Saturday, February 20, 2010

Buy Local, Shop St. Sauveur

In the mood to shop. Take a day trip via highway 15, up North to St. Sauveur in the Laurentians. You'll find a cozy ski resort town full of local shops.

Montreal has a unique fashion scene. Clothes, unlike the gray, frozen landscape, are brightly colored and full of texture. 



And a bit of good news. The American dollar converts in our favor in Canada (for now ; ) ).

Friday, February 19, 2010

La Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal

The Notre-Dame Basilica was a wonderful stop. In the heart of downtown Montreal, the Basilica is a beautiful haven of peace. Modeled after Notre-Dame in Paris, the Basilica was an ornate wonder. The energy inside of the church was very positive.
Lynne and I opted to guide ourselves, but tours are also available for a small price.
Don't forget to light a candle or two before you leave.

Some Photos From the Road

Balnea Spa

In the Southern countryside of Quebec, past long stretches of snowy valley and ice covered lakes lies one of the most magical spas I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting.

When Lynne told me to bring my bathing suit because we’d be going to a spa I was excited. I envisioned the typical hot tub/sauna situation that I’ve been presented with in the past and thought nothing much more of it.

The drive to Balnea Bromont-Sur-Le-Lac was a pictoresque two hours outside of downtown Montreal.

Walking through the doors, we were greeted by the calming scent of eucalyptus.  We were presented with a locker key, a bottle of water,  a bath robe and a towel. After locking up our goods and changing into our suits Lynne dropped the bomb. I was informed that the hot tubs were outside (in the 15 degree weather) and that part of our  spa circuit would include a dip in freezing cold water (also outside).  Enter apprehension. Montreal is gray and frozen in the winter. Would  it be possible to relax outside in a swim suit under these conditions?

The spa was set up in a round of circuits. The first stop was a hot tub (we had several to choose from, each with it’s own theme/concept), the second stop was a steam room/sauna (once again, there were several to choose from), the third stop was a dip for at least thirty seconds in a vat of ice cold water, the fourth stop was a twenty minute rest in one of the many relaxation rooms.

The moment our flip-flopped feet began trudging through the snow (there was about five inches on the ground and it was actively snowing outside) I began to shiver. Taking my robe off  and slipping our of my shoes, I began an internal dialogue of curses. However, the moment I slid into the outdoor hot tub overlooking a chain of mountains, I was at ease. It was so peaceful in the water. Soothing nature sounds were on loop from a speaker system nearby, aromatherapy was misted into the air from time to time. After thirty minutes, we were ready for the second circuit.  Getting out of the water from one station to the next is truly a bit painful, but it’s worth it. Our second station was a eucalyptus scented steam room. We steamed our pores clean for about twenty minutes, before diving into an ice-cold outdoor waterfall. Surprisingly the outdoor cold waterfall wasn’t too terrible. The moment I got out, I could feel my circulation open up and became so aware of my limbs.  Our final stop on the first circuit was a peaceful rest room set up with lawn chairs and pillows and panoramic views of the mountains.

The circuit is such a healthy way to relax. The heat, steam and cold, remove toxins, improve circulation and improve the skin. We did three rounds and stuck around for lunch at the Balnea cafeteria which was another pleasurable experience.

I would recommend this spa to anyone interested in a getaway. The saunas and hot tubs are co-ed, so this would make an amazing romantic getaway.

Balnea Spa Bromont-Sur-Le-Lac
319 Chemin du Lac Gale
Bromont, Quebec J2L 2S5

www.balnea.ca

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Jean-Talon Market

The Jean-Talon Market is the great central market of Montreal. Impressive in the winter, I was told it is even more impressive in the summer when scores of people congregate outside and in to browse the food stands.

Be prepared to have your nostrils assaulted by the alluring sweet and savory aromas of French food. Fresh crepes, they’ve got them, fromoge (cheese), mais oui, and in an assortment of varieties. Fresh flowers and breads, meats and fish, were sold in stalls and mini-shops. The goods are local and fresh.

I found all sorts of unique items such as my lavender/violet preserves and rum infused maple syrup. There were also several cider vendors. The cider is a local favorite. Mild in alcoholic content, it is used to wash down a good meal.

There were also goods hailing from the indigenous Inuit population. Most of the Amerindians have been herded onto reservations in the North.

If you want to get into the mix and get a sense of the culture, the Jean-Talon market in downtown Montreal is a must-do!

Poutine

When you visit Montreal, and if you are doing it correctly, prepare to put on pounds. I’m really not sure how the local population stays so thin (one of the secrets of the French I can only imagine).

Local food is a rich delight. I didn’t have a single bad meal. Well, I had one, but that’s another story for another post involving a very stubborn and bland fish called Monsieur Lionelle Rouge.

One of my favorite local delicacies was poutine, a fattening bowl of crispy fried potato wedges, large chunks of fresh curdled cheese and a savory gravy sauce.  Poutine, I learned, comes in many varieties (such as - with chicken, with pasta sauce, etc.).  I opted for the tried and true original.

The portions that I saw were large. Be warned, you may not be able to move afterwards, you may have a heart attack, but it is so, so, good. And at the end of the day, doesn’t that make it worth it?

Friday, February 12, 2010

Bon Soir Montreal!

I chose Amtrak and their motto seems to be "easy does it." My ride to Montreal was extremely comfortable. I have actually arrived an hour early, which is quite amazing for Amtrak. The ride from New York, Penn Station was a serene ten hours and a half (yep). But as we cruised the scenery was amazing. The Adirondak mountains stood watch in the distance. We passed lakes where ice jutted out of the sapphire, snow frosted water like colonies of crystals shimmering in the sun.

I am here to see Lynne. Lynne of Mozambique fame (reference entries way way down....no...keep going...there you go). It has been over a year since I said farewell to Lynne near the dusty Mercado Central in Inhambane and over a decade since I've last set foot in Montreal (I used to go every February in high school with the French teacher).

My main objective during this trip - catch-up with Lynne of course and EAT EAT EAT!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Bumming around the Bahamas...

We let our noses and stomachs lead the way. I've been to the Bahamas before, there was nothing touristy that we needed to do. We rented a motor bike and created our own excursion.

Sustainable tourism tip:
Eat local whenever you can. We were in Nassau, heading into the touristy area of Atlantis. Under the bridge that will bring you to Atlantis, is an amazing array of local restaurants. We were all about the conch. I can not even tell you how delicious the meal was. Everyone was super friendly. One of the restaurant owners even brought us wine and joined us for a drink and chat.
It was fantastic: great food, cultural exchange, money pumped back into the hands of the locals and not some fancy foreign owned restaurant with an overpriced menu.
*Remember, when in doubt ask a local. Trust me, they always know where the best food is.