Vieux Montreal

Rue Saint-Paul, Vieux Montreal

This is Vieux Montreal or old Montreal; it is just around the corner of Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal. We walked east from the basilica, but we are kind of disappointed with the place, one of the biggest reason is we have been to Vieux Quebec two years ago, which is a lot nicer and better. Nonetheless, this spot is a tourist destination of a “must see spot”, so here it is the best that I can capture the scenery.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/toronto/vieux

Montreal Metro - Rubber-tyred

Montreal Metro System

Getting around Montreal is not difficult at all; the key when taking the Metro (subway) is to know the final destination and the line color. When taking the bus, you need to have “Plan Des Reseaux” from STM (Montreal System Authority), it has every bus lines printed. When in doubt, just ask! My highlight, and I had been wanting to experience is the subway, because it is RUBBER-TYRED. Amazing, but I heard it costs more to operate, it has a higher acceleration and a shorter braking distance. This subway runs every five minutes, it seems forever compared with Toronto subway, which runs every two minutes.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/toronto/metro

Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal

Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal before the crowd

Welcome to Montreal. This basilica is one of our highlights of Montreal. When we know the operating hours, we decided to come when the doors open. So, before 8:00 AM, we were there at the entrance, we also enough time to take the outside façade, with one eye on the watch; we also keep looking at the basilica door. Because of the popularity of this church, an admission fee is charged at Can $5.00 per person, a small price to pay to be able to enjoy the beauty of the interior. It is truly magnificent.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/toronto/basilica.html

Toronto - Chinatown

Spadina Avenue, Chinatown, Toronto

This should be the last on the series of websites about Toronto. Welcome to Chinatown, the land of a long lost uncle. At this place Pokie finally found him, his name is “Yu Hai Ding”. Got it! Toronto Chinatown is on a huge Spadina Avenue. I am sorry if I took the streetcar photograph one too many, but I can’t help it since this is part of Chinatown scenery. Next week, I will start sending you Montreal, the sites that we visited,

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/toronto/spadina

Commonwealth Lake Park

Commonwealth Lake Park

Sometimes we ignore places that are close by either by not knowing it or there will always time to visit soon mentality. This Commonwealth Lake Park falls into the first category. I never know it existed and it is only less than five miles from our house. When we got there this morning, the light rain has just stopped, giving me time to walk around the entire lake, which is just 0.8 mile long. Really, I was feeling like a kid in the candy store, snapping pictures left and right. I consider the lighting to be soft and perfect for such occasion. Come on, I will take you for a short walk.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/2015/common

Distillery District

Distillery District - I "Heart" You

Welcome to the Distillery District, this is an old brewery factory that turned into a hip place, sort of happening. It has many galleries and restaurants. We try to save our “feet” from walking too much, so we had been waiting and waiting for the bus that never came. Remember the Murphy Law says, as soon as we walked a block the bus came, so we boarded, but we had to get off in just one block due to street construction…we laughed so hard.

What do you know, just before we arrived at the district, the street corner was cordoned off due to the aftermath of a high speed chase, it took three police cars to stop this criminal. It was fresh news for that afternoon; the Toronto Star covers the incident. Read the story (I included the link), I took the picture from the opposite angle.

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/toronto/disti

Yonge-Dundas Square, an urban jungle

SE corner of Yonge-Dundas Square

From the Farmers’ market, I will take you back to the “urban jungle” namely Yonge-Dundas Square. I believe this is an equivalent to the Times Square in New York City. Many “happenings” are in this square; it is also a “Hop-on-Hop-off” for some tourist buses. We then explore the “Urban Eatery”, here you can find from Falafel to sushi and in between. Pokie found a Mediterranean-eating-place that she likes a lot. From there we explore the underground shopping mall that stretches one long block from Dundas Satation to Queen Station – Eaton Centre. 

http://www.yongkieandpokie.com/toronto/dundas