Sima:  I have four first cousins in Montreal, the children of my father’s eldest brother.  I have not seen them for many years, and our trip was the perfect opportunity to visit, talk, and for us to enjoy Shabbat in a community.

Arriving a bit early on Thursday afternoon at the house where we would be staying, we took a walk and  found a kosher market; the folks there pointed us towards a pizza restaurant – the first pizza we have had since we left Chicago in mid-June, sooo good.

Friday morning we decided to see what Montreal is famous for – Mount Royal, a jewel of a park which gave the city its name.  It is a large (692 acres) volcanic-related hill (or small mountain) created in 1876.  We decided to walk there and back, about 3.5 kilometers each way.  Although we had only vague directions, we simply walked towards the mountain and found it.

We walked into the park on one side and found a small pavilion at which we rested and took some pictures.  Then, following the crowd we walked up to the Chalet, a building at the summit of Mount Royal which has a large interior space that can host events, as well as a few small shops.  From the Chalet we had a beautiful view of the Montreal skyline.

Montreal – at least the parts we saw on our walks – looks very European with some stunning buildings.

We returned to our hosts’ house walking down the mountain on the other side and got ready for Shabbat.  Joining us were other family members: we were 17 for Friday night dinner and 21 for Shabbat lunch.  Chicken for the first time in weeks, cholent, kugel…. And good conversation and singing.

Day 2:  Shabbat in Montreal

The neighborhood we stayed in is one of two neighborhoods that has a religious community: lots of shuls and schools, a kollel, and kosher stores.  It seems to be a close-knit community – kabbalat Shabbat was held in someone’s house as he cannot get out; a women’s Tehillim group provided an opportunity for women to visit an elderly woman who also has a hard time getting around.

Being with relatives who I have not seen for many years was wonderful.  My cousin showed me a picture that I had never seen of my grandfather.  We talked of my father.

Day 3:  After stopping at the kosher store to stock up on a few things – hard cheese, cold cuts for the freezer, diet hot chocolate mix, pitot … we were on our way.  As usual, we decided not to take the interstate but to drive the scenic route: through Quebec eastward, and we entered the U.S. at a small border crossing at Coburn Gore, Maine.  Our fourth crossing (two into Canada and two into the U.S.), and all were quick and easy.

We stopped at an overlook soon after entering Maine:

We then drove a bit until we reached the Cathedral Pines Campground, an absolutely beautiful campground on Flagstaff Lake.