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Montreal & Quebec City
I didn’t have many expectations. I didn’t know Montreal or Quebec City, but just sat back and watched as my partner planned the family vacation with her two siblings and mother.
I was just going to tag along, do what they wanted, and just try and be supportive (if necessary) and innocuous, almost invisible the rest of the time.
Yes, it was my vacation too, but I was going some place I hardly knew. What I did know is that Montreal was the home town of Leonard Cohen, was home to the first Olympics I remember watching, and a city where French is the primary language. I love Leonard Cohen; am only passively interested in the Olympics, and very rusty in French.
In preparation, I read this short little piece in the NY Times. Luckily, when we finally landed at our flat on Rue St. Denis, we were just a few short blocks from Cohen’s neighborhood in “Le Grande Plateau.” We found his place, ordered take out from his favorite coffee shop, and stood in front of his house. I don’t know why I didn’t take any pictures of his place (surely someone did), but I did take a picture of the mural on the building next door.
