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AC20/19 Singapore to Vancouver Nonstop on Air Canada, and a Solar Eclipse in Montreal

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  • yflyer
    replied
    My final dinner in Montreal was at Au Pied de Cochon, a restaurant by well known Canadian chef Martin Picard.



    Located along a quiet street a short Uber ride from downtown, the restaurant was packed, and very lively, when I arrived for my 9.30pm dinner reservation.



    As a single diner, I took my seat at the bar counter overlooking the open kitchen...



    This was a menu unlike any other, with a mouthwatering selection of foie gras preparations...



    A glance around the restaurant indicated that the aged pork chop and duck in a can were popular mains, but as a single diner with a fairly small appetite, I decided that I would have to skip these classics this time round.



    The menu had many references to PDC, which I deduced to be an acronym for the restaurant's name, which roughly translated to Pig's Foot.

    The cocktail list looked very promising...



    There was a decent selection of wines by the glass...

    Last edited by yflyer; 29 April 2024, 11:08 AM.

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  • yflyer
    replied
    From there, I headed across the Concorde Bridge...



    ...along Avenue Pierre Dupuy.



    I passed a remarkable looking residential complex...



    I sent a picture of this building to my nephew, who was pursuing an architecture degree.

    "...this is the original Habitat..." he told me. This building was designed by reknown architect Moshe Safdie, which, like the Geodesic dome on St Helens Island, was built in 1967, as part of the World Expo.

    This was an iconic building, much studied in the world of architecture. In fact Moshe Safdie's firm has built other Habitats in different countries, including one in Singapore, Sky Habitat.

    I continued past the Canada Malting Company....



    ...to the Lachine Canal...



    ...and then finally along the waterfront...



    ...towards the Old Town.



    What a wonderful 12km route!


    Last edited by yflyer; 29 April 2024, 11:02 AM.

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  • yflyer
    replied
    I paused at the St Helen's end of the bridge...



    ...to read the plaques commemorating the bridge's construction in 1930, and it's renaming in 1934 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Jacques Cartier's first voyage up the St Lawrence River.



    On St Helen's Island, I ran through Parc Jean-Drapeau, first to the Tour de Levis, an abandoned water tower and reservoir.



    I continued through the forest, with its trees still bare from winter...



    ...to the Biosphere, an environmental museum...



    This geodesic dome was designed by reknown architect and inventor Buckminster Fuller, and was first built during the 1967 world's fair, where it served as the US Pavilion.

    Last edited by yflyer; 29 April 2024, 10:59 AM.

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  • yflyer
    replied
    It was now my last full day in Montreal.

    With work all done, there were just a couple of things left to do, including dinner at the iconic Montreal restaurant, Au Pied de Cochon.

    But first, it was time for a long run.

    At the Hampton Inn that afternoon, I changed into my PT kit, then headed outside.

    I had a rough route in mind, planned with Google Maps: I would head out to the Jacques Cartier Bridge, cross it, then run to the Biosphere on St Helen's island, before taking the long route back via the Concorde Bridge and Ave Pierre Dupuy and the Lachine Canal.

    I started out along Boulevard Rene-Levesque...



    ...and continued down St Catherine Street East...



    ...before making a left at Rue Dorion...



    ...towards the entrance of the cycling/pedestrian path for the Jacques Cartier Bridge...



    This was an eminently runnable bridge.



    The route was a popular one for cyclists as well as pedestrians...



    The incline towards the top of the bridge was fairly gentle...



    Guard rails on both sides prevented anyone from falling or climbing over the sides...



    In the middle of the bridge, one was rewarded with spectacular views...



    You were high above the St Lawrence River...



    ...with panoramic views of Montreal in the distance...



    ...as well as St Helen's Island...

    Last edited by yflyer; 29 April 2024, 11:48 AM.

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  • yflyer
    replied
    My room was a spacious affair, complete with kitchenette.



    The bedroom...



    Large work desk and flat panel TV...



    My room was a corner room...



    ...with nice city views...



    The bathroom was between the kitchenette/entrance and the bedroom.



    Long bathroom counter...



    Large shower stall...



    This was a comfortable hotel to spend my last night in Montreal.
    Last edited by yflyer; 29 April 2024, 10:51 AM.

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  • yflyer
    replied
    I spent the next few days in business meetings. It was a hectic work week, as I had my meetings in Montreal during the work day here, and then in the evenings, Asia was awake, which meant work calls with clients and colleagues in Asia, in the evening.

    On the final day of my trip, after all work was done, I moved to a different hotel, the Hampton Inn by Hilton Montreal Downtown.



    This modern highrise hotel was located next to Chinatown, and not far from the old town. I had actually run past it on my first day in Montreal, but because the signage was so small, I did not realize this was the Hampton Inn.

    The lobby was large and spacious...



    ...with ample seating...



    ...and a restaurant area where a complimentary breakfast was served.



    The breakfast comprised both hot and cold selections, including self-service waffle machines. Hot selections included bacon and scrambled, as well as boiled, eggs.



    I didn't care too much for the scrambled eggs, which seemed to be a little powdery, but coffee, juice, and small helpings of the other breakfast selections were adequate to start the day.

    There was also a well stocked hotel store where food, beverages and snacks could be purchased.

    Last edited by yflyer; 29 April 2024, 10:50 AM.

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  • yflyer
    replied
    As the moment of totaltiy approached, the sky grew dramatically dark.



    This was very different from the annular eclipse I experienced in Singapore a few years back.

    In an annular eclipse, the moon was too far from the earth at that point in its orbit, and consequently too small fully obscure the sun's rays. For that eclipse in Singapore, the sky did dim just a little, but it was hardly noticeable.

    But in Montreal today, the effects of the eclipse were dramatic. Like night and day. Literally.



    Pictures and videos did not do justice to the phenomenon.

    It literally turned dark as night, as if someone had flicked a light switch and turned day into night.



    At the moment of totality, the crowd let out a huge cheer. (Video)

    I had no photo to describe what we saw in the sky that day, but an acquaintance managed to snap a pic that showed what the sun looked during totality, which lasted just over a minute.


    The sun was gone, in place of it a jet black orb surrounded by a thin white ring. It was only during this 90 second period that it was safe to look at the sun without glasses.

    I was in awe. The atmosphere was indescribable.

    I now understood why some people said that experiencing a total eclipse was a life-changing event.

    And then the minute of totality was over. A sliver of crescent sun appeared, and slowly began to reclaim day from night.

    Simply incredible.

    The next total solar eclipse is due in 2026, visible from Greenland, western Iceland, and parts of northern Spain.

    Sydney will get lucky in 4 years time, with a total solar eclipse due there in July 2028.

    As for Singapore? We are out of luck. No total solar eclipse will be visible till at least after the year 2200...
    Last edited by yflyer; 26 April 2024, 05:21 PM.

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  • yflyer
    replied
    There was a lot of excitement in the air on Monday, 8 April. This was the day of the total solar ecipse.



    Whereas the day before, the city centre was fairly quiet, today, it seemed like tens of thousands of locals and visitors had descended upon the prime viewing locations for the eclipse.

    One of these locations was the Montreal Science Center, located by the St Lawrence River, not far from the old town and the Hotel Nelligan. I took a stroll from the hotel to the Science Center to view the eclipse.



    The Montreal Science Center and the Cirque du Soleil had announced that they were giving away 20,000 pairs of eclipse viewing glasses, and the lines to pick up these glasses stretched endlessly along the riverfront.



    I tried to join the line, but was simply unable to find where the ends of the snaking lines were.

    Amazingly, the lines were incredibly orderly, with none of the pushing, shoving and nastiness you would probably find in other cities in the world. Canadians were such laid back, relaxed, folks. I was very impressed at how orderly the lines were and how unstressed and pleasant everyone was.



    The experience of a total eclipse varied greatly depending on where you were, and there was also a large element of luck involved.

    Only a few cities in the world were in right place to view this eclipse, among them a few cities in Mexico, Texas, as well as a few cities on the US Eastern Seaboard, before passing over parts of Canada.

    And not just that: the weather had to be good -- if there were clouds in the sky, well, you would miss all the action. The folks at Niagara Falls, Ontario, were in the path of totality, but it was cloudy there so their experience was not ideal.

    Today, Montreal had struck the eclipse lottery.

    Most of the city of Montreal lay in the so-called path of totality: a very narrow area where the moon would totally obscure the sun, and where the effects of the eclipse would be the most dramatic.




    It was a clear, sunny and just a light scattering of clouds that did not obscure the view of the sun.



    While the eclipse itself would last 2 hours, starting from 2.14pm, the big moment was 3.20pm for the moment ot totality.



    The atmosphere was festive and electric as the moment approached.



    To prevent eye damage, the eclipse had to be viewed through special glasses. It was also almost impossible to take good pictures of the eclipse.




    I tried snapping pics placing the glasses over my iPhone with largely poor results, although one fluke picture (below) turned out ok.



    But you really had to experience it first hand. Pictures did not do it justice.
    Last edited by yflyer; 25 April 2024, 02:20 PM.

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  • yflyer
    replied
    Continuing with the TR...

    The next hotel I stayed at was the Hotel Nelligan...



    This was a elegant boutique hotel in the heart of Montreal's old town...



    The intimate lobby exuded old world charm and luxury...



    The rooms were large...



    ...and full of character...



    ...very far removed from the cookie cutter rooms found in modern hotel chains.



    There was a full length mirror...



    ...and a very comfortable lounger...



    The spacious bathrooms look to have been very recently remodelled...



    ...with fittings that were a combination of the traditional...



    ,,,and modern...



    Service in the hotel was top notch, with warm, friendly staff.

    Location-wise, it was great to be right in the old town, close to the St Lawrence River and many of the city's attractions. I really enjoyed my stay at this hotel.

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  • yflyer
    replied
    Originally posted by SQ218 View Post
    wow Satay on AC flight. Had to look again twice if you took the wrong flight LOL

    Thanks for sharing yflyer.
    I was pleasantly surprised to see satay on the menu too! Not as good as SQ satay though :-)

    Thanks for reading, SQ218! More to come!

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  • SQ218
    replied
    wow Satay on AC flight. Had to look again twice if you took the wrong flight LOL

    Thanks for sharing yflyer.

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  • yflyer
    replied
    That evening, I dined at The Keg Steakhouse...



    ...which had a very impressive selection of steaks and prime rib on the menu.



    As for prices, the exchange rate is SGD $1 = CAD $1. Anyone visiting from Singapore would find these prices to be very good value, especially considering the quality and quantity!

    I ordered the prime rib, which was absolutely delicious.



    There was a lot of other good food in Montreal.

    Later on in the week, I needed a Chinese food fix, so I headed to Chinatown for lunch...


    ...and indulged in a very satisfying bowl of fish boiled with Szechuan flower peppers and pickled vegetables...


    To be continued...
    Last edited by yflyer; 23 April 2024, 07:27 PM.

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  • yflyer
    replied
    After a hot shower in the hotel, I headed out for lunch.

    I headed back to the Old Town to meet a colleague, who had also arrived in Montreal the day before.



    The streets were busier than before, when I was out for my morning run.

    Everyone seemed to be out this Sunday afternoon, enjoying the clear blue skies and sunny weather.



    For lunch, I decided to try that classic Quebecois dish, Poutine...



    Montreal Poutine Resto Bar had both indoor and outdoor seating...



    We decided to eat outdoors, in the courtyard...



    Many different styles of Poutine were on offer...



    We started with drinks. My colleague had a beer. As anything alcoholic at that hour would have ruined my jetlag mitigation strategy, I decided on Canada Dry Ginger Ale.



    Not long after, our Poutine arrived. What a huge dish of artery clogging goodness: Fries and cheese curd drenched in gravy.



    I found this dish quite delicious, although it was impossible for me to finish the whole thing.

    The hot dogs here were also good value, and also very tasty.



    The bar looked very enticing...



    I returned that evening for a Margarita at the bar.

    Last edited by yflyer; 25 April 2024, 02:14 PM.

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  • yflyer
    replied
    I headed past the the Basilica-Catedral de Marie-Reine du Monde...



    ...and then (also totally by chance) to another famous art installation, the Ring, which was exactly as advertised: a gigantic ring seemingly suspended in mid-air...



    I continued past Montreal Eaton Center...



    ...and Promenade Fleuve-Montagne and Phillips Square...



    ...before arriving back at the Doubletree Hilton.

    What a wonderful route, and a great intro to the city of Montreal, with a total distance of about 10km.

    Last edited by yflyer; 22 April 2024, 05:21 PM.

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  • yflyer
    replied
    Along the bank of the St Lawrence River, I chanced upon this gigantic pair of sunglasses fixed into the pavement.



    There was a total solar eclipse taking place the next day, on Monday afternoon. Cirque du Soleil and the Montreal Science Centre were partnering to organise a public viewing at the Montreal Science Centre, located right by the St Lawrence River.

    Complimentary eclipse sunglasses were to be given out, and large crowds were expected the next day.



    I continued my run along the bank of the St Lawrence River...



    ...past the Old Port...



    ... and the McAllister Tug, and Grain Silo #5, now disused...



    ...and the Lachine Canal...



    From there, I headed back into the city...



    ...past the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal...



    Totally by chance, I came across this sculpture...



    Had I done my research, I would have realized that this was one of 2 sculptures, titled "The English Pug and the French Poodle", and I would have gone looking for the English Pug, but as I had come across this totally by chance, all I saw was the Lady with the French Poodle, before heading along my way.
    Last edited by yflyer; 22 April 2024, 05:23 PM.

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