - characterized by the juxtaposition of the old and the new and a wide variety of architectural styles, the legacy of two successive colonizations by the French, the British, and the close presence of the architecture of the United States to the south. This is shown quite clearly in today's blip, showing St. George's Anglican church, dating back to 1869, against one of the city's modern skyscrapers, built in 1992. At the time of last year's visit the Museum was about to open a new pavilion, dedicated to Canadian Art - actually housed in an old church, which they had gutted and redesigned. They have also put a number of sculptures in, lining the side street between two of the pavilions. After we had toured the Canadian Art pavilion, we got a bite to eat in the cafe, then it was time to walk back to the hotel, to retrieve our car from the car park. We then went up to Parc Mont Royal, atop one of Montreal's hills, affording a magnificent panorama over the city and the St. Lawrence River beyond. We enjoyed a walk in the sunshine, taking in the views, then headed back down to the city for an early dinner, before driving out to Bromont, a little over an hour's drive to the east, where Roger is on business for the next four days.