| June 30, 2006 | | | | thunderstorm started pelting the city. I |
| | | | decided that rather than wait out this storm |
| Well, as much as the walking tour through Old | | | | on the terrace of the Café du Chateau, I |
| Montreal nourished my senses and | | | | was going to use my time to actually explore |
| architectural sensibilities, my stomach was | | | | the museum that was housed in the adjoining |
| in dire need of nutrition and I was debating | | | | building. |
| whether I should plunk myself down at one of | | | | |
| the enticing terrace cafés on Place | | | | The Chateau de Ramezay is a mansion that was |
| Jacques Cartier. Then I literally stumbled | | | | built in 1705 for Claude de Ramezay, |
| over this beautiful small park, Place De La | | | | Montreal's governor. Fourty years later it |
| Dauversière off to the side of the main | | | | fell into the hands of the French West Indies |
| square. In the southeast corner of this space | | | | Company which made it its headquarters. After |
| is a little gate that looked like the | | | | the conquest in 1760 the building was |
| entrance to a garden and with my perennial | | | | occupied by the British. It is known that |
| curiosity I had to go check it out. | | | | General Richard Montgomery and Benjamin |
| | | | Franklin, among other personalities, have |
| The view opened up into a beautiful French | | | | visited the Château. |
| style horticultural sanctuary: the Governor's | | | | |
| Garden, an example of garden design of the | | | | In the spring of 1893 the government owned |
| New France era more than 200 years ago. The | | | | the building, but it had no use for it and |
| beautiful thing is that access is always free | | | | put it up for auction. It was saved from |
| of charge and the extensive garden provides a | | | | demolition and has been operating as a museum |
| welcome relief of nature in the middle of the | | | | since 1895. For the last four years the |
| stone buildings of Vieux Montréal. | | | | building hosts a permanent exhibition about |
| | | | the history of Montreal and Quebec, covering |
| Most of the plants are derived from species | | | | prehistory all the way until the early 20th |
| cultivated in New France and the garden is | | | | century. |
| subdivided into three sections: the kitchen | | | | |
| garden, an orchard and a pleasure garden. | | | | As the thunderstorm was pelting the city I |
| Benches invite you to sit down and enjoy the | | | | decided to educate myself a little more about |
| serenity of this green space. At the back of | | | | early life in Montreal. The exhibits include |
| the garden is a ramp leading up to a | | | | historic paintings, furniture, as well as |
| restaurant, the "Cafe du Chateau", with a | | | | everyday items illustrating life over the |
| large terrace covered by an awning that | | | | last few hundred years in what started out as |
| features wooden tables. I had found the | | | | Ville-Marie and came to be known as Montreal. |
| perfect spot for a lunch. | | | | The items illustrating the day-to-day life of |
| | | | regular people fascinated me the most, such |
| So I sat down and started jotting down my | | | | as ladies shoes, a fireman's helmet or a |
| impressions in my travel journal and perused | | | | children's winter coat, a sleigh and a |
| the menu which features a variety of salads, | | | | "pennyfarthing", an early version of a |
| sandwiches, desserts and refreshments. I | | | | bicycle, featuring an oversized front wheel |
| decided on some light fare and ordered an | | | | and a tiny rear wheel. A loom and various |
| endive salad with little balls of goat | | | | every-day implements further illustrate life |
| cheese, covered in pistachios, pine nuts and | | | | in the new colonies over the last couple of |
| miniature croutons, followed by a wonderful | | | | hundred years. |
| Quebec cheese plate that featured three | | | | |
| different types of Quebec-made cheese, fresh | | | | Until October 1, 2006 a temporary exhibition |
| grapes, cut-up green apples, and a paste made | | | | is also housed by the Chateau de Ramezay: |
| from dry dates and toast. | | | | "Gardening in Paris during the Monarchy" |
| | | | introduces the visitors to the formal gardens |
| The meal was very savoury and the contrasting | | | | of Paris more than 200 years ago. An upcoming |
| tastes of the three cheeses together with the | | | | exhibition called "Crime and Punishment' will |
| sweet tastes of the fruit and the date paste | | | | talk about justice in the new colonies. |
| presented an interesting variety of flavours | | | | |
| to my palate. I was enjoying my meal and | | | | I had found the perfect way to deal with the |
| noticed that from my table I could even see | | | | thunderstorm: brush up on Montreal's history |
| the cupola of the Bonsecours Market peaking | | | | at the Chateau de Ramezay. Now it was time to |
| out between the old buildings. | | | | head back to rest up for my evening |
| | | | explorations of the St. Denis neighbourhood |
| Unfortunately my serenity was cut short as | | | | and a tasty Mexican dinner at La Iguana. |
| the heavens opened up and a tremendous | | | | |