Travel Guide: Montreal - Quebec - Canada

Notre Dame Cathedral at Dusk
photo by: Marlon

Though an incredible city in its own right, Montreal is both much more and less than this. When you visit here, you will be introduced to a whole new way of living life to the fullest. The locals here call it "joie de vivre" which literally translated means "joy of living" and that is what Montreal's people seem to be best at. More than anything else Montreal has a fantastic atmosphere, and possesses a vibrancy and excitement you won't find anywhere else. Culture seems to ooze out of the sidewalks. Montreal is a mix of ethnic and national influences that have all contributed to what makes it such a special place. Enjoy watching life go by from an outdoor cafe, shop in an underground shopping mall, dine at a fine French restaurant and follow with a jazz club. You will never run out of new things to experience, even after a multitude of visits.

Montreal is also a city rich in diversity.  All peoples are accepted and embraced for their contribution to create a vast rainbow of different cultures.  Be you straight or gay, Christian or Muslim or Bhuddist or even atheist.  All are accepted for who they are.  Keep an open mind and learn much about your fellow human beings and what they have to offer to make your life a little richer.

The seasons in Montreal are distinct. Summer is usually quite hot and sunny; it can sometimes be unbearably humid. Fall is a little cooler but still very pleasant and has the added bonus of the beautiful autumn leaves, which are numerous in a city full of maple trees. Winters are cold and snowy, but Montreal is well prepared for this, there is a vast underground city of shopping malls linked to hotels, office buildings and metro (Montreal's subway) stations. If you wanted to, you need never go outdoors. Spring revitalizes the city, the days are long and fairly warm so this is an ideal time to visit.

Montreal is a major transportation centre. Highways and railways converge here, so there are connections by bus and rail to all over Canada and the U.S.A. Montreal is a relatively short drive from many of the major population centres of the Eastern Seaboard, and Ontario. Montreal has one international airport with direct flights to all major Canadian and most U.S. cities. There are also flights to many cities in Europe, the Caribbean and Mexico. The primary airport, Trudeau International (YUL), serves all scheduled and charter flights, while a second airport, Mirabel (YMX), is used for cargo flights.

Montreal is a city of festivals and these occur throughout the year. At the end of January is the Fête de Neiges (Festival of Snow) with skating, ice carving and tube slides. There is a major St Patrick's Day Parade, which is a tribute to the large part of the city's population celebrating their Irish origins. In the early summer there is the International Fireworks Festival one of the best in the world. This is held at La Ronde, located on the Parc des Îles a series of islands in the St. Lawrence which were originally developed for Expo '67 (the World's Fair of 1967.) In early June there is the Canadian Grand Prix, one of only two Formula 1 races in North America. On June 24th is Fête Nationale, formerly known as St Jean Baptiste Day, this is Quebec's national holiday and includes a big parade. At the end of June and the beginning of July is the world renowned Montreal Jazz Festival. Many of the concerts are free and are held at various venues throughout the city. This is a big attraction so it is advisable to book accommodations early. Equally famous is the Just-for-Laughs Comedy Festival. This is a bilingual event with over 200 performers and over half a million attendees. Some acts are free and for others an admission is charged. Another event you might want to keep in mind is the Du Maurier Classic: a fairly large Tennis Tournament featuring top competitors. At the beginning of August there is Montreal's International Gay and Lesbian Pride Festival, which is a fun time for everybody. In early fall there is the Montreal World Film Festival, held at several theatres around town. An interesting sub-event is the Fant-Asia Film Festival, which features some of the top Asian films you won't find in your typical local cinema.

You cannot possibly leave Montreal without sampling the local specialty - the Montreal Smoked Meat Sandwich. Montreal's smoked meat is world famous, it is usually aged naturally without chemicals and additives. Thick slices of this meat between fresh rye bread with a generous dab of mustard and a pickle on the side and you have the perfect sandwich. There are numerous delis serving this splendid delicacy throughout Montreal, but among the more popular are Ben's, Schwartz's and Dunn's. It is a matter of local debate as to which of these serves the best sandwich, but make sure to try them all and decide for yourself!

Another local food item that is known all over Quebec is poutine. For junk food connoisseurs only! A bed of homemade French fries is covered in cheese curds (fresh cheese) and smothered in gravy (sauce brune or sauce barbeque as it is called in quebecois). Two places for poutine in Montreal are Chez Claudette, at the corner of Laurier near St. Denis, and the Montreal Pool Room, an authentic grungy fast food place on St. Laurent Blvd. south of Ste. Catherine Street (that used to have pool tables but dosen't anymore). Chez Claudette is known for its creative interpretations in the poutine genre. They have classics like poutine italien (with spagetti sauce), and more.

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