I got back from Thailand in June 2016 and was not quite ready to face reality yet, so I found myself on SkyScanner searching for a cheap weekend getaway. A $200 roundtrip to Montreal from Newark popped up and with no hesitation, I booked!
I arrived early on a Saturday morning in Montreal and had a mere two days. I decided to stay in an Air Bnb in Gay Village and to my surprise, they were preparing for Gay Pride which was the following week. The streets were lined with pink balls and rainbow flags.
I arrived to my AirBnb and realized there was no air conditioning, which usually in Montreal would not be an issue, but of course the weekend I was there, it was 90 degrees Fahrenheit. I got changed and quickly headed out to see The Notre Dame. My favorite way to get around any new city is by walking, and I was about a twenty-thirty minute walk from the Basilica. Once I was closer to the water, I walked by bustling cafes, bars, shops, etc. I arrived to the Notre Dame and headed inside.
Once inside, it is difficult to explain the beauty. I have seen plenty of churches around the world; The Notre Dame 100% takes home the prize for most breathtaking architecture. Celine Dion got married there for a reason, y’all.
After leaving the Notre Dame, I had worked up an appetite and was ready to eat some poutine. I ordered from a little diner on a quiet side street and just stuck with the classic poutine. For those who are unfamiliar, poutine is literally just a plate of perfect French fries, topped with gravy and cheese curds. However, in Montreal, there are hundreds of variations (you can add anything from fried chicken to green peas to pulled pork!). I had the classic as a way to ease my way into a two days of eating the good stuff (I ordered it at least three more times over the course of my visit).
That night I had plans to meet up with an old friend and go see Mary Poppins at The Theatre St-Denis (completely in French; good thing I already know the story!). Before the show, we grabbed some delicious duck breast and wine.
After the show, we headed to a rooftop bar (Six Resto Lounge) and threw back a few more glasses of wine. My friend Isabelle had introduced me to some of her friends and it was a quick reminder that traveling solo does not always mean traveling alone.
The next morning, I ended up meeting up with one of my new friends from the night before to head to Parc La Fontaine.
He brought me shopping in the nearby area and I purchased a sweet new dress for my upcoming birthday.
I headed to La Banquise for more poutine and went a little hefty on the toppings (bacon, peas, etc.) and realized I preferred the more classic version.
I ended my last night in Montreal by sipping wine and eating desserts on the street lined with all the pink balls, just people watching and conversing with my waiter.
I went back to my air bnb and realized there was no way I could sleep in the room with no air conditioning. I decided to head to the airport early (about 1am for a 7am flight) so I could just sleep there, but to my surprise, the airport was CLOSED! I was able to wait in the lobby of a hotel where I happily fell asleep, and at 5am I was able to go through security. I didn’t sleep as well as I probably could have if I had just stayed in the air bnb.
Overall, Montreal was an adorable city. I don’t think two days was exactly enough time, but I utilized my 48 hours as best as I possibly could!