| Despite the fact that Montreal is one of the | | | | All this physical exercise had stimulated my |
| closest and most easily accessible cities | | | | appetite and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at |
| from Toronto, I had really only been there | | | | Galiano's right in the heart of Old Montreal, |
| once, for a couple of days ten years ago. We | | | | and the owner gave me a first-hand overview |
| also did stop in a couple of times for lunch | | | | of this popular and historic restaurant. The |
| in Montreal on our way home from our ski | | | | streets of Montreal were just absolutely |
| trips in the Eastern Townships, Vermont or | | | | packed with revelers. The Old Port of |
| New Hampshire. But I knew Montreal deserved a | | | | Montreal was buzzing with activity which |
| much longer visit. So I set off to plan a | | | | included concerts, street performers, a huge |
| four-day extended weekend over the Canada Day | | | | entertainment area for children, even |
| festivities to explore this city. | | | | acrobatics on skis. The highlight of the |
| | | | evening was a concert that featured a variety |
| Both Tourisme Montreal and Tourism Quebec | | | | of performers, from flamenco, to Cuban |
| were extremely helpful in making suggestions | | | | rhythms to Brazilian percussion and other |
| as to what to see and do and I really started | | | | world music. Finally the star of the show |
| to look forward to my urban explorations. On | | | | appeared: Gregory Charles, a multi-talented |
| June 29, 2006 I headed off in the comfort of | | | | singer, piano-player, actor and media |
| a first-class Via Rail train - no traffic, no | | | | personality. The crowd simply went nuts and |
| stress, just an opportunity to relax. | | | | thousands of people kept streaming into Old |
| Following a bucolic ride through the green | | | | Montreal even at 11 pm at night. This city |
| countryside of Ontario we entered Quebec and | | | | knows how to party!!! |
| shortly after I arrived at Montreal's Gare | | | | |
| Central. Following the check-in at my | | | | My third day in Montreal was a little |
| extremely centrally located hotel I set off | | | | quieter. I started off with an exploration of |
| on my first personal encounter with Montreal: | | | | the Olympic Stadium and took the funicular to |
| a driving tour of the city with a personal | | | | the top of the world's highest inclined |
| guide which gave me a great idea of the lay | | | | tower. Then I explored the critters at the |
| of the land. We visited all the key sights of | | | | Insectarium and a variety of flowers, plants |
| Montreal and had a delicious lunch in a | | | | and trees at the Montreal Botanical Gardens. |
| well-known French Bistro. After several more | | | | In the mid-afternoon I took a quick jaunt to |
| hours of exploration I had a comprehensive | | | | the Jean Talon Market in Montreal's Italian |
| overview of the city and was ready for a | | | | neighbourhood and followed it up with a |
| stroll through Old Montreal. On my first | | | | delicious late lunch at Mañana, a Mexican |
| evening I also enjoyed a memorable dinner | | | | restaurant just across from beautiful Square |
| with jazz music in the background at Modavie, | | | | St. Louis. In my chat with the owner I heard |
| a historic restaurant in Vieux Montreal. My | | | | a heart-warming, inspiring immigrant story |
| knowledge of Old Montreal and insight into | | | | that has seen a simple man from Peru who came |
| the early French settlers got even better as | | | | to Canada with hardly any French or English |
| a result of taking the Old Montreal Ghost | | | | language skills, become a restaurant owner in |
| Tour which brought me up close to some | | | | one of Montreal's most popular entertainment |
| interesting characters from Montreal's | | | | districts. I then had a bit of extra time to |
| history. | | | | relax in the park where I made a connection |
| | | | with other out-of-town travelers and explored |
| Day Two introduced me to the architectural | | | | the beautiful neighbourhood around historic |
| jewels of Old Montreal and our local walking | | | | Square St. Louis. |
| tour guide Louis impressed our group with his | | | | |
| knowledge of social history and architecture | | | | My evening program was also packed: I got to |
| (that extended way beyond Montreal). | | | | explore the Casino de Montreal, located on an |
| Stimulated by this educational outing I then | | | | island in the St. Lawrence River. My |
| had a delicious lunch at the Café du | | | | personalized two-hour tour educated me about |
| Château and just as a major thunderstorm | | | | casino operations and brought me up close to |
| unleashed its fury I decided to explore the | | | | one of Montreal's big attractions. This |
| Chateau du Ramezay, a museum featuring | | | | special evening continued with a gourmet meal |
| diverse artifacts from more than 350 years of | | | | at Nuances, the Casino's fine-dining |
| Montreal's history. In the evening I took a | | | | restaurant, which offers the most amazing |
| relaxing stroll through the beautiful Latin | | | | view across the river of downtown Montreal. |
| Quarter and finally settled for an extremely | | | | The crowning touch was the international |
| satisfying dinner at La Iguana, one of | | | | fireworks competition at La Ronde, which |
| Montreal's premier Mexican restaurants, where | | | | featured a team of Argentinian pyrotechnical |
| I had a chance to chat with the owner and | | | | experts who combined music and fireworks in a |
| find out what this restaurant is all about. A | | | | breathtakingly choreographed performance. |
| packed day of exploration was capped off by a | | | | |
| walk along St. Catharines Street to get a | | | | Unfortunately my extended weekend was rapidly |
| glimpse of Montreal's Jazz Festival - the | | | | coming to an end. On July 3 my train was |
| largest festival of its kind in the world, | | | | scheduled to leave shortly before noon, but I |
| attracting hundreds of thousands of revelers | | | | managed to squeeze in a few more hours of |
| every year. | | | | exploration. I went on a walk downtown and |
| | | | got a chance to admire some of Montreal's |
| July 1 - Canada Day: The festivities were | | | | architectural jewels, including several |
| unbelievable. I got an early start and | | | | stunning churches and cathedrals, an Art Deco |
| explored Vieux Montreal before I participated | | | | skyscraper, a historic department store and a |
| in the Official Montreal bicycle tour where a | | | | Richardsonian Romanesque train station that |
| certified tourist guide took our entire group | | | | has today been converted into a hotel and |
| through various neighbourhoods of Montreal. | | | | office complex. I was in awe of the |
| Bruno introduced us to the major sights as | | | | architectural richness that I saw in such a |
| well as to the beautiful and unique living | | | | small area. |
| areas of this diverse city. As an avid | | | | |
| bicyclist I was delighted when I was able to | | | | Montreal truly enchanted me with its European |
| keep the bike after our tour finished and I | | | | flair, the gorgeous and diverse residential |
| continued on my own on the extensive bicycle | | | | areas, and the stunning sights in Old |
| trail network along the Lachine Canal. I | | | | Montreal and Downtown. I connected with some |
| enjoyed a re-energizing lunch at the historic | | | | interesting people in Montreal: expert tour |
| Marché Atwater and had a nice chat with a | | | | guides, hospitality entrepreneurs and |
| local. After I returned my bike I sat down | | | | travellers from other places. Having had the |
| and talked with the owner of the Ça Roule | | | | chance to explore Montreal by car, on foot |
| bicycle shop about his business and about | | | | and by bike was a phenomenal introduction to |
| bicycling opportunities in Montreal. | | | | this unique city and I can't wait to get back |
| | | | to take in more of Montreal's special charm. |