Family

My Family.

God luv 'em they're a pile of nut jobs from the get go. I love them dearly, but sweet mother mary, jesus hanging on a cross, they do try the patience.

My Mom and Dad as you may or may not know were up visiting me and Didier since last Sunday and left yesterday. It was a great visit. A fantastic visit - in that it happened at all, as this was their 4th attempt in 17 years to come visit, and only just, were they able to come, due to my Father's health - The Doctors only granting permission for him to travel the Thursday afternoon before they left on come up two days later.

But they DID arrive and health crises or not they were bound and determined to have a full visit. And so they did:

Sunday.

After arriving and 'freshening up' we went fpr a ride around the city, picked up some Bagels at Fairmount Bakery, then had brunch at Coras, then drove up the mountain, stooped at the belvedere looking east towards the Olympic Stadium...



...then to Beaver lake and a short walk to the Main Belvedere...


... over looking downtown. Then off to St-Joseph's Oratory...


... and a 2 hour visit inside and out, then a quick tour of Westmount to see how the obnoxiously rich live. Finally we made it home and relaxed.


Monday.
Thanksgiving.


Hello, all we did was eat!


Tuesday.
We took another tour around the city and headed to Old Montréal. We went to Notre Dame Basilica...



... and then Noël...


...the Christmas store near by. (you'll soon see this would becomse a trend)Walked around the cobbled streets a bit and chowed down at les Trois Brasseurs. Walked along some more heading to Place Jacques Cartier, and Hotel de Ville...


... and the law courts and then jumped back in the car and headed east to the Botanical Gardens...


...We toured the Green Houses (well most of then at any rate. They were renovating one - which then blocked access to 2 others... my favourite two: the Orchid Room and the Fern Room... the Bastards!) We toured the seasonal exhibit of the Pumpkin room where schools all over the city submit decorated pumpkins. I'll tell you this, kids have amazingly creative minds given the chance. The best were Shrek and Fiona...


...some penguins (made from gourds)...


... and the M+M guys...


...Very cute! Hell there were even a few with Leopard Print!!!


...Then we headed out side...


...walked through what remained of the roses and the rose garden and made our way to the Chinese Pavilion where the annual Chinese Lantern exhibit was...


Always incredible. Always breathtaking.


It succeeded again this year. After than a quick run out to Trudeau Airport to pick up a rent-a-car from a friend and then home, exhausted and beat we all slumped on the sofa.


Wednesday.
After breakfast we all filled into the Audi A4 Quattro and made our way to Québec City. After parking the car we took a short walk down to le Restaurant Aux Anciennes Canadiens...


... and had a terrific meal, then with our bellies full went walking around the city...


...for the next 3 hours. After checking into our hotel rooms we rested a bit then went out shopping again, to another Christmas shop: La Boutique du Noël...


...and then stopped into a small Crepe resto for a late dinner, and then made our way back to the hotel and passes out.


Thursday.
After another incredible breakfast, we packed the car and went shopping AGAIN! - to yet ANOTHER Christmas shop even! Le Royaume du Père Noël...


...took one last quick tour of the city and river and made our way further east to Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré...




After an hour or so in the church (and gift shop) we grabbed as bite to eat in a small diner and started our return drive to Montréal, but not before stopping off at les Chutes de Montmorecy. The trees all along or drive, both to and from Québec City were beautiful, but one you added in the falls well then the scene was complete. We took the cable car...


...to the top and walked along the hanging boardwalk to the top of the falls...


...took a few more pics and then made our way back down to the bottom. Back in Montreal 3 hours later we all ate some leftover turkey and passed out on the sofa, or more cleverly (well only Didier) went to bed!


Friday.
Another bit of a relaxing day. We were all so tired. We took it easy, going only for a short walk in the gaybourhood. And after Dinner we went to the Olympia Theatre to see a show... "The Best of Broadway" It was a song and dance spectacular with songs from Musicals old and new, going back to 42 nd Street right up to Mamma Mia and everything in-between. When Didier and I bought the tickets last month we figured it would be an enjoyable evening out, but personally I was not expecting that much. Was I ever pleasantly amazed. The show was nearly 2 hours of non-stop song and dance and just kept getting bigger and better as it went. My only disappointment was that they did not do anything from The Sound of Music... but then no one is perfect, so I forgave them. And the beauty of the night was, after the show we were only a short 5 block walk from home.


Saturday.
We all slept in a bit. I made my famous blueberry pancakes and then Mom and Dad were packing packing packing. Dad went out for a little last minute sightseeing and picture taking (alone, in the village... - I shudder to think what he took pics of - while at home Mom and I were frantically wrapping Christmas gifts... her wrapping things to stay here for me and Didier and I wrapping items for them to take home. By early afternoon we were packing the car with their luggage, heading back to Fairmount Bagel...


...to get some yummy goodness for them to take home and then we were at the train station...


...waiting in line for them to register their sleeper cars for the return home.

It was a whirlwind visit. I love that they were here, I love that they are gone and I love that they are already planning a return visit.

Family.
Ya gotta love 'em.
I do.