Day 2: Montreal

For Day 1, click here

I'm After sleeping until 730 (that's right...730!), we had a delicious breakfast at the hotel (Meal #3...free) and Husband got on a bus and headed for his training at the lighting center. I went back upstairs, took a leisurely shower and read my book:

At 11, I headed down to the lobby where I was to meet my party of spouses and we were to walk to the spa. Some of the sights on the way:

And here's the spa. On a boat.

Can you see that boat? Here's a closer look:

It's a BOAT.

Yep.

We checked in and they gave us our robes and towels and sent us down to the changing rooms with a key fab bracelet:

We put everything in our locker, put on our swim suits and robes, and headed to the upper deck. We parted ways since we were all doing different things at different times.

It's important for me to note two things at this point: 1) I have never been to a true spa, and I have certainly never experienced a spa day, and 2) this was FREE. The company paid for all, including lunch. 

Yep.

First up was a manicure. This was my view:

And my beautician was Melanie. She was super cool and we found we had a love of yoga in common, although I haven't practiced in months and she is near the completion of her yoga instructor training. So at that point I just listened to her talk. She spoke flawless English despite being educated in French. I asked her how she was so good. Her reply? Fresh Prince.

Fair enough.

And next was the pedicure.

Here I had a short lunch break (40 minutes), but we'd eaten such a huge breakfast I found I wasn't particularly hungry so I found a cozy little spot on one of the outer decks to read:

And I ordered a drink. Everything was in French so I don't know what it was, but it was yummy!

The weather was perfect, and this was truly probably my favorite part of the whole experience!

After my break I met Melanie again and this time I got a 60 minute facial. It was SPECTACULAR!

Afterwards I had lunch in the cafe:

(Meal #4...free) and read until 4, when I went below to shower, change, and settle up. The lighting company footed the bill for almost $250 worth of services, and that was just on me! Nevermind the other five spouses! Holy moly.

I walked back to the hotel and met Husband, who had finished up training early. We lounged around until cocktail hour at 5:30 (also free) and then headed out to our "mixology" event.

I had no idea what this was, but as it turns out, you go and a chef teaches you to cook:

And the bar tender shows you how to mix cocktails (no pics here, but as you can see from the wall, the French are serious when it comes to drinks):

Now, I would have been perfectly ready to go home after we did about an hour of the whole eat-drink-and-be-merry thing (Meal #5 - free). But the next stop was a restaurant for more hors 'devours. Second dinner seemed a little excessive to me, but, as we were prone to say throughout this trip, "when in France." We ordered Poutine, a famous Canadian dish with French fries, gravy, cheese curds, and pulled pork.

The picture is dark, but it was amazing. DIVINE, in fact, and this is coming from a girl who doesn't like gravy. C'est magnifique. Meal #6...free.

And I REALLY would have been okay going home after that (for now it is 1030 and two hours past my bedtime), but we had a private room and bar booked at a club just down the corner.

Let me preface by saying two things: 1) I am not a particularly social creature after 8 PM, and 2) I didn't do the go out and party thing when I was 19 and unmarried. I'm certainly not going to do it now that I'm 32 and a mom. But this was Husband's trip and these were his work people and he wanted to go. So I shut my mouth and soldiered on. 

The club was oh-so-loud (did I mention I'm 32?) and packed with people. They hearded us through to the back and up the stairs where we had a private balcony and bar. And then a miracle happened.

The balcony had a low ceiling. Husband is 6'6".

And that is how the clouds parted and angels sang and we came to be staying for a quick drink and leaving early. And by early, I mean 1130, back to the hotel and in bed by midnight.

What. A. Day!