Magically Montréal
Walking down the streets of Old Montréal, I had the Beauty & the Beast soundtrack playing in my head. People were saying “Bonjour” to one another as they walk on cobblestone streets past gorgeous old stone buildings. It was almost exactly like the Disney cartoon’s opening sequence, except that they weren’t in old timey clothing!
Simply put, Montréal is charming. Everything about it is charming – the buildings, the cathedrals, the gardens, the people, the food, and even the graffiti! When I was there, I compared it to my time in Paris and felt like it was a really nice mix of the conveniences of North America with the old world charm of Europe. I even wrote down: it’s like Paris but with air conditioning and ice! But upon reflection, it’s really not fair to compare the two. Montréal has its own character and quirks, and it even stands out from the rest of the cities in Canada. What makes it special? Let me count the ways.
The People
If there’s a prize for friendliest, most helpful locals in the world, the Montrealers will win, hands down. If you stand around looking confused and lost, someone will come up to you and help you. You don’t even have to ask! Although they mostly speak French, they will certainly switch over to English easily if you can’t speak the language. Some of them will even apologize for not speaking English well. You just want to hug them for being thoughtful! When I was in a restaurant, I overheard parents discussing world politics with their teenage sons. One of the boys said, “You know my position on Israel.” In all my travels around the world, I’ve never encountered teenagers with any thoughts on world affairs. It was a refreshing sight.
The Greenery
There are so many parks and gardens to explore in Montréal, and summer is the perfect time to picnic and enjoy the gorgeous blooming flowers. Smack in the heart of the city, Mont Royal is a 500-acre park on top of a hill overlooking downtown. The weather was nice and warm when I visited and there were so many people at the park picnicking, jogging and lying on the grass enjoying the fresh air.
The Montréal Botanical Garden is also in the heart of the city and features impressive themed gardens, greenhouses and an arboretum. Walking distance to the botanical garden is the really cool Biosphere Environmental Museum. You can learn all about various aspects of the environment while marvelling at this really cool structure.
The Food
I have a slight obsession with farmers’ markets and will make sure to visit one when I travel. I was delighted to read that Montréal has a huge public market called Jean-Talon Market that’s open seven days a week. It’s also smack in the middle of Little Italy so you know there will be amazing food all around! The market did not disappoint. There was fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, fresh meat and seafood, and potted flowers and plants. It’s a welcome attack on all your senses!
Although Montréal is known for meaty fare like the famous Schwartz’s deli smoked meats, it has some impressive vegetarian restaurants. One restaurant that really stood out to me is Chu Chai in St. Denis. The Vietnamese and Thai inspired dishes were fresh, healthy and just so delicious!
The Old World Charm
Visit Old Montréal in the day time and then once again at night when it’s all lit up. They have incredible structures like the Notre-Dame Basilica, the Montréal City Hall, and the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. There are charming bistros facing the sidewalk where you can stop in for a cup of latte or a glass of wine.
Travel tip: It’s incredibly easy to get to the city from the airport! Just hop on to the airport bus called 747. You can buy the $10 ticket from the driver and it lasts 24 hours on any of the metro and bus networks. The bus stops at several points in the city center so it’s best to know which stop is the closest to your hotel.
What’s stopping you from booking that ticket to Montreal right now? Go and experience the magic for yourself!