What a great way to start Sunday! A mimosa with eggs benedict at Modavie while being serenaded by a trio playing jazz standards.

Today’s weather was much improved over yesterday’s for my journey to the top of Mount Royal. I took the bus to the Jacques Étienne Cartier Monument hoping to catch some tam-tams in action – drumming at the monument when weather permits. Sadly there was not a tam-tam in sight when I arrived, but they were there when I returned after my walk. Here’s a short clip of the tam-tams.

The Shaar Hashomayim Cemetary where Leonard Cohen is buried is a (rather long uphill) walk from the Cartier monument. I paid my respects in this peaceful setting while humming Hallelujah to myself.

From the Mount Royal Cemetary, adjacent to the Shaar Hashomayim Cemetary, you can double back to the road leading to an overlook above the city. From the overlook you can see on the left the infamous cost-overrun 1976 Olympic stadium.

Google Maps suggested a path back to the Cartier monument that I decided to take. What Google Maps does not show is terrain. The first part of the path was wide and relatively smooth, then it got a little rougher. For the last and roughest portion I have no photos as I was holding on to whatever was available to keep from tripping or slipping in the mud. Wretched rain!

Relieved to arrive back at the monument in one piece, I sat and watched the tam-tams then headed for the bus where I discovered that I had lost my bus pass. Buses take cash fares but only in the exact amount and I had no coins on me. I walked most of the way downtown – happy it was all downhill and on pavement – before I came across a Metro station where I could purchase a new two-day pass. Had I not lost my bus pass, I wouldn’t have seen these lovely views of Montreal.

Dinner tonight was at Jacobo, an Italian restaurant in Old Montreal. I started with the tartare di tonno – very good but a lot of it – and moved on to the spaghetti amatriciana. I always try the amatriciana in a new restaurant to compare it to my son-in-law’s version which is still number one in my books.

My last day in Montreal could be challenging. On returning to my room I found a note telling me that due to roadwork around the corner tomorrow, there would be no power from 8 am to 6 pm which will affect lighting, hot water and wifi access, and presumably elevators. I am on the fifth floor and familiar with the stairs as the day before yesterday we were evaculated due to a gas leak around that same corner. Note to self – make sure cell phone is completely charged. Flashlight use will be heavy.

Peut-être demain, peut-être pas. Mais à bientôt. 🥰