Getting Lost Can be Fun at the Old Port
Hanger 16, where the SOS Labyrinthe is created and re-created constantly, was home to tireless longshoremen. In respecting that history, they’ve used canvas, pipes, crates and barrels to transform Hangar 16 into a megamaze. Your job is to find four historical objects they’ve hidden: the captain’s hook, the travel wallet, the wooden shoes and a Cuban pitchfork. Here’s a bit of the background on the last one:
Fidel Castro loves ice cream, but Cuban cows couldn’t produce enough milk to feed his people. So dreaming of creating a race of “supercows”, he decided to breed Cuban cattle with Holsteins from Canada. This breed was known to produce up to 9 times more milk. For 48 hours, after cattleman J.G. Trudeau trucked the first batch of 300 heads of cattle to Hangar 16 for transfer to Cuba, the shed morphed into a cowshed, and the longshoremen turned into farmhands using pitchforks. From 1966 to 1971, this port handled over 35,000 Cuban-bound animals.
In 1972, Fidel’s supercow was finally born. Named Ubre Blanca (White Udder), it holds the Guinness world record for milk production in 24 hours: 110 liters of milk per day!
And that is why a Cuban pitchfork is one of the treasures to hunt for in Hangar 16.
The 2 km. maze is great fun for kids of all ages. Families can bond trying to outwit the course, teens can spend a fun evening with friends, and it’s perfect for a date. Many challenges and false alleys lead to much laughter and enthusiastic cries. If you do get stuck, look for the pirate in the corner, and he may let you sing a song for a clue! This is a memorable adventure to experience with family and friends.
Location: Old Port of Montreal, Hangar 16
Hours: 11 am to 7:30 pm, weekends and holidays only
Tel: 514-499-0099
www.soslabyrinthe.com
Google Map: Click for map 