Montreal General Tips by nicolettart

Favorite Thing: Located on Sherbrooke, this museum is do-able in about an hour, maybe a little more. Among the collections you will find art by local Canadians, as well as local artifacts. I thought the carvings from whalebone were incredible!
I also counted about one or two paintings by the masters~Monet, Renoir, you get the idea~but the Dali was missing! Yep, just a gaping hole where it used to be, no explanation!

P.S. I stumbled upon a painting by an Italian artist from my family's hometown of Molfetta, the Renaissance artist Corrado Giaquinto (you wouldn't know him!). What are the chances of that?


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Favorite Thing: There are two buildings, and luckily we did not have to go back outside into the cold to access the other part of the collection. I'm not sure who these two people are, but I think they're great! There is no fee to get into the museum, and I believe they are closed on Mondays.


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Favorite Thing: The climb to the top is a long one! We got a little sidetracked, as the stairs to the main trail were closed due to the snow, and we ended up going down the mountain before going up (don't ask me to be your guide anywhere, I have poor sense of direction!). Despite the cold and the snow, people were strolling along the trail, some were cross-country skiing, and as we neared the chalet there were throngs of people sledding down the side of the mountain. It was fun to watch, as some sleds were sophicated while others were pieces of plastic or just a cardboard box with string! The view at the top is beautiful, with a view of the city and the river.


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Favorite Thing: It was a cold winter morning as we strolled through the old town. Everything was still closed, and it was nice to window shop without a soul insight! Not too much to do here, as it was the middle of winter, but you should visit. Here I am in the main square, called Place Jacques Cartier.


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Fondest Memory: I was speechless when we arrived~~well, for a couple of reasons~~standing at the bottom it really is a magnificent sight. Then you have to start climbing the steps! This was especially treacherous on our visit because it had snowed and it was slippery and icy. (Well if the devoted can climb on their knees, we sure can handle this!)

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Fondest Memory: As you approach the oratory you will come across this monument to Saint Joseph, who is the patron saint of Canada.

The oratory is open from 6 am to 9 pm daily, and there is no entrance fee.

http://www.saint-joseph.org/

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Favorite Thing: What to see at the Oratory (there is a guide be sure to pick it up once you arrive):

The Votive Chapel
Brother Andre's Tomb
The Oil of St. Joseph
The Lower Crypt
Hall of Scale Model
The Concourse Hall
The Terrace on the Roof
Display-Brother Andre
The Way of the Cross and Gardens
The Museum
Main Portico
Basilica
Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament
Brother Andre's Room
Original Chapel
Pilgrim's Pavilion

An afternoon should cover everything.


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Favorite Thing: This is a huge mural showing St. Joseph as the protector of Canada. The shields represent the Canadian provinces.

The painting was done in 1954 in celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the oratory.


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Fondest Memory: It is possible to climb the narrow steps to the Statue of St. Joseph and light a candle for someone.
I know you may not look forward to climbing more stairs after climbing them outside, but you may have caught your breath by then!

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Fondest Memory: You will find tribute to Brother Andre, a monk said to have healing powers. The wooden canes and crutches on display are a testament to this belief. Brother Andre's heart is on display here, as well as a wax figure and his room.

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