With everyone and everything in the car at 6:30 AM, we said goodbye to our gracious hosts and began the long trip back east. The plan was to break up the trip with a solid day in Montreal... and after a wet three hour drive we parked in downtown Montreal on Notre-Dame St. for my first visit to the city (Jane and the kids had all been there prior to this trip).

Notre-Dame Basilica de Montreal - I had scoped out Montreal ideas prior to departing at the Frommer's website and saw "three stars" beside the Basilica. Thus, I researched for a good time to attend mass and Sunday at 11:00 am stuck out as the best option, for time as well as the inclusion of choir and pipe organ. Fortunately, we arrived without incidence shortly after 10:00, parked 100 ft from the front steps and after a brief walk around the neighborhood, took seats near the front of the basilica.

The architecture, service (all in French), and the choir/music was well worth the visit. Even the kids hung in, after such a long journey, and were so very well behaved. Gazing at the ceiling and ornate alter, listening to the power of the pipe organ, experiencing the real sense of community in such a large building... it was something very special and we highly recommend scheduling this into any Montreal itinerary. Hey... it was free too!

Montreal Biodome - From the basilica we drove east to the Montreal Biodome, located in the shadows of Olympic Stadium. The Biodome basically recreates some of the most beautiful ecosystems of the Americas, from rain forest to arctic landscapes.

However, we weren't feeling the beauty when we arrived. The line-up was absolutely stunning when we walked in, as I guess the rain outside had driven the usual outdoor attractions out of the realm of possibility. We decided, however, to hang in and Jane went and fed the kids while I held a space in the line. Within the hour, we had made our way through and were enjoying the exhibits. Highlights included the saltwater aquarium, lynx and of course the penguins. We also glimpsed into Madagascar in a special presentation. The exhibits took us about an hour in total to complete. Overall, we thought the attraction expensive and overrated... maybe we had been treated to such wonderful exhibits in Ottawa that it didn't measure up!!!

We also took a minute to drop into the Big "O" and check out some of the complex, including the swimming pools, diving area, fitness centre and courts. It would have been state of the art in '76, the first Olympics I can clearly remember. A controversial piece of Canadiana...

Rue St Catherine - After checking in to our accommodations, we set-out to see St. Catherine St., just one block north of the Queen Elizabeth. St Catherine's is something like "everything" Montreal. From boutique to discount, bistro to greasy spoon, art gallery to strip club, or church to Bell Centre (both places of worship I'd argue)... this seemed the heart of the city. Peter noted a brightly colored t-shirt that stated, "Good Girls Go to Heaven / Bad Girls Go to Montreal". We roamed one side of the Street, then crossed and came back... seeing something new in each direction.

Along the way we stopped for a huge supper at Dunn's, the smoked meat deli that originated in Montreal. It was excellent and we ate 'til we couldn't eat any more. The smoked meat sandwich was too big and we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. I know my Mom would have loved it!!!

That evening the gang took advantage of the pool and we all watched "Merlin" and "Road Hogs" before retiring. Day Eight would be the last day of vacation and the run for home.