Basilique, rehearsal and Leonard Cohen

Today was a good day. I found a nice place where I got a similar breakfast - eggs, potatoes , ham and fruit- to what I got in Qebec. Then I went to the Basilica Notre Dame .  This was designed by an American Protestant and built in the mid 1800s. The outside is quite plain -good stonemasons in  N Americz in those days were rare, but the inside is , according to 1 guide book, " a magnificently ornate tribute to the importance of woodworking and decoration in the Quebec is tradition".  Over the years I have not been impressed by very ornate European churches , especially Rococco ( I think), but this was quite different. Lots of carved painted wood. Around the walls were lovely fairly plain carved statues of different people.  The architect who designed the church converted to Catholicism just before he died so that he could be buried in the vault.

I went from there to the Museum of Contemporary Art. A large part of their exhibition space was occupied by stuff about Leonard Cohen, who died just over a year ago. Very interesting. The other stuff I saw was a bit obscure.

I went from there to Museum of Fine Arts but only got as far as the bistro. I  changed my plan for the day and after some  nice soup I decided to go to a different area that my book said was called the Latin Quarter and was quite bohemian. I did find some quite nice coffee, but not much else in this weather, though today at a high of  -1 was quite mild after Quebec.

Next stop was the Basilica again. There is apparently a concert every year at Christmas with quite well known performers and it is tonight. I overheard someone this morning saying that there was a rehearsal this afternoon. So I sat for about N hour listening to some music I didnot know and some I did and thoroughly enjoyed myself.   About 25 mainly string musicians, 2 soloists, and a large choir. All for no cost. I had decided that I didnot mind paying the $6 entry fee again but the lady at the counter recognised me when I was half way through my " I was here this morning" French sentence .

 I have just had a nice dinner which would have been improved if I could have seen a bit more clearly what I was eating.  I had a glass of a different Canadian red but forgot my pen so didnot write it down and have forgotten the details. I had an interesting conversation with a couple from Masachusetts at an adjacent table.