Churches, Cafes and Airports

On Sunday, we caught the 11 o’clock mass at Notre...

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:35:00 -0400

On Sunday, we caught the 11 o’clock mass at Notre Dame Basilica in the heart of Upper Town in Quebec City.

The service was entirely in French and it was nice to see the Church fill up as the service proceeded.

Probably in consideration of the non-French speakers and non-religious in the crowd, a powerful choir sang throughout the hour. It ended up being just as much a Sunday morning concert as religious celebration.

Notre Dame provides a wonderful and peaceful respite in the busy downtown Quebec.

Quebec City is full of ambiance. There aren’t many iconic...

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:32:00 -0400

Quebec City is full of ambiance. There aren’t many iconic tourist attractions, and it’s quite a small city where one just joyfully ambles the cobblestone streets and soaks up the charm.

Churches are plentiful in Quebec. Historically, it was Canada’s most religious province. This makes for great visiting for a Church lover.

I took my mom to the St Anne Basilica on the Beaupre Coast, just outside of Quebec. It’s a world class site that draws religious pilgrims from around the globe. We ended up staying for almost two hours and it was definitely the hilight of my mom’s weekend.

The photos only do St Anne’s limited justice.

After a long hiatus from the city, I spent this past...

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:48:00 -0400

After a long hiatus from the city, I spent this past Mother’s Day weekend in Quebec City. My mom had never been and so I flew her out since not having visited Canada’s oldest and arguably most beautiful city was a completely unacceptable state of affairs.

With the European feel and roots of the city, one would think that inviting cafes would be on every corner. Although coffee was available everywhere, there was a noticeable dearth of Paris-esque cafes within Quebec’s old city walls.

We stumbled into Paillard on the main downtown tourist thoroughfafe, rue St Jean. Paillard has some charm although it does feel like it’s copying the ‘look like a hip, independent cafe/restaurant/bakery’ template. Nonetheless, it provided a welcome afternoon break from the unseasonably cold and wet weather.

We had paninis, a decent caesar salad and passable curry carrot soup. The real delights were the cappuccinos and macaroons post-meal.

If you find yourself in downtown Quebec, you’ll most certainly pass by Paillard at some point. Take the time to get your caffeine hit and fresh pastry inside.

Cafes for next time - Quebec City

Sun, 12 May 2013 15:13:18 -0400

Cafes for next time - Quebec City

Cappuccino, International Herald Tribune and the St Jean Gate,...

Sat, 11 May 2013 17:31:33 -0400

Cappuccino, International Herald Tribune and the St Jean Gate, Quebec City. Things don’t get much better!

On a stunningly beautiful May day in Old Montreal, I quickly...

Sun, 05 May 2013 08:41:49 -0400

On a stunningly beautiful May day in Old Montreal, I quickly visited Olive and Gourmando for an afternoon cappuccino. The place had been highly recommended by a number of different people and was one of the last ‘must-visit’ locations on my list before I leave Quebec in a few weeks. It certainly didn’t disappoint.

It’s a small location that is always buzzing with activity on weekends and is perfect for a coffee, meal or just to people watch amongst Montreal’s creative and fashionable set.

I spent this past beautiful Saturday helping a friend move from...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:40:45 -0400

I spent this past beautiful Saturday helping a friend move from his apartment in Westmount out to the suburbs in Montreal. After an exhausting and understaffed day, I enjoyed a leisurely Sunday that began in a cafe that I had noticed a few times before.

Jonah James cafe-resto looks suspiciously like a pub from the outside and slightly like a nostalgic diner inside. Regardless, the coffee is top notch and the pastries delectable. An attached shop stocks notebooks, alarm clocks and other random intriguing kitsch items. A couple of ladies who could have stepped off the set of ‘Real Housewives of Westmount’ talked sunglasses and running shoes, as the only other patron described her native city of Singapore to the barista. A truly cozy and unpretentious locale to grab a quality cup of joe and hang around unencumbered.

In search of a change of scenery, I stumbled upon Le Petit Cafe...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:54:02 -0400

In search of a change of scenery, I stumbled upon Le Petit Cafe which is really just the small lobby cafe of Le Petit Hotel in the Old Port of Montreal. The setup was somewhat awkward; narrow and not quite knowing if it’s a lobby or a cafe. Nonetheless, it was definitely chic and the staff very accomodating.

I’d recommend both the cafe for a quick jolt of java and the hotel for it’s cool and contemporary feel and great location.

I couldn’t resist the temptation to head back to Old...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:49:00 -0400

I couldn’t resist the temptation to head back to Old Montreal last weekend, even with a tonne of work to do and a dwindling bank account. I rented the cheapest car available near my training college and whipped into the city for the day.

My first stop was at a recommended cafe/restaurant called soupesoup. As the name suggests, the place specializes in freshly made soups and sandwiches. I had a wonderful curry cauliflower soup with a nicoise wrap that was accompanied with a glorious herb mayo. Since the crowd was small, I asked the owner if I could loiter and study for a while and she gladly consented. I desserted on a decadent brownie and cappuccino and put in a good couple of peaceful hours of study.

Soupesoup is another one of Old Montreal’s little treasures - well-known to locals and partially kept secret from tourists.

From Old Montreal, we drove up and through the park on...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:01:00 -0400

From Old Montreal, we drove up and through the park on Mont-Royal and visited St Joseph’s Oratory. I’ve been to St Joe’s more than a dozen times in my life and was still completely awestruck. I caught the carillon bells playing live just as I entered, strolled the amazing votive gallery and stopped at the tomb of the founder of the Church and one of Canada’s newest saints, Brother Andre.

The main Basilica at St Joe’s leaves one short of adjectives. It’s a little like Notre Dame in Paris, but newer and somehow more epic. My friend’s three year old son could have stayed the entire day and in fact ran back to the front pew three times as we were on our way out. The organ boomed as an afternoon rectial was underway.

If ever you find yourself in Montreal, don’t miss the opportunity to visit this majestic, reflective and inspiring place.

This past weekend I fell in love with Montreal again. I had...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:55:00 -0400

This past weekend I fell in love with Montreal again. I had lived there and left a few years ago and was happy to make peace with the city again. It’s not all that difficult considering the seemingly endless churches and cafes to visit.

My friends took me to Le Cartet in Old Montreal for Sunday brunch. It’s a sophisticated, cosmopolitan and buzzing location in the old Port. Locals and tourists dine indistinguishably. The coffee is excellent, decor hip, and food spot on. We ate on large family style tables, enjoyed refillable illy coffee and discussed the suave charm of the place and neighbourhood.

Cappuccino Life. Le Cartet #Montreal

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 12:41:34 -0400

Cappuccino Life. Le Cartet #Montreal

On what will probably be my last trip to Ottawa for some time, I...

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 16:48:29 -0400

On what will probably be my last trip to Ottawa for some time, I had to sneak in a visit at one of my favourite downtown cafes: Planet Coffee. The pedestrian name and lacklustre signage hide a real gem of a locale. In the historic Byward Market area, through a charming alley, Planet Coffee offers a cosmopolitan and quality experience in a lovely nook of downtown Ottawa. The drip and espresso coffees are top notch and the baked delights leave nothing to be desired. Make sure to pop in if ever in the neighbourhood.

Espresso love - Zaza, Yorkville, Toronto

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:08:54 -0400

Espresso love - Zaza, Yorkville, Toronto

As my girlfriend and her sister were busy buying clothes from a...

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 17:27:43 -0500

As my girlfriend and her sister were busy buying clothes from a local boutique, I stole an hour or so and spent it happily at the Bluebird cafe in Ottawa. The sun gleamed in just perfectly as the roaster, beautiful espresso maker and wooden counter tops anchored the cafe in the most handsome and inviting way. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting the Ottawa area. www.bluebirdcoffee.ca

The weekend Globe and Mail is cheaper in small town Quebec and...

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 10:18:49 -0500

The weekend Globe and Mail is cheaper in small town Quebec and the cappuccinos are just as nice

It’s been a while since I’ve posted on any airport...

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:30:00 -0500

It’s been a while since I’ve posted on any airport experiences on this site - mostly because cafes and churches are so much easier to come by, and far less expensive!

That being said, I recently flew into Ottawa and snapped a few quick shots heading towards the luggage carousel. With Obama’s re-election dominating the news, the seated statue of John A. MacDonald with Panasonic logo in the background, perfectly captured the campaign frenzy just ended and the modern conglomeration of politics and technology.

I’ve enlisted my girlfriend to cafe, coffee and weekend...

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 13:26:57 -0400

I’ve enlisted my girlfriend to cafe, coffee and weekend paper love and photo documentation.

- cappuccino and globe and mail, Ottawa

I spent the Labour Day weekend in and around...

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 17:38:00 -0400

I spent the Labour Day weekend in and around Niagara-On-The-Lake. I made a point of visiting the Mount Carmel Monastery in Niagara Falls. It is a beautiful and active monastery open to the public.

allthingseurope: Ulm, Germany (by zykloid)

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 09:30:43 -0400

allthingseurope:

Ulm, Germany (by zykloid)