montreal in may.

we spent a week in montreal where i had to attend a conference related to research administration. real exciting stuff.

we spent dinner, the night, gourmet breakfast and some money at The Athlone Inn in Gananoque- newly dubbed as "our happy place".
off to montreal where my employer put us up in the delta hotel in old montreal. we were really scared actually. on our own dime we have tended not to spend an exorbitant amount on sleeping accommodations, and have become accustomed to waking up at 5am to a man in his skivies leaning with one arm against the door frame asking for a ciggy. we aren't used to valets or being inspired (not terrified slash offended) by the bedroom. i thought it was better at the top of the echelon, feeling superior. but, as with most things, we got used to it and before you knew it we were beckoning men by calling them garcon.

we ate tibetan food, which was great, tibet being my most anticipated place to travel. the owner of the restaurant came to our table and with much enthusiasm said "so you're from the centre??!!". not wanting to deflate our new tibetan friend, we didn't say anything but looked at her for more information. she replied with "you are from the buddhist centre?". we shook our heads and sadly said no. she looked really disappointed, and i think in that moment we both wished we were buddhist...

the hotel lobby at one point was playing "somewhere in the night" by michael w. smith, and the dismay that i felt can only be described how the french say "i do not know what".

saw the notre-dame cathedral and felt ushered into awe and worship.we went on a lengthy jaunt on the underground tunnel system/galleries, and after ascending a precarious dark staircase, were spat out into china town. fun stuff.