Old Montreal

Ken's brother, Kevin, transferred with his company to a branch in Montreal last winter. The timing was perfect for us to take Jaclyn out to Quebec to practise her french (and get Ken within a drivable distance to see a NY Yankees game in the old Yankee Stadium).
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We farmed the younger kids out: Steven to a friend on the football team so that he could keep going to practise, plus this family is just all around great. Carmen and Chloe went to my sister's (Marie) house even though I feared they might not be willing to come home after a week in the funnest house on earth.
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I've never been to Europe, but old Montreal gives off the European 'feel' that exists in my imagination, anyways.
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Right down to the cobblestone streets.
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Natalie (Kevin's wife, my sister in law) taxied Ken, Jaclyn, and I up to old Montreal along with her two kids. We met Michelle there with her cute little girls, and I was amazed by how well all the children shopped with us. I mean, I wasn't amazed at Jaclyn's ability to shop, but the littles were so cheerful and cooperative! That's not how I remember sight seeing or shopping with small children of my own.
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Michelle and I have been good blogging friends for a year and a half, and it was terrific to get to meet her in person. She made me one of her friendship pillows which is hanging right next to my bed now, so sweet. I also sewed a little something for her little girls, and enjoyed meeting them as well as foregoing the bizarre shipping costs to Quebec. It is crazy expensive, like we don't even live in the same country, to mail something from Alberta to Quebec.
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In some ways we don't live in the same country. I had no trouble with simple french, the 'arret' sign didn't stump me, and sales people were happy to speak to me in English, nevertheless, I found the french experience a little taxing. Maybe brushing up on my second language will go on the growing list of Year of Barb Part II?
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We toured two cathedrals: Notre-Dame Basilica,
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as well as Notre-Dame-De-Bon-Secours.
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It rained on us a little bit later in the day,
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but mostly we had beautiful weather.
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Yes, Ken was really there. Here's a little proof. He tried to sneak in to my daisy picture.

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Mostly Ken was behind the camera. Here is the old Bank of Montreal - now a nation wide bank.
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There were plenty of cool buildings for Ken to photograph, and as it turned out, he was just getting warmed up for New York.

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