I remember when I was a kid and teen my mom and I used to blast
the song “Downtown” and dance around and sing. Great memory for me. I keep forgetting
when my mom is over to put the tune on and grab my daughter and mom and dance. Bucket
listJ
It’s ironic that that is my song as I am such a suburban
girl. I even refer to our clearly suburban neighborhood as “ the city” …as
compared to the country cottage- it is city to me.
Since being married and having kids I rarely go to downtown Montreal.
For dinner and events yes sure. In a car. Lots of corporate offsite stuff of
course and usually in a taxi as downtown
driving and parking I despise. I like downtown but don’t go there a lot.
Well this week I went most days of the week. On the train! On
metros! I have honestly never walked so much in my life. Apt to apt…one train
to metro to building to another. And I rather like it! Exhausting but still
very pleasant with the warm sun on me and little bit cooler fall weather. I am
all equipped too- with my comfy sandals and my heels in my carefully packed bag.
My charger for the phone for the train and my blazer tucked away with my
laptop. I am learning as I go along (aka: wear a knapsack vs a shoulder bag. Bring a protein bar or you
will want a bag of chips at every station etc.)
Today I had the best meal ever downtown. Usually during
weekdays I am super diligent and healthy about what I eat and save my calories
for the weekend, but today I could not resist. My fave little Greek greasy spoon
was a 12 min walk from metro so I slipped by and had the BEST chicken pita with
tzicki and fries and a diet coke ever!!! (I also drink no caffeine in the weekdays)
I honestly don’t know if I have ever tasted a meal so fresh and delicious. I
sat there just relaxing after (never do that either on weekdays!) and made a
list of what to bring to Spain next Friday!!!!!
Strolled leisurely towards my next apt on the sunny sidewalk
and stopped into the pharmacy and bought a whole bunch of little travel
cosmetics (never shop in the week either). God I know I sound super boring but the
week for me is all work and weekends all play.
A few observations about downtown:
How the hell do woman wear high heels on public transit? I
mean seriously I would rather kill myself.
How does people’s hair look so good? Do they spend hrs
grooming before they go out?
How much yummy food is there in this world? I mean seriously
how can anybody ever be on a diet in Montreal?
Downtown is friendly. Lots of chatting with strangers
Which leads me to conclude this post with my plans for this
weekend. Hunny and I will be in Spain for my bday (poor us eh?) and so celebrating
with the kids this weekend early. I have selected:
-A sierrian dinner at a heated terrace downtown (love love
the pomegranate salad)
-A night at the ALT hotel all five of us in the funky Industrial
area of mtl
-A breakfast on the cool rooftop terrace of the hotel bought
at the attached Starbucks. Breakfast Paninis, heated up chocolate chip cookies
and lattes.
-a run for the boys who are all big runners now and all
working out at least 4 times a week
-a long walk to Old Montreal and a visit to a museum that
Chase needs to visit for school
-Partaking in the “journee culturelle” at Place des Arts
where my husband’s choir performs. Public can join in freely with the 100 person
choir and orchestra from 3-4pm. Cool experience and fun for kids to see what
their Dad does on wednesday nights all year.
-lunch at some cool place we find
-drinks at some cool terrace we find
-likely some beaver tails
-hit the road and get
groceries along the way!
-Cottage Saturday night and Sunday. Lots of work up there to
do outside but in-between a family movie, a family Jacuzzi admiring the
changing leaves and FINALLY the five of us together (2/3 have tried to get out
of the cottage part for parties etc but I
put my foot down this weekend!!!!)
I am damn excited about
my bday actually. As I write this ..I realize might need to become my bday
tradition from now on. Just sounds so great what we have planned-I am really pumped.
This idea has been in my head for yrs and finally the “tourists of our own town
tradition” is coming to life
And I am sort starting to like downtown more and more. Once
I give myself my own bday gift (nice Michael kors knapsack I am getting for half price...., I have the feeling I
will even like downtown even more!)
