In the quiet province of Quebec sits the beautiful and historic city of Montreal. Founded in 1642 as a missionary settlement, Montreal soon found it’s way as a trading point due to its location along the St Lawrence River and access to the Great Lakes. Over the years Montreal has evolved and welcomes visitors and immigrants from all over the world. Both English and French are spoken by the majority of the residents which makes communicating easier for travelers. I definitely felt that the French speaking people were more open to Americans than those in Paris, in particular. I’m sure that has more to do with their close proximity to English speakers. The flexibility in communication made travel easier and fun, even though I did try to use the few French phrases that I know.
Overall, Montreal was a delight. A very walkable city that is easy to navigate and explore. Our first stop was China Town. The gateway happened to be just down the street from our hotel and so we headed in that direction to explore. If we had not had dinner reservations we would have eaten in China Town, as well. There were quite a few shops and a myriad of restaurants to select from. The early night life here was lively. People from all over the world could be heard speaking and seen exploring. The archway entrance we found was a side entrance, with a larger arch signaling China Town on a later street.
Much of our time spent was marveling at the architecture of the city. The modern mixed with the old. The preservation of the old to keep the roots of the city grounded made for fantastic memories and photos. The dock area, or the Old Port, had life sized signs you could stand in while having the skyline of the city at your back. In multiple locations there are signs in French and English explaining what a visitor is looking at, which made the visit even better.
Montreal has modern elements that draw the eye as well. Including a metal circle that gives a great straight view to McGill University up on the hill. The circle is unique enough that it draws in visitors and locals alike. Below it’s location is a food court and shopping of sorts as well. Lots of souvenir shops, boutiques and restaurants line the streets of Montreal. I even made my way up to their farmers market, Jean-Talon, located in Little Italy. The fun part of traveling up there was using the metro. I love to use public transportation when I can while visiting larger cities, when it’s available. Of course, here I had to remember where I got on since all the stops were in French, with no English counterparts. Either way, it was a fun adventure and worth the trip to see the beautiful market full of fresh produce, cheese, meat and flowers. Since it was a week day, there were few visitors, but I can imagine that in the height of the season this market is bustling.
Many of the streets have become pedestrian only, which makes for easier movability while walking around. You do not have to worry about cars and can aimlessly explore the area, to find the best shopping or restaurants. Our favorite restaurant we dined at while visiting was Jellyfish Montreal. We enjoyed this restaurant with my husband's work colleagues and ate from their tasting menu. What an amazing experience. I could probably do a single post about that dining experience, except I do not have any photos. Let’s just say, we enjoyed every dish that was presented, and for one day, I was not a vegetarian, since I snuck into dinner.
All in all Montreal was a fantastic city to visit. Take time to spend a little bit of time exploring our neighbors to the North and experience the history and culture a little closer to home. There is something for everyone in your household to experience, from the history, culture and food. Montreal should be on your travel list.
