Subway to the City

We set out this morning and found parking for the mass transit system on this side of the River, and took the subway into town. The campground host advised that this would be the easiest way, as parking can be difficult and expensive downtown, so we decided to give it a whirl.  We made it to the parking lot, but got a little confused trying to find the transportation terminal—it was a couple blocks away (we didn’t realize this).  Once we got to the terminal, we stared at the signs (which were all in French) and tried to figure out which way to go.  After I tried to buy a subway ticket from an ATM, (how embarrassing) we finally found the proper place to be, and bought our $18 3-day pass.   The subways were very clean, and not terribly crowded.  The host also suggested we wait until after 9 am which probably helped.  The ride was easy, smooth and quick.  We made the right transfer  and popped out right downtown where we were supposed to be.

We took and a double decker Gray Line tour to get an overview of the city and get our bearings on where things are.  It was excellent, and we learned a lot about Montreal and its history, and realized how big and diverse the city is.
Montreal was established 173 years ago by settlers who wanted to start a mission center.  They wanted to convert the Indians to Catholics, and there is an obvious influence of the Catholic tradition in the various landmarks around the city.  The city now has 1.6 million people, and is an interesting collection of old and new, big and small, and overall pretty amazing stuff.  There is a Notre Dame chapel and a Notre Dame Basilica.  
There is a ChinaTown and a Gay and Lesbian Village.
There are so many museums—art, history, science, etc.

There is a huge park established in 1535 christened Mount Royal, but referred to as “the Mountain” because it is a high point that overlooks the city.  There were beautiful lookouts, and from one point we could see the 1976 Olympic Villllage in the distance. 
       
Also on the Mountain is St. Joseph’s Oratory, a huge basilica with a lower and upper church.  The dome reaches 97 meters, and is second only in height to Saint Peter’s basilica in Rome.  It is one of the most visited centers of pilgrimage.  The tourguide pointed out the center stairway which is reserved for those making the pilgrimage who climb the stairs on their knees.  They offer mass and confessions every day, but we didn’t have time to wait for Jim to make his confession.
Old Montreal is one of the few major North American cities to have preserved its historic center.  It was once a walled city, with narrow winding streets.  It is a charming area of very old buildings and cobblestone streets, with lots of shops, restaurants and museums.  We plan to go back and explore more of the area tomorrow.

There was one HUGE disappointment today.  My dreams of an eternal sale in Canada due to the currency exchange were shattered!   I found out there is a 5% sales tax and a Quebec provincial tax of 9.975%.  Yikes--That’s 15% in tax on every purchase! The tour guide reminded us it is a privilege to pay taxes!  Also, check out these prices:  Gas = $124.9…I thought…wow great price; but that’s per liter…it translates to $4.68 per gallon. Now, look at this case of Coors Lite-- $39.99!!  So much for everything being on sale!