With only the briefest stop at the Sanctuaire Notre Dame du Cap , where the stained glass windows were incredibly beautiful, we drove straight to Montreal.

Our lovely friend here is Nadine, who wears the most fantastic shoes and is the most elegant and gracious guide.  Oscar the poodle’s loss is our gain!

The artwork on the street is interesting and eye catching.

Some could be described as quirky.

Sometimes we have to stop and smile.

Across a busy dual carriageway, this lovely painting caught our eye immediately.

By this time, we were getting hungry but Nadine knew just the spot for a perfect summer Friday lunchtime.  A little music, lush greenery and lively conversation with friends around a shady table in the garden: what more could we wish for?

Leaving Nadine to go home to dear Oscar the Poodle, we set off to explore a little more of the city and loved the glimpses of silvery domes in the Old Town

and the contrast between old and new.

We had to stop and take photographs of this great bronze “Les Chuchoteuses” (the gossips).  Such characters!

Negotiating the road works was a challenge at times and we thought the city strangely quiet considering its size.  This was a Friday afternoon, after all.

But then, we discovered the Underground City!

We’d arranged to meet Nadine for dinner and were delighted to discover that the restaurant was only doors away from shoe heaven.  Well, at least two of us were thrilled ;-)

There followed a brief “shoe shuffle” with the assistance of the delightful Marie-Helene whose patience was remarkable but not unrewarded.

Dinner, of course, was divine.