Picnic with my teacup on Montreal’s Mont Royal

As dusk falls over Montreal, the Kondiaronk Belvedere in front of the of Mont Royal Chalet begins to fill. Tourists prepare to capture the sunset, runners take a breather and stretch before their descent and a sly few enjoy a beer or three. Then there is me; setting my pretty china tea cup down on the edge and photographing it with the views of downtown Montreal behind it.

It isn’t a long walk up to Mont Royal, but having felt the result of the first few thunderclouds to roll over Montreal, my friend Lucie and I decide we should reach the top ASAP – so on the bus it is. Despite the view over the city below, we feel a million miles away. Lucie explains Mont Royal is described as the “lungs” of Montreal.

The sun returns and we are greeted with a beautiful rainbow over the city skyline while we have a picnic outside the Chalet. With temperatures of more than 30C during the day, it’s too hot for tea, so it’s juice in my Secret Garden Tea Company teacup instead.

When the sky starts to look a little dark again we escape down the stairs into the city centre. Soon we can hear traffic and sirens – our escape was too short.