Toddler Trials sponsored by Timmies - Canada 2018
Day 10 Walking our feet off in Montreal

I’m Emily, my husband is Gary and this was our first overseas holiday with our 17 month Libby. We visited family near Toronto and spent a few days in Montreal too.


First of all, sorry for the delay in continuing this. I’ve fallen off the trip report wagon…work has been a bit manic and life in general just got in the way, so opening the Macbook on an evening has been the last thing I want to do. I am determined to finish though so if anyone is still reading, stick with me please .

Libby woke us just after 8am, although she had been up in the night. We had a slow start this morning, I had to wash my hair. Gary made bacon sandwiches (he’d picked some bacon up as we passed a local butchers yesterday) and Libby enjoyed running around the apartment and climbing all over Daddy.



We were ready to go just after 10:30, so not too bad considering our lazy start. We said hello to our friendly neighbour we’d chatted to the day before.

Today we were headed down towards the port, eager to explore Montreal. First requirement though was coffee, so I nipped into Brulerie st.denis. There were soooo many options I was a bit confused! I ended up with a café caramello, which was delicious.





We walked down st. Denis and found a cool looking Converse shop, so in we went. Well, I’ve honestly never seen so many pairs of Converse in my entire life. It was amazing! I decided straight away I was choosing a pair. Gary went upstairs to see what was up there and I set about looking.

This doesn't show the extent of the shop very well, there were honestly sooooo many!

Gary came down and said there were more options upstairs but I daren’t go up as I was struggling to pick as it was! I settled on these…



They were about $70 including tax so about £40.

We carried on walking down towards the port. The Latin Quarter was absolutely gorgeous (I think that’s where we were, if not I’m sure Mel will correct me!). The mix of old and new was incredible.



We walked right down to Marche Bonsecours, or Bonsecours Market. This is considered one of Canada’s 10 most beautiful heritage buildings and is now like a mini mall inside. It was approaching lunchtime though so we didn’t go in.



We were also a bit confused because there was lots of official men/women in suits rooting around the bins and standing around looking very serious . We wondered what was going on and thought maybe someone famous was around, as the Montreal Grand Prix was on that weekend.



We walked along the cobbled street and decided on a little pizzeria, Bella Vita, just on the corner before Place Jacques-Cartier. It had gotten really warm so we decided to sit outside and eat.

What we doing next?

We ordered bruschetta to share and I had carbonara and Gary went for a pizza. Libby had some of both.



We could see lots of commotion now back along at Marche Bonsecours and lots of press cameras and photographers.

Back this way

When the waiter came back out we asked what was going on and he said oh it’s the president . Gary said Justin Trudeau and he said no, the French president Emmanuel Macron. Canada hold the G7 Presidency for 2018 and the G7 summit was being held over the next few days in Quebec. The waiter then explained that some French Canadians think of the French president as their president as opposed to the Canadian one. We were a bit confused and Google didn’t explain further, but I suppose it only adds to the Frenchness of Quebec!

We then realised they were all coming towards us. The French President, his posse and all the cameras, news people and members of the public trying to get a photo . Our little terrace (we were the only people sitting outside) was invaded for a brief moment as they passed through! Gary managed to get a picture, there were so many people. Libby didn’t even look up from her food.

There he is!

Whats all the fuss about?!

Anyway, moment of excitement over, we went back to eating our lunch! I still would rather have seen one of the F1 drivers but nice of a world leader to drop in on our trip .

We paid the bill and I went in to the restaurant to change Libby. They had no changing facilities though so I had to change her on the bathroom floor (using our travel change mat) . I was quite shocked at baby change facilities in Canada overall if I’m honest, we’re spoiled in the UK and they just don’t have the same awareness or need to provide them over there. Quite a few places just didn't provide facilities!

Anyway, clean nappy on we headed back out to explore. Libby was grumpy and tired so we put the sub shade over, laid her back and crossed our fingers. We were headed along to Notre Dame. Libby fell asleep eventually, after lots of fussy and exhausting herself trying to sit up. She could win medals for nap resisting!

We paid $6 each to enter and in we went, the man kindle opened a bigger side door for us to navigate the buggy through. Wow, it was breath taking. Photos aren't the best as no flash and they're just from my phone.



We both took the opportunity to nip to the loo whilst we let Libby sleep in the cool and dark .

We then headed back out into the sunshine and walked down to the port. It was so warm now.

Still snoozing

We decided to head to the underground shops. Well, could we find them?! We got very lost and ended up walking in completely the wrong direction. It was very hot and we were getting very frustrated at each other .

We came across a Timmies and I went in to get some cool drinks while Gary and Libby had a sit down outside. Suitably refreshed and tempers calmed, we set off again and got there eventually.

I took some photos of our (long) route...



Once inside, it wasn’t like what I imagined. They are working on them so there was construction which didn’t help, but it was still exciting to be there. I didn't take many photos because 1. It was busy and Libby was awake and wanted to walk and 2. I was concentrating on shopping/keeping a hold of her!

I headed in to Sephora for a bit (probably more like half an hour). Gary then got his own back in a hockey jersey store. We also picked up some gifts in a few other shops.

Libby needed changed again so off I went into the ladies. You guessed it, no changing facilities. I asked a cleaner and she started giving me directions to a completely different area of the shopping centre so I decided it would need to be the floor again .

Once the pram couldn’t really hold any more shopping bags, we decided we were shattered and would slowly head back to the apartment.

On the way home we came across a festival on St Laurent. It was really cool, with lots of food, clothing and street performers about.



When we got back I Googled it and it was the opening party for the weekend’s music festival, allong with a mural festival too. We wandered through, soaking up the atmosphere and nipped into St Viateur Bagel for some breakfast for the next morning. The lady was really friendly, she said Libby looked exactly like me (I get told she’s Gary’s double constantly so this was nice) and that I looked healthy despite living in Scotland (wasn’t sure whether that was a compliment or not!). She gave Libby a big bit of this chocolate pastry thing, not ideal just before dinner but she loved it.

We then headed to pick up dinner from Rotisserie coco Rico. Yep, more Portuguese chicken!



We decided to take it to go again, it was just so convenient eating in the apartment withough worrying about containing Libby or causing chaos. The air bnb and having a kitchen with dining table was definitely the perfect choice for us.

On the way back we came across a cool looking newsagent/comic shop so I nipped in and got some postcards to frame for the house...



We got back just after 6. Dinner was tasty but we agreed we preferred Ma Poule Mouillee. I don’t appear to have any photos of it though, sorry !

Libby was absolutely shattered and was in bed just after 7, she went down no problem.

We sat with some drinks on the balcony, we could hear music from the festival a few streets away so we just chilled and enjoyed some down time.



It was our last night in Montreal, we were heading back to Lorraine's house in Hamilton tomorrow. We'd had a brilliant time exploring such a beautiful city and its got us really keen to explore the rest of Canada too!

Thanks for reading, I'm determined to finish this now I've started and the comments really spur me on .

Emily x

I'm still with you! And I totally appreciate what a labour of love these reports are so no need to apologise sweetheart!

Wow that Converse shop looked amazing, well done for managing to come out with only one pair... and I loved your choice!

So brilliant that Libby was more interested in her lunch that the drama of the president walking past... a girl after my own heart, food first! (Also, how big was that portion of carbonara! )

Such a lovely day, Montreal looks truly beautiful! Thank you for sharing as always

How 3xciting to see the French President - I live in France and have never seen even a whisper of any of the Presidents!

Not sure if it is the Latin quarter! In any event, you sure did pack a lot of walking in! You must have slept well!

How rude to have lunch invaded lol !
Busy day, sounds lovely although hard work at times too with getting lost and that whole lack of facilities business. Sounds nice to chill out in your apartment though . Some lovely pics, it looks a totally cool place .

I'm still reading along too and sounds like a great day. I'd hoped to visit Montreal when I was in Ottawa in August but we only got as far as Quebec and Perth but it is definitely on the list for our hopeful visit in next few years.

It's not every day the French president drops by, but a tad annoying it was during lunch. I'm glad to read it didn't stop Libby eating. Some great photos today, it sounds really lovely, we like walking in cities as you really get to know a place.

Just catching up!

Love your choice of converse. Libby's photos are so cute. Bless her for not stopping to eat during the excitement! I did see a F1 driver. He was on our flight. But it didn't mean anything to me!

Thanks for sharing. Agree with Lisa about them being a labour of love!

M x

Thanks all, you've really spurred me on .

Thanks lovely. Determined to finish so I can start a DLP pre-trip eventually! Haha yes it was huge, glad we didn't order her something herself, we still didn't finish it between us.

Its such a gorgeous city xx

Thanks Mel. Yes we racked up a fair amount of steps especially with getting lost!

Definitely a different kind of holiday with Libby in tow! Such a fab city .

Would thoroughly recommend, its a beautiful city! Ottawa is on my list too x

Ahh thank you . I'm determined to finish! I reckon that Converse shop is worth the flight alone, never seen so many pairs xx

I'm reading along! Love your detailed trip reports! What a lovely city Montreal is, on my bucket list but I will have to use google translate as French at school was a long time ago.

Your daughter is cute, but what a handful, watch out!