Up to Montreal and Quebec City - September 23rd-October 1st 2006

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September 26th 2006: Vieux Montreal (Old Montreal)


Page 2 of 2.
Click on images below to enlarge:
At first, I misread my map and thought this was the convention center. 
By the time I figured out I was wrong, I was blocks away.  Throughout
the rest of the day, I kept thinking about returning, simply to find out
what the heck I photographed.  In the end never made it back.  Some
research from the hotel that night also failed.  But a bit more research
back at home, months later, solved this puzzle for me.  The photo is a
side view of a slice of an investment bank's building (CDP Capital).
The Centre de Commerce Mondial de Montreal (Montreal World Trade Center)  
encompasses a few blocks, roofing the now pedestrian only alleys within.  
I love how they kept (or renovated) the street lamps.
The peaceful reflecting pond within the Montreal World Trader Center is
supposedly often used for fashion shoots.  I can believe it.
The modern metal chairs within the Montreal World Trader Center are more 
comfortable than they look.
At first, I misread my map and thought this was the convention center. By the time I figured out I was wrong, I was blocks away. Throughout the rest of the day, I kept thinking about returning, simply to find out what the heck I photographed. In the end never made it back. Some research from the hotel that night also failed. But a bit more research back at home, months later, solved this puzzle for me. The photo is a side view of a slice of an investment bank's building (CDP Capital).
The Centre de Commerce Mondial de Montreal (Montreal World Trade Center) encompasses a few blocks, roofing the now pedestrian only alleys within. I love how they kept (or renovated) the street lamps.
The peaceful reflecting pond within the Montreal World Trader Center is supposedly often used for fashion shoots. I can believe it.
The modern metal chairs within the Montreal World Trader Center are more comfortable than they look.
The colorful Palais des Congres (Convention Center).
The Vieux Palais de Justice (Old Courthouse).  The new courthouse (not
pictured) is next door.  I learned that civil law is a provincial matter
and that Quebec's is based not off of British common law but rather
off of France's Napoleonic Code.  And here's another neat fact: defendants in
criminal cases can choose what language the court uses to handle their
case.
The Hotel de Ville (City Hall) has a good balcony for making speeches.
The front of city hall.
The colorful Palais des Congres (Convention Center).
The Vieux Palais de Justice (Old Courthouse). The new courthouse (not pictured) is next door. I learned that civil law is a provincial matter and that Quebec's is based not off of British common law but rather off of France's Napoleonic Code. And here's another neat fact: defendants in criminal cases can choose what language the court uses to handle their case.
The Hotel de Ville (City Hall) has a good balcony for making speeches.
The front of city hall.
The Champ-de-Mars (Field of Mars), a grassy area in front of the city hall 
and the courthouse, displays some of the city's original walls.
Between the old courthouse and city hall lies Place Vauquelin, with a
fountain, a cute street lamp, and a small statue atop a large pillar. 
Continuous with Place Vauquelin is Place Jacques-Cartier (not pictured),
a cute little tourist trap of a street with many restaurants with
outdoor seating.
The Court d'Appel du Quebec (Quebec Court of Appeals).
The Champ-de-Mars (Field of Mars), a grassy area in front of the city hall and the courthouse, displays some of the city's original walls.
Between the old courthouse and city hall lies Place Vauquelin, with a fountain, a cute street lamp, and a small statue atop a large pillar. Continuous with Place Vauquelin is Place Jacques-Cartier (not pictured), a cute little tourist trap of a street with many restaurants with outdoor seating.
The Court d'Appel du Quebec (Quebec Court of Appeals).
Night at Our Lady of Montreal Basilica (Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Montreal)
The basilica was decorated very theatrically for the show "La Lumiere
Fut" ("There Was Light").
By the end of the show, all the curtains and screens had been flamboyantly 
removed and one could see the apse and altar in all their overdone 
grandiosity.
A closer view of the altar and its excessive ornamentation.
The stained glass windows on one side of the church were lit while the 
others weren't.  How odd.
The basilica was decorated very theatrically for the show "La Lumiere Fut" ("There Was Light").
By the end of the show, all the curtains and screens had been flamboyantly removed and one could see the apse and altar in all their overdone grandiosity.
A closer view of the altar and its excessive ornamentation.
The stained glass windows on one side of the church were lit while the others weren't. How odd.
The pulpit.  If you view the full sized image, you can see, in slightly
fuzzy focus, the amazing amount of detail that went into every inch of the
construction.
The view back toward the nave and the huge pipe organ.
A final picture designed to capture the extravagant decorations.
The pulpit. If you view the full sized image, you can see, in slightly fuzzy focus, the amazing amount of detail that went into every inch of the construction.
The view back toward the nave and the huge pipe organ.
A final picture designed to capture the extravagant decorations.
Old Montreal at Night
The lit dome of Marche Bonsecours on the right; the steeple of Chapelle 
Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours on the left in the distance.
The Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours at night.  It glows nicely.
The lit dome of Marche Bonsecours on the right; the steeple of Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours on the left in the distance.
The Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours at night. It glows nicely.
La Banquise
La Banquise from the outside.
The well lit, casual interior of La Banquise.
Classic poutine: french fries, gravy, and cheese curds.  Photographed
without a flash.
Classic poutine again, photographed with a flash.
La Banquise from the outside.
The well lit, casual interior of La Banquise.
Classic poutine: french fries, gravy, and cheese curds. Photographed without a flash.
Classic poutine again, photographed with a flash.
Vegetable poutine: french fries, gravy, cheese curds, green peppers,
onions, and mushrooms.
Vegetable poutine: french fries, gravy, cheese curds, green peppers, onions, and mushrooms.