Quebec Trip 2025 Day 11 Thursday June 26 Montreal, Laval, then to Victoria

 

This is the 11th and final of a series of posts dealing with my 2025 trip to Quebec Canada. I’ve made minor corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of a year later or to add further clarification. These are indicated by “NOW”.

 

With today being the day I fly out I took a day to relax. And if you believe that you haven't been paying close attention to these reports.

 

I left ZUM Residences and took a Blue Line train (all transportation pre-airport STM/Société de Transport de Montréal)] from Station Édouard-Montpetit to Station Jean-Talon. There I switched to an Orange Line train to Station Henri-Bourassa. I crossed Pont Viau over Rivière des Prairies from Montreal to Laval, headed north a ways and then did the reverse. Returning to the latter station I took an Orange Line train to Station Champ-de-Mars. Heading into Old Montreal I had breakfast at McDonald's and then visited Place Jacques Cartier.

 

[NOW: I started out at the ZUM Residences, University of Montreal / Université de Montréal. The Blue Line is Line/Ligne 5 and the Orange Line is Line/Ligne 2.]

 

Making my way to rue Ste-Catherine, I visited the upper outside area of Place des Arts. I also took another look at the displays in the floor level of Complexe Desjardins and then visited Place des Festivals.  I headed west a ways along rue Ste-Catherine and then visited the outside of the former Auberge Bishop once more. I took an Orange Line train from Station Lucien-L'Allier to Station Berri-UQAM where I switched to a Yellow line train to Station Jean-Drapeau. In Parc Jean-Drapeau I crossed from Île Sainte-Hélène to Île Notre-Dame and back and then walked up to the entrance of the Biosphère. So I didn't go in the building itself but I did pass under the sphere covering.

 

NOW: The Yellow Line is Line/Ligne 4.]

 

I took a Yellow Line train back to Station Berri-UQAM, an Orange Line train to Station Jean-Talon, and a Blue Line train to Station Édouard-Montpetit. I visited ZUM Residences long enough to check out. The reason I didn't check out earlier was I needed to wait until the main desk was open so I could have baggage storage. I walked to Station Université-de-Montréal and took a Blue Line train from there to Station Snowdon and from there an Orange Line train to Station Lucien-L'Allier. I visited Capitaine Québec les Livres Comiques and then grabbed lunch at my favourite Burger King, only this time opting for vanilla Coke instead of Lime.

 

I took a Green Line train from Station Guy-Concordia to Station Berri-UQAM, then an Orange Line train to Station Mont-Royal. I walked along the east then west side of the pedestrian/bike area and then took another Orange Line train from Station Mont-Royal to Station Jean-Talon, then a Blue Line train to Station Édouard-Montpetit. I grabbed my stuff from ZUM Residences and then took a Blue Line train from Station Édouard-Montpetit to Station Snowdon, then an Orange Line train to Station Lionel-Groulx. There was a 747 bus there and not bad of a line so I should have been able to secure a window seat. However, another bus arrived while the driver was on his break, with the result that the people in the back of the line got to board first. I lost out on the window seat and couldn't get the photos I wanted. Mind you it was another mesh screen.

 

[NOW: The Green Line is Line/Ligne 1.]

 

The 747 bus got me to Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport in Dorval. I checked in. They were putting everyone through the body scanners, but the patdown wasn't too bad when I opted out. Ironically the best dinner option was before security screening (Burger King). After security, options aren't that great but I'll pick something. I'm at the airport as I type this and will take care of the rest of the report tonight or tomorrow morning.

 

[NOW: The above was written in the afternoon; the rest was written in the evening. That Burger King has closed.]

 

At Pierre Elliott Trudeau international Airport, Dorval, having passed through security, I grabbed a sandwich at Tim Horton's. Then to be safe I switched to my clean shirt. After boarding my Air Canada plane, a couple was sitting beside me initially but they were offered a chance to move to seats that could recline. I think the same flight attendant asked me if I really wanted a window seat and I told her yes in order to take photos. A positive result of that was that with the two seats beside me empty I could stretch my legs. The flight was delayed due to mechanical issues with their tow truck. The flight again had a map screen. Passengers were allowed pretzels or cookies as a snack. I chose the pretzels and they proved to be butter/garlic. Definitely made the right choice. The flight arrived only a little late at Victoria International Airport, North Saanich. I walked to McTavish Exchange. When the 72 bus (Victoria Regional Transit) arrived, the bus had more ferry passengers than expected given that usually there's also a 70 bus not just 72 for ferry traffic; I suspect a ferry delay thus increased the number of people on the bus. I got off at Legislature Exchange, Victoria and made it home.

Quebec Trip 2025 Day 10 Wednesday June 25 Montreal, Westmount

 

This is the 10th of a series of posts dealing with my 2025 trip to Quebec Canada. I’ve made minor corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of a year later or to add further clarification. These are indicated by “NOW”.

 

I decided to walk to Station Universite-de-Montreal and take a Blue Line/Ligne Bleue train from there to Station Snowdon (all trains today STM/Société de Transport de Montréal); from there I took an Orange Line/Ligne Orange train to Station Square-Victoria-OACI. I walked along Square Victoria and then went to Old Montreal/Vieux Montreal, where I had breakfast at McDonald's. I visited Square Jacques Cartier, though it was noisy due to street cleaners. I walked to the waterfront including Bassin Bonsecouers to check out the Clock Tower and when I returned to the square it was quieter. I took an Orange Line train from Station Champ-de-Mars to Station Berri-UQAM and from there transferred to a Yellow line/Ligne Jaune train to Station-Jean Drapeau. At Parc Jean-Drapeau, this time I was able to walk from Île Sainte-Hélène to Île Notre-Dame and I returned to the former via another bridge close to the Biosphère. I did a long walk around the park including the exterior of La Ronde amusement park. I got more shots of the Biosphère and then took another Yellow Line train back to Station Berri-UQAM.

 

[NOW: I started out at the ZUM Residences, University of Montreal / Université de Montréal. The Blue Line is Line/Ligne 5, the Orange Line is Line/Ligne 2, and the Yellow Line is Line/Ligne 4. The Clock Tower is Montreal Clock Tower (Tour de l'Horloge).]

 

I walked west mainly along boul. Maisonneuve, again seeing the Manana hand sculpture. I revisited the former Auberge Bishop and then the outdoor art (including a Pinocchio themed piece) around le Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal (Montreal Museum of Fine Arts). Heading onto rue Ste-Catherine, I visited Place Montréal Trust (including Indigo) and then Centre Eaton and Complexe Desjardins. I had lunch at the Burger King by Square Phillips. I walked to Place Émilie-Gamelin. By the Gare de l'autocars I saw the police appearing to deal with two separate incidents.

 

[NOW: That Burger King has closed.]

 

Heading north along rue St-Denis I visited Librairie du Square and then revisited Square St-Louis. I also visited Débédé (mainly comics). I left the street and visited Millenium Comics. Walking east along the pedestrian/bike area of av du Mont-Royal In got a drink from Dollarama. Briefly leaving that area to the east I tried to visit what appears to be Montreal's last video store, Le Cinoche, but my info on its hours proved outdated; it's now open on weekends only. I headed west, revisiting Multimags (erroneously called Mega Mags in a previous report), then got a Blu-ray at La Bouquinerie du Plateau. I had a wait due to a complicated purchase from the person in front of me. The same thing happened again soon after when I bought a book at Librairie l'Échange.

 

I  took an Orange Line train from Station Mont-Royal to Station Bonaventure, as I wanted to somewhat simulate the walk I used to do from the Megabus terminal to Ste Catherine before heading to the hostel. I saw Place du Canada and Parc Durocher in the process. I walked west along rue Ste-Catherine, getting another drink, then crossing into Westmount then Montreal again on the other side, then took another Orange Line from Station Vendôme to Station Champ-de-Mars. In Old Montreal I visited Marche Bonsecouers, Bassin Bonsecouers, and Place Jacques-Cartier. Leaving Old Montreal, I found a pedestrian only section of Chinatown. I visited Place Jeanne des Feativals. There and in the pedestrian area of rue Ste-Catherine, the jazz festival set-up was still present, though the Hydro-Québec display was taken down a couple days ago I think.

 

I walked to the Burger King where I could get lime Coke and then returned to Place Jeanne-Mance. I found an upper area of Place des Arts and explored that before going to the station of the same name. I took a Green Line/Ligne Verte train to Station Berri-UQAM, an Orange Line train from there to Station-Jean-Talon, and a Blue Line train from there to Station Édouard-Montpetit.

 

I did all this wearing the same shirt as yesterday. Walking into the water jets yesterday helped clean it and I want to clean shorts for tomorrow. Tomorrow is the trip home and in case I get sweaty in the morning, I want a shirt in reserve. I expect to get into Victoria really late tomorrow so I'll probably do a report from the airport in the afternoon and then do a final bit about the flight home when I'm awake enough to do so.

Quebec Trip 2025 Day 9 Tuesday June 24 Montreal, Laval, Longueuil

 

This is the 9th of a series of posts dealing with my 2025 trip to Quebec Canada. I’ve made minor corrections to these reports (typos, bits I don’t feel like making public). Also, I’ve added additional thoughts with the hindsight of a year later or to add further clarification. These are indicated by “NOW”.

 

Today was St-Jean-Baptiste Day, a Quebec holiday. I didn't notice any holiday related festivities, but a number of stores were closed or had reduced hours.

 

I walked to Station Édouard-Montpetit and just missed a train trying to keep someone out of my shots. I finally took a Blue Line/Ligne Blue train from there to Station Jean-Talon and from there switched to an Orange Line/Ligne Orange train to Station Henri-Bourassa, the last northbound Orange Line stop in Montreal. In the past I would have gone one more stop but with the new fare zone system that's a separate fare. I'm not complaining because on day 4 and especially day 2 I benefited from the new system. I grabbed breakfast at a McDonald's and then crossed Pont Viau over Rivière des Prairies from Montreal to Laval. I got a few shots of Terminus Cartier and then doubled back to Montreal on the other side of the same bridge.

 

[NOW: I started out at the ZUM Residences, University of Montreal / Université de Montréal. The Blue Line is Line/Ligne 5 and the Orange Line is Line/Ligne 2.]

 

I walked south along rue Berri, though at some point because the latter splinters off I think I wound up on rue St-Denis. I found some A&W coupons but might not use them because the booklet makes a nice souvenir. I walked all the way s On my rue Ste-Catherine. Just before that I checked the McDonald's from the day I left for Quebec City about my cell. I was pretty sure I had it after but I wanted to do a check anyway; no luck as expected. I walked east along rue Ste-Catherine. This took me through le village gai. As someone who isn't LGBTQ I didn't have any problems in that regard nor did I expect any. Instead of the pink balloons they used to have, they had chalk decorations. I did notice a lot of panhandlers on the street whereas I hadn't noticed any previously.

 

Leaving the street and on my way to Pont Jacques-Cartier, having had to skip a number of refreshment places because they weren't open yet or weren't open at all today I saw a Couche-Tard and was going to check it out but I had attracted the attention of some strung out guy so I had to pass on that. I crossed the bridge over the St. Lawrence River/Fleuve St-Laurent from Montreal to Longueuil. I visited Terminus Longueuil, remembering the drinking fountain there. I had packed some water but it was consumed by then. I then crossed the bridge on the other side back to Montreal.

 

I walked to the nearby Station Papineau and took the Green Line/Ligne Verte train to Station Place-des-Arts. In the RÉSO (underground area) I found the Archambault, only it had become a Renaud-Bray. This has furthered my suspicions that they're the same company. I walked along rue Ste-Catherine to the Burger King that offers lime Coke and had lunch there. A couple of women were asking, in English, strangers their views on abortion. I wasn't up for a chat with obvious evangelicals trying to push their message so I rushed past them before they could talk to me. One of them had started talking to someone else so that gave me a window.

 

[NOW: The Green Line is Line/Ligne 1.]

 

I took a Green Line train from Station Guy-Concordia to Station Angrignon and visited Parc Angrignon including a pond. I managed to get a water bottle refill there. Leaving, I had issues with my pass; I think I tapped it twice by mistake. I always keep my receipts handy because one bailed me out of a pass issue years ago, so I got the ticket guy to help me through the gate; this again went a lot faster because I had the receipt. I took a Green Line train to Station Joliette and walked to Promenade Ontario, on rue Ontario. Like av du Mont-Royal it was now a pedestrian and bikes area so I wandered the area. I finally managed to get a drink from a Jean Coutu that was open today; that business by the way is another pharmacy type business but with generally slightly better prices than Pharmaprix/Shoppers Drug Mart.

 

[NOW: Obviously I refilled the water bottle at a drinking fountain, not the pond.]

 

I took a Green line train from Station Joliette to Station Berri-UQAM then transferred to an Orange Line train to Station Mont-Royal. I walked through the west side of the pedestrian/bike area and then past construction to a bus stop where I got an 11 bus to the main viewpoint area of Mount Royal. I got some nice shots, but less than usual because it was like a furnace out and I was keeping an eye out for the next bus out of there. A 711 bus showed up and I took it back down the mountain. Both the 11 and 711 buses had the annoying mesh screens on their windows.

 

I took an Orange Line train from Station Mont-Royal to Station Place-d'Armes, hoping to get a fountain drink from the Couche-Tard that was part of the Palais de Congress, part of the same complex. Still out of order so  I continued on Old Montreal/Vieux Montreal. I rested a bit at Bassin Bonsecouers, finding some shade and dipping my feet in the St. Lawrence River. Sadly I don't think you're allowed to swim in it. The water was very clear. I rested some more at Place Jacques-Cartier, the arts area that kind of symbolizes Old Montreal and then left and returned to rue Ste-Catherine. I got a DVD and some Blu-rays at Boutique Volume. Earlier I had found seasons 1 and 3 of a French series called C.A. and I found season 2 there. I cooled off again at the water jets at Place des Feativals.

 

I walked west to the Burger King by Square Phillips. They messed up my order but I was too tired to mention it. I went west some more and got some more DVDs at a Jean Coutu. I then took an Orange Line train from Station Lucien-L'Allier to Station Snowdon and a Blue Line train from there to Station Édouard-Montpetit before returned to ZUM Residences.

 

[NOW: That Burger King has closed.]

 

I think tomorrow, my last full day here will be a lot quieter because I've done most of what I set out to do and a few things I didn't. Mostly what's left is getting to a few easy to reach stores the timing hasn't worked out yet for and then revisiting a few favourites. But it'll depend on my mood.