What I did: Notre-Dame Basilica and Aura light show- The Notre-Dame Basilica is an impressive building one its own, especially considering the fact that it was built in 1656. When the Aura light show is added, it is absolutely amazing. I would highly recommend checking it out if possible. Mount Royal- Montreal is french for "Mount Royal," a hill provides great views of the city. It is also a nice walk on the way up the Mount. Explored Old Montreal- Old Montreal is a very nice area to walk through. It is near the waterfront, the buildings are picturesque, and the area has a great feel to it. Tristar and 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu- Tristar is one of the premier mixed martial arts gyms in the world. 10th Planet Montreal is one of the top no-gi jiu jitsu gyms in the world. I was able to practice jiu jitsu at both of them. Everyone I came across was incredibly nice (and many of them incredibly talented). Montreal Botanical Gardens- The Montreal Botanical Gardens were very nice, but in my opinion not worth the price. However, it was interesting to have the opportunity to taste some insects outside of the insectarium. Jean Talon Market- Jean Talon is an excellent food market in Montreal. There is a mix of food to eat on site or to purchase to cook later. Guy Favreau YMCA of Quebec- The Guy Favreau YMCA of Quebec was a nice place to workout in while I was in Montreal. Free walking tour- The hostel I stayed at while in Montreal, M Montreal, offered a free walking tour that I participated in. What I ate and drank: Le 4e Mur- Le 4e Mur has one of the coolest entrances to any eating or drinking establishment I have ever been to. First, to obtain the address you can visit their website and sign up for their email list. After receiving the list via email, you will arrive at a door that says "Detective Agency" in French. Then, after entering a very small brick room and finding the correct brick, the real door opens and leads down to the speakeasy. The drinks and environment while I was there were both excellent. The Coldroom- Good times, good cocktails, good people- that is the motto listed on the Coldroom's website, and it is an excellent description. After I entered an unmarked door near the old port area in Montreal and passed the white duck, I encountered good times, good cocktails, and good people. Schwartz's Deli and Lester's Deli- Both Schwartz's and Lester's offer the famous Montreal smoked beef sandwiches. I thought both were different, but amazing in their own ways. Lester's was slightly thinner, slightly juicier, and felt like more of a local place. Schwartz's was thicker and it seemed like it hosted many tourists. I enjoyed both very much. Dispatch Coffee and Esquina Coffee- Dispatch Coffee and Esquina Coffee were both very nice coffee shops. Paquebot Cafe- Paquebot Cafe served me the best cup of coffee I have had in Montreal. Their nitro cold brew coffee is excellent. They also offer a coffee lemonade, which is something I had not come across before. The shop also has a cool, laid back vibe and other drink options such as kombucha. Emerald/Le bar sans nome- The Emerald, formerly know as Le bar sans nome (the bar without a name) was nice place that in a normal city would warrant a return. However, with the level of speakeasies in Montreal, I doubt I will be back to the Emerald anytime soon. Atwater Cocktail Club- I tried to check out the Atwater Cocktail Club (ACC), but didn't have the best experience. There was a large wait to get inside, and having a long line hurts the "speakeasy" vibe a bit. After entering, my friends and I waited over 30 minutes for the chance to order a drink before we decided to go elsewhere without getting anything. To be fair it was during peak hours (later at night on a weekend). It might be worth checking out again on a weeknight or with a reservation, but with the quality of the other speakeasies in Montreal I doubt I will try anytime soon. St. Viatuer Bagel Shop- St. Viatuer has been selling the famous Montreal style bagels since 1957. Their bagels are thinner than most of the bagels found in the United States. They were good, but there are other things I would rather eat instead of having another one. Microbrasserie Dieu du Ciel- Dieu du Ciel is a great microbrewery in Montreal. They had two very good stouts while I was there. I would definitely be interested in returning to try some more. Cloackroom Bar- The Cloakroom Bar is speakeasy located behind a false door within a tailor shop. It is a small spot, that serves high quality cocktails. La Capital Tacos- It was interesting to find a Mexican taco shop in Chinatown in a french speaking city in North America, but that’s exactly what La Capital Tacos was. The tacos were very good and well priced. Le Grand Poutinefest- Poutine is one of the most famous foods in the province of Québec. It is basically french fries with cheese curds and gravy on top. While I was in Montreal they had a poutine festival with various food trucks selling poutine. While it tasted good and is worth trying if you are somewhere in Québec, it is not very healthy. Where I stayed: M Montreal- M Montreal is one of the best hostels I have stayed in. Each bed had its own curtains, outlets, shelves, and large lockers. It had two kitchens, one of which was very large. There was also a bar downstairs, and they were in the process of constructing a sauna and hot tub on the rooftop terrace. It was very clean and had a nice environment. I met some awesome people while I was at the hostel. How I got around:
Montreal has a nice metro system, and it is a very walkable city. Also, Lyft and Uber were also available when necessary. My favorite thing: I met some amazing people during my stay in Montreal. Also, Montreal has some of the best speakeasies I have been to. My least favorite thing: I have heard some amazing things about Joe Beef and their sister restaurants. It was the number one place I wanted to visit in Montreal, but it was closed for vacation during the time I was there. For next time: As previously mentioned, I would like to visit Joe Beef.
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What I did: Freedom Trial- The Freedom Trail is a two and a half mile walking path that goes through Boston. It is marked by bricks and goes past the major historic sites in the city, which are some of the major historic sites in the country. While walking the trail is free, if you want to enter all of the sites that it goes past, be sure to go before 5pm on a weekday. Blue Man Group- Boston is one of the cities that hosts a permanent installation of the Blue Man Group, as opposed to traveling groups that are only in cities for select dates. Their show is hard to describe, but it is enjoyable for kids and adults alike. Yang YMCA- I worked out at the Yang YMCA while in Boston. It has an unusual set up, but it had everything I needed to get a great workout in. Free Walking Tour- The hostel I stayed at, Hostelling International (HI) Boston, offered a very good walking tour of Boston. Fenway Park- Fenway Park is one of, if not the most, historic, iconic stadiums in America. Home to the Boston Red Sox and its famous Green Monster wall, it is a fun place to catch a baseball game. Also, you can take tours of the stadium when the team is not playing and sit in the dugout where players like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, Carlton Fisk, and Jason Varitek have sat. Boston Commons- Boston Commons is a beautiful green space in downtown Boston. It is a nice place to walk through and enjoy a slice of nature in the middle of a great city. Where I ate: Pizzeria Regina- Pizzeria Regina is a famous pizza place in the Italian section of Boston. Although I am not a huge fan of pizza, the pizza I had at Pizzeria Regina was very good. I especially enjoyed the environment at the restaurant. However, be prepared to wait if you go at their peak hours. Stoddard's Fine Food and Ale- Stoddard's Fine Food and Ale has a nice selection of craft beers, as well as a quality food menu. Trillium Brewing Company- Trillium is one of the best breweries in the Boston area. However, you cannot drink their products on the premises of their main location. They do have a secondary location that is open more limited hours, or you can purchase some to take back to where you are staying. Brick & Mortar- Brick & Mortar is a very nice (although not my favorite) speakeasy in Boston. There was a college aged crowd while I was there. There is also some cool graffiti in the alley just outside the bar. Thinking Cup- Thinking Cup is a nice breakfast cafe with some great, healthy food options. Toscanini's Ice Cream- Toscanini's Ice Cream had some of the best ice cream I have ever had. Also, they have some inventive flavors I have never seen anywhere else. Mike’s Pastry- Mike’s serves a cannoli that is famous in Boston. It was very tasty, but in my opinion not tasty enough to overcome the cost of the sugar. Flour Bakery + Cafe- Flour Bakery + Cafe serves an excellent egg sandwich. They do not have a drive through, but the wait was not very long. If you want breakfast on the go, Flour Bakery + Cafe is a great choice. Backbar- Backbar is a speakeasy that was connected to the Journeyman restaurant before Journeyman closed their doors. Behind its inconspicuous entrance is a laid back environment with high quality drinks. Union Oyster House- Union Oyster House is the oldest restaurant in the United States of America. Famous historical figures such as Daniel Webster and John F. Kennedy are known to have eaten there often. It was even the first place that toothpicks were used in the United States. City Tap Fort Point- City Tap has a plethora of beer options, as well as a good food menu. Gracenote Coffee- Gracenote Coffee is a small shop near Chinatown. Their nitro cold brew coffee is the best cup of coffee I have had in Boston. Legal Harborside- Legal Seafoods is an amazing Boston-based chain of seafood restaurants. Rumor has it, their Boston clam chowder is served at all presidential inaugurations. Their Harborside location is their flagship location, and the waterfront property has nice views on each of its four floors. George Howell Coffee and Jaho Coffee Roasters- Both George Howell Coffee and Jaho Coffee Roasters had good, though not great, nitro cold brew coffees. Yvonne's- Yvonne's is my favorite place in Boston. To enter you have to go through a hair salon/barbershop, and you are rewarded with an amazing space once inside. The drinks are amazing, and I have heard they also have a very good food menu. They have a creatively adorned interior that is surprising large. Drink- Drink is a cocktail bar without a cocktail menu-it's a paradox. After entering the lowly publicized entrance, going downstairs, and getting a spot in the bar, you simply tell the bartender the flavors you like and a custom drink is made for you. Quincy Market- Located next to Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market is like a mall- if the whole mall were the food court. It has a number of good food options. Where I stayed: HI Boston- HI Boston was a very nice place to stay in Boston. While inexpensive by Boston standards, it is on the expensive side when compared to other hostels in the world. How I got around:
The "T" in Boston is an excellent public transportation system. It helps to make Boston a very walkable city. My favorite thing: I am a big fan of the city of Boston, and there are many things I like about it. It has a great public transportation system and is very walkable, it has some great food, and it has an interesting culture and history. My least favorite thing: The two things that keep me from spending more time in Boston are the cost of accommodation and the weather for much of the year. For next time: Although I went up as a child, I would like to go up the Prudential Center again, and I would also like to check out the Skywalk Observation Deck. I would also like to return to Yvonne's and explore more of Boston's food and drink scene. What I did: Rocky Steps and Statue- At the entrance to the Philadelphia Museum of Art are the steps made famous by the fictional Rocky Balboa. Sylvester Stallone famously ran up these steps and raised his arms during the iconic training montage in the movie Rocky. A statue of Rocky has been erected near the steps as well Reading Terminal Market- Reading Terminal Market is a very nice market in Philadelphia. You can buy food to eat on site or buy food to cook later. Independence National Historical Park- Independence National Historical Park houses the Liberty Bell. You can see the famous crack in the bell up close. Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were signed, is also located in the park. Rittenhouse Square- Rittenhouse Square is a nice green park area in downtown Philadelphia. It is a great place to eat a lunch or coffee that can be purchased at many restaurants nearby. There was also a festival/farmer's market going on in the park while I was there. Benjamin Franklin's Grave- Although I did not pay to go inside the graveyard, because Benjamin Franklin's grave sits near the fence I was still able to see it well. The famous historical figure is buried next to his wife. Where I ate: La Colombe Torréfaction- La Colombe is a coffee company that has made a name for itself across the United States, but it is based in Philadelphia. While they do not have a black nitro coffee, they do offer a drink with a half serving of their black cold brew and a half serving of their nitro draft latte (milk added). Although I would prefer a black nitro, it was very good and very visually appealing. Molly Malloy's- Molly Malloy's is located in the Reading Terminal Market. I had an excellent egg sandwich while I was there. Hub Bub Coffee- Hub Bub is a nice coffee place in Philadelphia with a nice nitro cold brew. Rival Bros Coffee- Rival Bros is a nice coffee shop in Philadelphia. I was not a big fan of their nitro cold brew. However, I liked the feel of the place, and their hot coffee beverages looked good. Pat's Steaks- Pat's and Geno's are the two most famous places to order a famous Philly cheesesteak. I ordered mine from Pat's and it was extremely tasty. While it wasn't very healthy (I'm still not convinced their "whiz" is an actual food) I would have it again next time I am in the area. Franklin Mortgage and Investment Company- As a fan of speakeasies, I had high expectations for the Franklin Bar. However, I was slightly disappointed. While it wasn't horrible, it is below average compared to many of the other speakeasies I have visited. 1 Tippling Place- While I was a little let down by the Franklin Bar, I was impressed by 1 Tippling Place. Although it is only a speakeasy by a loose definition of the word, it was a great place to visit. The drinks and the environment were both great. Square One Coffee- Square One Coffee was a nice coffee stop with a decent nitro cold brew. Philly Pretzel Factory- Soft Pretzels are very popular in the Philadelphia area. I had mine from the Philly Pretzel Factory. I thought they were decent, but not good enough for me to have again anytime soon. Greenstreet Coffee Co.- Greenstreet Coffee Company is a small coffee shop with an excellent nitro cold brew. It was the best cup of coffee I had in Philadelphia. Where I stayed: City House Hostels- City House Hostels has two hostels in downtown Philadelphia. I stayed a couple nights at their Old City Philly location, and one night at their Philadelphia Liberty location. It wasn't the greatest place I have stayed, but it was priced well. The lockers were small and there was not a plug for each bed, but it was good enough for the time I was there. How I got around:
Philadelphia has train that conveniently runs from the airport to downtown. After taking the train in, I walked everywhere I went in Philly. However, they have a metro system, bus system, and ride-share options. My favorite thing: Philadelphia offers many things to visit for someone interested in American history. Also, 1 Tippling Place was a great cocktail bar. My least favorite thing: The weather was excellent while I was in Philly, but it can be rough for much of the year. For next time: Next time in Philadelphia I would like to visit the Ranstead Room, Hop Sing Laundromat, and the La Colombe Distillery. Also, I would like to check out the view from One Liberty Observation Deck. I wish I would have known about reservation holds prior to booking one of my flights. I had been searching for award availability to fly from Tampa to Barcelona. I was trying to use American Airlines miles to purchase the flight. American Airlines offers multiple tiers of reward availability that can vary significantly in points required for the same class of service. The MileSAAver tier requires significantly less miles to be spent than the AAnytime awards. However, MileSAAver award availability is usually very limited. I saw an available flight from Tampa to Barcelona, but I did not book it at the time because I needed to confirm the date I was able to arrive in Barcelona, as I would be traveling on a visa I was in the process of obtaining. By the time I was able to confirm the date, the availability was gone. If I had put a hold on the available ticket, I would have had a week to decide if I wanted to purchase it. However, because I did not put a hold on that ticket, I had to use some creativity and route my flight through Dallas to be able to use the MileSAAver awards. It would have been much more convenient to go from Tampa to Miami to Barcelona as opposed to the Tampa to Dallas to Miami to Barcelona route I was left with. The silver lining is I was able to see my cousins for a short time in Dallas, and now I know better for the next time I am researching a flight.
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