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The Olympic Tower
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This past weekend, Becky and I took a trip up to [Montreal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal). Becky’s parents had given us [Marriott](http://www.marriott.com/) gift certificates for Christmas so that we could have one last getaway before our baby was born. Neither of us had visited Montreal before, and it was a place we both wanted to go, so even though it’s a bit cold this time of year, up we went!
Highlights of the trip:
– Discovering that rural Quebec is much like rural Ohio.
– [SpringHill Suites Old Montreal](http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/YULSH), our hotel. Great location, cozy suites, nice free breakfast. A much fancier hotel than we would normally stay in, but since we didn’t have to pay for it… 🙂
– Dinner at [Restaurant du Vieux Port](http://www.restaurantduvieuxport.com/). Delicious peppercorn steak, cozy atmosphere, right around the corner from our hotel.
– [Montreal High Lights](http://www.montrealenlumiere.com/), a festival designed to light up the cold dreary nights of February in Montreal. We did the [Ice Slide](http://www.montrealenlumiere.ca/english/action.lasso?&-response=DetailsImpression.lasso&-Token.NoTitre=1581) and saw [Choreography for Snowplows](http://www.montrealenlumiere.ca/english/action.lasso?&-response=DetailsImpression.lasso&-Token.NoTitre=1514) (like [Blue Man Group](http://www.blueman.com/) with snowplows).
– The [Underground City](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_city%2C_Montreal).
– The [McCord Museum](http://www.mccord-museum.qc.ca/en/) of Canadian History.
– [Parc Jean-Drapeau](http://www.parcjeandrapeau.com/accueil.asp).
– The [Montreal Biosphère](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Biosph%C3%A8re).
– [Casino Montreal](http://www.casino-de-montreal.com/montreal/nav/en/home). We didn’t gamble, but we did enjoy their buffet!
– [Parc Olympique](http://www.rio.gouv.qc.ca/), site of the 1976 Summer Olympics. We took a ride up the funicular to the Montreal [Tower Observatory](http://www.rio.gouv.qc.ca/pub/visiter/accueil.jsp), as well as a guided tour of the stadium. Very cool!
– [Poutine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poutine). Not a dish I would regularly want to eat, but an interesting regional delicacy nonetheless.
– [St. Joseph’s Oratory](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph%27s_Oratory). Second largest basilica dome next to St. Peter’s.
We’d definitely like to visit Montreal again, but next time we’ll do it when the weather is a bit warmer!
You can see all of our photos from the trip [here](http://prwdot.org/gallery2/v/travels/2006/montreal/).
