Notre-Dame Basilica ~ Montreal

I have to say that my favorite part of our trip

was our visit here

it was breathtaking

as you can see

I went a little crazy taking pictures

I felt so at peace there

and overwhelmed

you can see why I went a little nuts

the pipe organ was gorgeous
I can only imagine attending a service here

they actually have tickets for the
Christmas Eve services ~ 3 of them and they have
a full house at each one

Celine Dion was married here along with
Mario Lemieux for you hockey fans!

Pope John Paul II celebrated a Mass for children
here in 1984.

In the back there is a smaller chapel
Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart)
known as the wedding chapel

they were getting ready for Mass

so I ran in and got a couple of shots

even the hallway between the two had gorgeous 

stained glass windows

I think it was the best time of the year for me to visit

this wonderful church

it made me stop and think

and remember the reason for the season

this week has been rather low key

busy busy at work

but I have been trying to relax in the evenings

we are in the middle of a Nor'easter right now

and receiving lots of rain

and high winds

lights are out all over the city

thankfully they are still on here at home

it looks like my wish for a white Christmas

may very well come 

as they are calling for snow the next

5 days! 

Hope you are having a wonderful week.

xo

Montreal

We are back

and had a fabulous time!

cold and snowy
but nice all the same.



the dinner was at a beautiful restaurant

everything was decorated
so festive

this was the inside of the restaurant
very shall we say

chi chi poo poo
elegant with free flowing wine
I can honestly not tell you how much
I actually drank as my glass was never empty

I think I could get used to that!

this is the crew from New Brunswick

the view from our room
a snowy cold Montreal morning

they had a pool open all year round
it was on the roof and although we never went in it
it was really cool!

Friday we had all day so after breakfast
we headed out

the underground system in the city is the best ever
we spent almost the entire day inside

we visited the Notre-Dame Basilica first
it was breathtaking

I am going to do a separate post on it
I was in love

the CBC was there tearing down
as they had recorded a special there the night before
so I had to shoot around scaffolding and men

next stop was shopping
this is in the Eaton Centre

then we walked down St. Catherines Street
and down to Ogilvy's to check out the window

we touched down around midnight on Friday night
and although it was a whirlwind 2 days
we were glad to be home

Saturday was low key
ran a couple of errands and
attended a party that night

we were home in bed around midnight
Sunday was a little bit of baking
sorted through the gifts and got ready for
wrap-fest 2010!

Some menu planning and grocery shopping
finished off the week-end

a four day week this week then 5 off
I am looking forward to that

Hope everyone had a great week-end
and an even better week.

xo

The Belle Province

Last week I told you that I had exciting news

not a surprise for you...
sorry

one night this week we will be jetting off
for dinner

to this place

Montreal!

no ~ we did not win the lottery

hubby just celebrated his 25th anniversary with the company

back in September

his boss took him out to dinner

and he received a gift, certificate and lapel pin

the usual stuff

then a couple of weeks ago

he received an invitation by email

to a recognition dinner

in Montreal

Place Jacques Cartier

the company is flying him and a guest up for the dinner

hotel for the night

and then fly us back the next day

we decided to take advantage of the opportunity

so we fly up the morning of the dinner

and we are staying until the following evening

and taking the last flight home 

so we will have basically a full day plus to 

roam around ~ see the sites

and get in a little shopping

it's been over 10 years since I have been

I love this city ~ the energy

Notre Dame Basilica ~ Old Montreal

I really want to go here

seems like the perfect time of year for it

they have been receiving lots of snow
hopefully it will not hamper our travels
or shopping excursions!

Because I will be away 2 days this week
this week-end was a whirlwind of activity

my cousin was diagnosed last week
with stage 3 cancer ~ he starts his treatments on Tuesday
so we went to see him Friday night

lots of prayers go out to him

one of my Dad's cousins passed away last week
Saturday I went to the funeral
so sad this close to Christmas

Sunday was a fun day though ~ making cookies with
one of my best girls as Sam came over for the afternoon

my shopping is almost done
tree up and still not decorated
but we will work away at it
parties attended and another to plan for

now to wrap things up
do a bit more baking
and enjoy the season.

Hope you all had a wonderful week-end
and that this week brings comfort and joy.