I’m going to write a number of posts over the next few weeks about our 2008 trip to Montreal. I think it’s worth taking some time to consider the changes that are taking place in the Old City, the new restaurants that are springing up, as well as the existing ones we discovered and enjoyed this year, and our coffee experiences at Cafe Myriade, among other things.
First, a few notes about the trip, in general. We were there 8 days this year, longer than any previous trip. And I think we found this trip to more enjoyable than ever, precisely because we stayed longer. There is a sweet spot to a vacation and Chuck and I have come to think that 8 days is just about perfect for Montreal: it’s enough to absorb some of the life and the vibe of the city, and when we reach the half way point of the trip, we don’t dread the coming end of the trip. After all, there’s still another four days to go. Of course, we always regret leaving the city, but we do have to leave some time, you know.
And thanks to the recent devaluation of the Loonie, in relation to the US Dollar, our lodging expenses were nearly the same as last year, despite the two additional nights. While I’m mentioning it, our transportation expenses were also much lower this year, too. Overall, it was a much more affordable trip, thanks to the convergence of the weak economy, falling gas prices, the resulting lower airfares, and the falling Canadian dollar.
So, while plans can always change, we’ve booked eight days for next year, too: December 18-26. We liked arriving on Friday and leaving on Saturday enough that we’re going to do it again, even though it means we’re leaving on Boxing Day. I won’t go into all the tiny reasons for this, except for one: there’s a decent chance Olive et Gourmando will close for its month-long holiday on Saturday 12/19/2009; a Friday arrival ensures at least one trip to OeG before they go on hiatus. If you’ve been to OeG even once, I think you can understand why this has factored in our planning at all.
One other general note: last year, we went back and forth on the idea of having friends join us. Would they be bored with our general laziness there or would we find that having friends along was a drag on our fun? Well, I can only speak to the second question and that couldn’t be further from the truth. Four friends joined us last year, leading to great memories and legendary meals. Two of those friends returned in 2008 and we picked up right where we left off.
Well, more to come in the next few weeks. The purpose of this blog is to bring to life the joy of vacationing in Montreal and perhaps provide some advice you’ll find helpful in planning your own trip. We hope to fulfill both in the coming weeks.