Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Montreal, Quebec City, Lake Champlain, Sharon, VT and Fort Ticonderoga

David had a conference in Montreal and it was $300 cheaper to fly into Burlington, Vermont and rent a car so we did. I was thrilled since Vermont was one of the states on my list to check off. It was only a two hour drive to Montreal from Burlington and I love road trips anyway. I didn't expect to have to wait an extra hour at the border to get into Canada, but it was all good since we weren't in any hurry.

We left our children in the capable hands of Anna and Abby and they did just great. We talked to them every night on Skype and they could get a hold of us on cell phones as well.

Lake Champlain and Burlington, VT


The view from our hotel in Montreal



The first day we took an open top bus tour





Left overs from the World Fair in 1967- This was the US pavilion


Habitat 67 built for the world fair by Moshe Safdie- it is still occupied








I thought I left my wedding rings in the hotel in Panama City. I found them in my camera bag during this trip


L'Oratoire St-Joseph Montreal


We stopped at the Mont-Royal park because we heard they had a great view of the city


They were correct


I get to be in more pictures when it's just David and I








Talking to the kids on Skype


The next day I took a walking tour of the old part of Montreal. The first stop was the Notre Dame Basilica











Interesting art in Montreal


Pretty windows





Musée du Château Ramezay Montreal- They say the founding fathers stayed here on their visits including George Washington





They told me I could climb to the top of the Clock Tower and so I did





Pretty view of the St. Lawrence River from the Clock Tower









The next day I took a day trip tour up to Quebec City- what a treasure of a city! It's a walled city on top that was built by the French. They English took it over in the French and Indian War and it has been British ever since. However, and this is true with Montreal as well, the French were allowed to keep their language and today almost everyone who lives in this area speaks perfect English and French



Where Montreal was grey and all business, Quebec City was bright and very quaint

This is a picture of the Funiculaire which is a tram that will take you up and down from the old part of Quebec on top to the bottom new part of the city

Bright, lovely windows

A mural of the city's history painted by 12 different artists. It is near place royal


Château Frontenac is the magnificent hotel on top of the walled city. It was once a railroad building. This was a view from a boat cruise we took

I could not get enough of the view of this beautiful city



We cruised out to see the Montmorency Falls

Back on the bus we went up to the old city. This is a view from Champs De Bataille park across the St. Laurent River

Statue of Samual De Champlain- the founder of Quebec City




Taking the funiculaire down the the new part of Quebec City



Interesting things to see







The next day we drove back to Vermont to a Bed and Breakfast on Lake Champlain- this is Fort Montgomery


We found this delightful field of Sunflowers

Stopped and ate lunch at Hero's on the lake

David bringing me my Ethan Allen sandwich


I loved Vermont

Our little piece of Shore Acres Bed and Breakfast

The view off our back porch

The dining room

I have read so much history about Lake Champlain it was a priviledge for me to visit it

We did a little exploring


It was a peaceful place



We went kayaking



It was my first time

This is one of the few bathing shots you will ever see of me!


We went swimming

It was cold!

After dinner we were treated to a beautiful sunset


The next day we drove to Sharon, Vermont- the birthplace of Joseph Smith

It was one of the most spiritual places I have ever been in

The visitor's center

and beautifully kept

They had the Tabernacle Choir music playing from the trees

It was an amazing experience

We then drove across Vermont through some backways to get to Fort Ticonderoga



And saw some cool covered bridges on the way




Remember Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boy's who took Fort Ticonderoga without firing a shot in the Revolutionary war- These are the Green Mountains


Then we took a ferry over to New York




The fort had a beautiful view



and some big guns

Some great actors

and some beautiful gardens





They had a museum inside




They demonstrated a cannon shot for us- I wished my kids were there


Notice the peak of the mountain. We are going there next


You can see the fort down below




On the way back we saw the Kissing Bridge

And so we did

1 comment:

  1. Great photo's and comments. I enjoyed your site. John in Burlington.

    ReplyDelete