. Montréal .

New Year's, 2004. From the sunny skies of California to the snowy winter wonderland of Canada. Such is the amazing feat of air travel. Why, you may ask, would I want to spend New Year's in sub zero Québec? Because the festive lights and snow were enough to warm anyone up. French folk songs helped Rob and I welcome in 2005, and baguette after baguette kept us going. Québec is a beautiful place, full of the French enjoyment for food, and the Québecois hospitality. I'd recommend it for any winter wonderland adventure.

The Basilique Notre Dame in Old Town (Vieux Montréal).


I'm pretty sure this is the City Hall, on the main square in Old Town.

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Day 2: Neil and Nicole met up with us at the Basilica to start a day of exploring.


The Basilica by day.


A very important man with 4 important friends in the square across from the Basilica.


He looked shifty, so they put him at the bottom of the statue base, buried in the snow.


Rob's take on the important man (take 3 of 3).


A Rob original portrait.


Rob favored this poor fellow.


After a smoked meat lunch at Schwartz's, we made a wrong turn toward
Ile Notre Dame, and ended up taking a scenic bridge tour.


Once at Olympic Park, we proceeded to check out every lobby to every attraction. Here is the Olympic Swimming Pool.


The 1976 Olympic Symbol.


We did actually enter the botanical gardens,
and found a nice snow covered Chinese garden.


Quite authentic, the garden was complete with a stone carved wall.


Rob and Neil pose in the moon gate.


Help! Nicole's falling into the lake!!


Hmm... Neil just left her there... and went to take this picture.


The Pagoda across the frozen lake...


Rob's pointing out his knowledge of the Chinese language...

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The next day was rainy and the sidewalks quite "slippy" as Rob put it. So we headed up to the indoor Jean Talon Market. The fruits and maple syrup goodies were oh so tempting, but it was the bakery that stole the show. Holy Croissant, it was such an amazing aroma...


An old street in Old Montréal.


The Musée Pointe á Calliére was mostly underground in the ruins of Old Montréal.


Place Royale at night. The museum stretched about 2 blocks
underground to this plaza.


The view up Rue Sainte Catherine, where Sawaka and I
took holiday photos 4 years ago.


Rob's self portrait (with Yee as an accessory)
in the Old Town main square New Year's Eve.


A slightly less goofy rendition.


My attempt at night photography to capture the square's decorations.


As music played on, we wandered around the old square and port, happening upon two happy beavers rowing a canoe... how could I resist?


And the festivities are well underway. They had us practice counting down
in French 3 times before the real deal...


The Québecois square dancing was kept going well into the wee hours
of the morning by this jolly fellow.

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And with a gust of rain and wind, the New Year of 2005 blew into Montréal. The next morning was sunny and blue once again, and we headed off to Québec City...


A colorful street near our bed and breakfast.


The festively decorated train station.