So, I should probably start by pointing out that they have a lot of very nice churches, more than in Paris for that matter.

The Basilique Notre Dame is absolutely beautiful:

Saint Joseph du Mont Royal was also nice, close to the Sacré Coeur in Paris:

but there were many others:

St Patrick's Basilica

nice inside too

Of course, there was more than just churches, but they were worth mentioning :)

First, quick map of Montréal and surroundings:

Food, yum :)

Place de Jacques Cartier is a bit like Place du Tertre in Paris

After visitng the Biodome on Isle St Hélène, Montréal was starting summer festival season, and had an electronic music festival on Isle St Hélène, so we went to Piknicelectronik to see James Holden who was spinning around that time:

James Holden

We then went to tour the Island on bixi bikes, and went over to Ile Notre-Dame

Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on Ile Notre-Dame just before the Grand Prix

North of Isle St Hélène

Place de Jacques Cartier at night

The next morning we went to the Olympic Stadium and its tower, the biodome, and the botanical garden:

We went to the biodome next:

And the botanical garden was also quite a nice visit:

our cat would have been so happy in there :)

fleurs!

More random pictures form visiting the next day:

Rue St Denis at Night

Views from Mt Royal

Yum :)

Those birds are angry :)

We also had some nice meals :)

Foie Gras

Dessert

More Foie Gras :)

Many more pictures, but that's enough for this page, click on the link below for more :)
Long story short, though, we had a fantastic time in Montréal, it's a great city to visit.

It's a quaint little ski resort town, and the first ski resort I've visited when there is no snow.

Room wasn't bad :)

feels like something is missing :)

I guess they have snow during the winter :)

Interestingly, getting to Quebec City was easiest and fastest by bus: they had a bus going there every hour, you could just show up and be there in 3H door to door (actually faster than a plane), and enjoy power and wifi during the trip. The bus was clean and enjoyable, that beats greyhound by a little bit :)

So, Québec City is a wonderful little city to visit. I can all be done on foot, no car required (there are buses, but you can do without them).

Eh, let's do like Montréal, and start with the many churches. The difference for Québec City is that all the Anglicans have left, so the Protestant and Anglican churches have become empty, one has become a theatre school, and another one a library. The Catholic ones are doing a bit better.

The biggest/nicest church is Notre Dame de Québec, for which I got to visit the crypt which is still being escavated in hopes to find the remains of Samuel de Champlain, regarded as founder of Québec and father of New France:

Bibliothèque St Jean Baptiste:

Notre Dame Des Victoires in Lower Town:

Other random churches:

First, quick map of Quebec City and surroundings:

Ok, so like Montréal, it wasn't just churches. Québec City is most known for its Chateau de Frontenac (which is actually a fancy hotel, not a Castle):

staff at the Chateau wears clothing from the period

Fortifications are still around the city, and it still has its citadelle that was built to defend the city from further attacks (after the British managed to take it from the French, they had to defend themselves from both the French and the Americans and won several attacks because their resupply ships got there faster than the enemy's):

you can walk all around the fortifications, it was fun

they were prepared for coming ships :)

yes, they were ready :)

More random pictures from around town:

Maison Jacquet, dating 1677

La rue Couillard, je connais bien :)

I had a few crepes too many :)

The plains of Abrahams, which is where the British attacked from

Funiculaire between High Town and Lower Town

Rotating Restaurant

the citadel

Lower town:

more food, yeah :)

yet more yum :)

And after 2 days of intense visiting, it was time to go home:

That's all folks :)

had a nice dinner before leaving for the airport