19th and 20th October Flight from Vancouver to Montreal and day 1 in this beautiful city

We packed and left Embarc for the 30 minute drive to Vancouver International Airport having enjoyed 3 terrific days although the weather has not behaved.  This morning is overcast and dry and traffic flow is easy.  Our AirCanada flight is on time with departure at 11.30am and arrival after a four hour 21 minute flight. Air Canada has improved quite dramatically and the Airbus 320 is very comfortable with first configuration in a herring bone pattern.  Jeanette is 13A and Ken is in 13 G.  We enjoy and excellent meal and fantastic service from pleasant hard working service staff.  Ken watches 2 movies as well as having a brief sleep. 

Our arrival is on time, we are met by our Blacklane driver and quickly driven to our hotel which is a group of loft apartments in old converted warehouses in the Old Port area of Montreal.  A fantastic location close to the water and in the heart of the restaurant and bar area of the old port, with cobblestone drives and paths. 

We change and unpack but our body clocks are all out of whack and we each have some trouble sleeping at midnight local time, but would have been 9.00pm in Vancouver. The hotel is called Auberge du Vieu-Port, which is a boutique group of hotels over 4 buildings superbly restored from old warehouses into superb up-market suites and apartments.  Our apartment is a deluxe loft with upstairs bedroom, mezzanine lounge area with gas fire place and then down 4 stairs to the kitchen and sitting area and bathroom, all superbly furnished and fitted out.   They are truly beautiful residences, although the lack of lifts does create another challenge for old geriatrics like us. Not that you carry luggage or anything, that is all looked after by very friendly porters here at the hotel. So we are delighted with the location and quality of our accommodation for the next 3 nights prior our boarding Oceania Regatta, here in Port of Montreal.

Ken eventually woke at 7.40am and Jeanette had suffered a poor nights sleep. 

Following changing and getting ready for the day, we went back to the central reception area and hotel building ( about 4 minutes away)  where we had a superb French style breakfast, which was large enough to ensure that we don't need lunch.

From here we decided to walk to several of the city highlights including the superb Basilica of Notre Dame , one of the most beautiful churches we have seen on our travels.  we stayed quite some time, took in a detailed explanation of its construction by a quality guide who spoke perfect English, then came out and walked further along the major street and took in the horses and carriage rides.  

The architecture is superb in this Old Town area and it is a pleasure to peacefully walk along the major avenues.  

Unfortunately, the rain has returned so we have come back to rest and collect our coats and umbrellas before we go out again.  There is much to see in the area and Ken wants to see the Town Hall as well as  collect details of the hop on hop off bus tour for tomorrow.

Jeanette is completing post cards , whilst Ken finalises details of the people with whom we are doing a tour in Sidney, Nova Scotia and a 4 hour visit to Baddeck on 25th October. So he has sent emails and is trying to organise a get together when we are all on board Regatta. 

Our upstairs loft bedroom

The formal living room- just a superb contemporary living space

The kitchen and eating area, beautiful with every required facility. 

Jeanette in her little cubicle ready to enjoy the luncheon. 

The first class configuration of Air Canada flight Vancouver, BC to Montreal, Quebec.

Ken awake and chirpy after an enjoyable flight. 

So the weather has forced a major change to in our plans, because it is now a consistent downpour and far too heavy to go outside and walk through the bustling tourist area of the Old Port area.

We decide to venture outside mid afternoon, but it is just too wet for us to enjoy the area.  Jeanette posts her cards and we venture into several stores.  So we return and enjoy the afternoon in our beautiful deluxe loft and then go out to dinner at the nearby Vieu-port Steakhouse, where we enjoy a superb meal including a Bordeaux red to die for. 

Jeanette decides that it us just too wet to do anything more, so we return to our room and decide to spend the evening here.  A frustrating day, but we did enjoy nearly 2 hours out and about before the rains came.  We can only hope tomorrow brings better weather and an opportunity to explore this interesting and beautiful city with a distinct French influence.