#8 Montreal, Quebec, Canada May 15 - May 19,1991
Wednesday, May 15: Oui, oui as the Class of '50 goes international and convenes its 8th mini in Montreal (Mont Real in Old French). The Manoir Le Moyne in the heart of downtown served as headquarters. Its split-level suites were equipped with kitchens and dining areas. Chair Bob Schelling and his wife Sylvie graciously opened their 6th floor Sherbrooke West apartment to early birds for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Afterward it was a short walk to restaurant Champs Elysees where diners had a choice of entrees — bavarois de saumon fume or remoulade de concombre aux crevettes.
Thursday, May 16: A day on our own — time to explore this fascinating city. The evening reception was held atop Olympic Tower (home of the Expos) accessed via an outdoor funicular. All rewarded with a spectacular view of the city from the tallest inclined tower in the world. The Greater Montreal Convention Bureau and Regie des Installations Olympiques hosted. Historic Fort Ste Helene, housing Le Festin du Gouverneur, was the site of our renaissance dinner. Several vocalists provided entertainment.
Friday, May 17: It was overcast and rainy as the Princeton group boarded buses for a Tour de Ville. Guides briefly related Montreal's history as the buses climbed the hill to Oratory Saint Joseph. Under construction from 1924 to 1967, the massive shrine was a dream of Father Andre who possessed extraordinary healing powers. Its exterior dome rises 506' above street level and is the highest point in Montreal. Then Mont Real offered a panoramic view of the city. After exploring the extensive underground city connected to the Metro system we visited the Notre-Dame Basilica with its breathtakingly beautiful wood-carved interior. Lunch was served at Auberge Le Vieux Saint-Gabriel — North America's oldest continuous restaurant (since 1754). An off-the-record talk by US Consul General Andy Antippas focused on events in Canada and Quebec from an American perspective. Umbrellas unfurled for a trip to the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts to view Pierre Cardin's display of haute couture. His retrospective spanned 40 years of fashion design. Unlimited brew and a roast beef buffet were enjoyed at Brasserie Molson where a hockey game played on big screen TV.
Saturday, May 18: A short walk to Children's Hospital, Dick Cruess '51, dean of medicine at McGill, and his wife Sylvia presented an overview of Canada's government-funded health care system followed by a question-and- answer period. Next on the agenda was the CCA Architecture Museum, deftly attached to a massive graystone duplex. Paul Nelson's work as well as Japanese trends of the 90s were on display. At Victoria Pier in old Montreal some alums braved a spectacular hour and a half adventure jet boating on the mighty St. Lawrence River through the fabled Lachine Rapids. A lovely finale to the mini was a gala dinner-dance at Ogilvy Salon Tudor. Enjoyable 1920s- 1950s jazz kept everyone hopping. Joe Green and Sylvie wowed the group.
Sunday, May 19: Those who stayed another day were hosted at the Schelling's La Vielle Ferme in North Hatley.