I have to admit that I was wrong. This visit from my mother and niece hasn’t been as bad as I thought it could have been. Yes, a few times my niece did get a little melodramatic, but it was generally about food. She just doesn’t eat right, and I blame that on my sister, who she acts just like by the way. She’s eight though, so I guess it’s excusable to an extent. The weekend has been all about her, with one or two exceptions.

We went to Parc Safari in Canada on Friday. It’s a safari park, zoo, and water park all in one. We had a blast. The crossing of the Canadian border was a lot easier this time too. The Canadian border guard was actually nice and joked and laughed with us. Last time, I had a guard that was grumpy and kept yelling questions at me. The St Albans station is much busier than the one we crossed at Rouses Point, New York. While both of the Canadian border guards were quite cute, the one at Rouses Point was so sexy because he was very nice. The US border guard at St Albans was nice, but the the one at Rouses Point was not only extremely friendly, but cute as hell too.

Saturday, we went to Ben and Jerry’s and sampled some ice cream and toured the factory. Then we went to the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory. My niece loved it. Afterwards we went to Church Street in Burlington and did some shopping. My niece pointed to one store and said she wanted to go in there. It was called Good Stuff. I told her she wasn’t allowed in there and explained to my mom that it was an “adult store.”

Yesterday, we went to the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, VT. So many hands on science experiments! Needless to say, my niece had a lot of fun there too. After that we went to King Arthur Flour. I knew my mom would love the kitchen store there. Like me, my mother likes to cook and bake.

Today, I am taking them to the airport and then immediately, I will be working. Their flights were in Manchester, NH because it was so much cheaper than Burlington. It turned out that I had an interview subject that lived 15 minutes from the airport, so I scheduled the interview for after I drop them off at the airport. Getting back into the swing of work so quickly will hopefully not allow me to get too emotional over them leaving. It will be Christmas before I see them again.

I got my mother and niece to their hotel room. It was a long day. The AC in my car is out and I felt like I’d been burning up all damn day. Not really much to report except that my back isn’t much better so I went to bed early last night.

My mother is coming to spend the weekend. She and my niece are flying up this morning. This means I had to mother-proof my apartment. No “toys” can be laying around. Everything must be spic and span. I’ll close off my bedroom, so that will help, but it also means that Isabella can’t be in my bedroom during the day. I have to be emotionally prepared. Etc. etc. etc. I’m sure it will all be fine. We may not even go by my apartment. Well drive by, but we might not stop, especially if I can help it.

I have a full weekend planned. We are going up to Canada to visit a zoo on Friday. Please pray for me that it will go well. Saturday will be filled with Vermont stuff: Ben and Jerry’s, Vermont Teddy Bear a Factory, Echo Aquarium, and a few other things around Burlington. Sunday, we will have to see. There are a number of things we could go and do, and I’ve checked them all out. It will just be up to what my niece wants to do. She’s 8, so,of course this trip is really all about her.

Hopefully, it will be a fun weekend and it will be nice to see family. I’ve missed them. I may complain about my mother, but I love her dearly.

Since it was Sunday, I did sleep in a little more, but not too late.  I had things I wanted to see. I took my shower, got dressed and headed toward Old Montreal. After getting turned around a little, I finally came across a Starbucks, had an iced latte, and used their Wi-Fi. Once I got my bearings and realized that the Notre-Dame Basilica was just around the corner, I went to see the church. The church’s Gothic Revival architecture is among the most dramatic in the world: its interior is grand and colorful; the ceiling is colored deep blue and decorated with golden stars; and the rest of the sanctuary is a polychrome of blues, azures, reds, purples, silver, and gold. It is filled with hundreds of intricate wooden carvings and several religious statues. Unusual for a church, the stained glass windows along the walls of the sanctuary do not depict biblical scenes, but rather scenes from the religious history of Montreal.

After Notre-Dame, I went to Pointe-à-Callière Museum, the Museum of Archaeology and History. I came across a tent set-up that said at the top, “Museum of Archaeology and History.” So I went up to the two ladies at the tent and asked where it was and they pointed across the street to people standing in line. I immediately got in line. Sunday was Montreal Museum Day, when 36 of the 41 museums are free to enter. The line for the Museum of Archaeology and History was about 20 minutes long and then once inside there was a line for either the movie about the history of Montreal or the exhibits. The movie had a 30-60 minute wait, while the exhibits had a 10-20 minute wait, so I chose the shorter wait time and decided not to see the film.  The museum was quite interesting.  I loved how at one point they had models of the old city at various stages under glass in the floor.  It showed were you were standing in the model and the major features of the city at the time.  I really enjoyed the archaeology and history.

When I left there, I decided to go have brunch. I had the best Bloody Mary I’ve ever had and their English breakfast: fried eggs, home-style potatoes, baked beans, bacon, sausage, and blood pudding. I left the blood pudding alone and ate most of the rest. The Bloody Mary was by far the best part about brunch. Then I headed back to the hotel. I’d already decided that the museums would be too crowded, so I went back to my hotel to take a nap and get ready for my evening at the sauna. I did finally learn to navigate the Metro system, which saved my feet a lot of worry.

Oasis Sauna was nice, but I’m not sure it was for me. As you go in, you pay for a room or a locker (I got a room), and they hand you a towel and a key. I went up to my room, undressed, put on the towel, and wrapped the key around my wrist, then went to explore the place. The sauna is two stories. The second floor has rooms, a dark room, and glory holes. My room was on the second floor.  The first floor had rooms, showers, a hot tub, wet and dry sauna, and a snack bar. I walked around some, got in the hot tub and sauna, and mainly just watched. I ended up getting a lot more action from the private dance the night before. There is a possibility that I would try it again, but I’m not sure.  There were a lot of hot guys there. I think what it boils down to is that you have to be in good shape with a nice dick or you have to be fairly aggressive. I’m not in great shape nor am I very aggressive, so I didn’t get any action though I saw some people getting plenty of action.

After the sauna, I headed back to the hotel and had a late dinner there because most things were closing by the time I left the sauna. At the hotel, I had a light supper of shellfish bisque with a glass of white wine. For dessert, I had a caramel mousse that was to die for. The caramel mousse was inside a round cake that had been hollowed out. It was so delicious, I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. After supper, I went up to my room and packed up so I was mostly ready to head home when I woke the next morning.

I arrived in Montreal Friday night and checked into the hotel. Because it was already late, I ordered in room service, and read a little bit, and went to bed. I read Do-Over by Haley Walsh; which was a cute and sexy little short story. I’d recommend it for anyone who wants a quick read.

When I woke Saturday morning, I took a shower and got ready to go out.  I started to eat breakfast at the hotel, but decided to seek out a Starbucks on St. Catherine Street instead. So I hiked up the short hill to St. Catherine’s and went in search of my first Starbucks. I first went west on St. Catherine, which must have been a mistake because when I headed east, there was a Starbucks every block or two. 

St. Catherine Street is the primary commercial artery of Downtown Montreal. It is where most of the shops and malls are. I window-shopped some as I walked down the street and headed toward the Gay Village at the other end of the street. Part of the street around the Place des Arts is blocked off for pedestrian traffic only. I continued down the street to the Latin Quarter, which is not pedestrian only until I came to the Gay Village.

You know you are in the Gay Village proper when you see the pink balloons overhead that extend throughout The Village on St. Catherine Street. The Village is filled with shops, restaurants, bars, and saunas all catering to gay men. If there were lesbian areas, I didn’t see them, nor did I see many straight couples walking around the area. I did see some lesbians and straight couples, but not many.  Once I walked through The Village and found where I would be meeting JiEL later that evening, I headed back to my hotel, but decided to do some shopping on the way. I bought an outfit (gray jeans a blue polka dot shirt, cute socks, and a pair of sneakers) and decided to go back to my hotel to rest before heading back out that evening.

I left my hotel room around 4pm (I was meeting JiEL at 5) and went in search of the Metro Station. There were two near my hotel, neither of which I could find unless you know exactly where to look. My international data doesn’t seem to work with Verizon making navigating a bit more difficult. I need to talk to Verizon about this since my plan says that it will. So I ended up walking back down to the Gay Village, where I met JiEL at Sky Bar.

JiEL gave me an extensive tour of The Village. He first showed me the major sights of Montreal from the rooftop bar at Sky.  Then he showed me the best places to go to and which ones to avoid in the Gay Village. We went into Campus, which is a nude dance bar. The men were gorgeous and there were a few porn stars there. We stayed long enough to look around and see a few dances before heading out and deciding we would come back later. We continued our tour of the Gay Village, and then found the nice Italian restaurant with the fabulous linguine pescatore I had mentioned in a previous blog post.

After dinner we went into Priape, which is a gay sex shop mega store; then back to Campus where they were having the Best Butt 2016 Contest. For a butt aficionado, I was in heaven. About halfway through the contest, one of the dancers approached me about doing a private dance. I said I would like to after the contest was over. JiEL had to leave after the Best Butt Contest, but I stayed for my private dance. I had a blast even though I spent too much money, but it was worth every dollar. I definitely got my money’s worth.  Unlike with female strippers where you are forbidden to touch, male strippers allow you to touch and play. It was loads of fun.

After the private dance, I found a taxi and headed back to my hotel. My feet were tired and would not hold out for another walk back to the hotel.  I’d already walked nearly 11 miles on Saturday. My feet needed a rest. When I got back to the hotel, I let off some sexual energy with the thought of my dancer and his wonderful smell, and then drifted to sleep.

Stay tuned for Day 2 tomorrow….

I was trying to think if I’d ever gone on vacation by myself before. Only one time comes to mind, but it wasn’t a vacation but a research trip. About ten years ago, I went to Italy for a month. I was all alone and knew no one in Italy. I’d never been anywhere by myself. Like now, I lived alone at the time, but I’d never gone off to a strange place all on my own. It was simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating. But again, that was not a pleasure trip, it was a research trip.

My trip to Montreal this weekend will be the first time I am going on vacation by myself for pleasure. This time it’s more exhilarating than terrifying. I plan to have a great time exploring the city. On this trip I get to do exactly what I want to do and I don’t have to worry about anyone else.

I needed to get away this weekend. I needed a mental health break. Six months ago this Sunday, a dear friend of mine who was like a brother died in a car accident. He was a very beautiful soul. One of the kindest and most loving people I’ve ever known. Instead of mourning him, I can spend this weekend celebrating his life. He would be so excited that I am going to Montreal and will be able to explore the Gay Village. He was always my biggest cheerleader when it came to exploring my sexuality more. 

It’s not just the Gay Village, it is so much more that I want to see. The museums and cathedral and so many other things in Old Montreal. I have the history on one side of me and I have the gay experience on the other. It’s a vacation that I have tailored for me, and if I’m lucky, I’ll meet a few friends along the way. I already have plans to meet one friend of mine in Montreal for drinks, so unlike my time in Italy, I will know someone this time.

So I hope you will wish me luck and that I have a great and safe time. As soon as work is over, I have to run back by my apartment quickly then I’m hitting the road and driving to Montreal. If all goes well, I should make it to Montreal by about 7:30 tonight. Once I get checked in I plan to head down to the hotel restaurant and have their Moules à la Provençale et Frite Maison (Provençale style mussels and hand crafted French fries). It’s a dish I’ve wanted to try for a long time. I love mussels and good French fries.
PS The picture above was taken while I was in Venice, Italy. Isn’t he gorgeous? I stood and watched him for the longest time.

I’ve decided to go to Montreal this weekend.  I’ve book a hotel just blocks away from both Old Montreal and The Gay Village.  I am super excited. Now, who has advice for visiting Montreal? I know a few sights I want to see like the basilica and the Museum of Fine Arts. My hotel also has access to the Underground City. I know I want to go to some of the clubs in The Village, so which ones are the best? Any advice will be welcomed. Do I need to get Canadian dollars there or will they take American as well? I know I need to get at least some cash. Also, my French is really terrible. I can basically order food. Is this going to be a problem? I spent three weeks in France once and my limited French was okay. Do most people in Montreal also speak English.  I know these are some dumb questions, but I would love to know as much as I possibly can before I go.

PS Before anyone says it, I have an Enhanced Driver’s License so I don’t have to have a passport.

PSS Please give as much advice as possible.

I’m hoping to find an inexpensive get away this weekend. I need something to keep my mind occupied. This weekend will be six months since my friend died. Sunday even falls on the 29th like it did six months ago when he died. I do not want to sit at home and brood. I know that there are several of you from New England and the surrounding area, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Please help me find something to do and something to keep my mind occupied this weekend.

If you’d like to help fund my weekend getaway, you can go to closetprofessor.blogspot.com and click either the donate button or the GoFundMe button in the upper right hand corner. Your donation would be greatly appreciated. I desperately need a mental health weekend.