Trans Canada, Eh: Montreal

Frank and I loved Montreal. Although the weather was cold and the skies were gray, we ventured out to explore this vibrant city full of color and character. Eight days provided us with just a small taste — we were left wanting more.

Montreal is Canada’s second-largest city, with a population of 1.7 million people. It is set on an island in the St. Lawrence River. The city is divided into 19 boroughs (or arrondissements), each with its own unique personality and assortment of neighborhoods.

We stayed in an airbnb in the Little Italy neighborhood of the Rosemont-La Petite-Patrie borough. It was a delightful area with many good restaurants, bakeries and one of the city’s best markets. Our place was convenient to Montreal’s efficient and extensive public transportation system.

Montreal, like Quebec City, felt very European. But unlike Quebec City, Montreal seemed more cosmopolitan and multi-cultural. It was easier to get by in English and the people were much more friendly. We felt welcome.

Montreal has countless museums and many beautiful churches, but our favorite thing to do is to explore neighborhoods. Give us a lively, local market and colorful street art, and we’re happy. Oh yeah — and a good meal. Whether its fresh meat and produce from the markets, countless little cafes and patisseries, diner or fine dining, or any ethnic cuisine you can think of, the city does not disappoint. Montreal is a feast for the eyes, as well as for the stomach.

We did see a lot of traffic congestion. And like most cities in the north, there’s a lot of construction taking place before the snow flies. We arrived on a Friday afternoon and it took us 45 minutes to go six miles! We coped by leaving our car parked for the rest of our stay. Our feet, the metro and an occasional Uber took us wherever we needed to go.

And the weather . . . Yes, the weather wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t stop the people (and us) from being out and about. Bundled up, umbrellas handy, people adjust. We spent one day exploring Montreal’s extensive system of underground tunnels, which connect downtown office buildings, malls, museums and the metro. How great for the people who live and work in that area!

Our list of things to do – and places to eat – was sadly much longer than our time in Montreal. If our take-away from our last stop, Quebec City, was “I remember” (“je me souviens”), our motto for Montreal is definitely “je reviendrai,” or “I will return.”

Montreal is much more than a big city on an island.

It’s made up of many unique neighborhoods, including ours — Little Italy.

We stayed in an airbnb that was a “tiny house.”

The charming and very comfy house was designed and decorated by an artist.

His daughter Katie is also an artist and was a very kind and gracious hostess.

The neighborhood has many young families so there were several schools and day care facilities nearby.

There were also many parks and community spaces.

Jean Talon Market

Wait. What?

Cafes

Italian bakeries

Even my favorite – bombalinis!!

Traffic is very heavy and parking is limited. There are a lot of bike lanes.

We kept our car parked and took advantage of Montreal’s efficient transportation system.

Metros are conveniently connected to bus routes.

Rue St Paul in Old Montreal

Old Montreal

Montreal’s City Hall

Old Montreal

Bonsecours Market in Old Montreal

The centerpiece of Old Montreal is the Notre Dame Cathedral

Organ at Notre Dame Cathedral

This “smaller” church in Old Montreal, Notre Dame de Bon Secours (Our Lady of Good Hope), reminded us of chapels in Sicily with the hanging boats. They remind us to pray for those who work on the nearby waterways.

Another much more modern church is across town. St. Joseph’s is Canada’s largest church and the largest church in the world dedicated to St Joseph.

The weather in Montreal was pretty chilly so it was nice to spend a day . . .

in the downtown underground tunnel system. In French, it’s known as le RÉSO (réseau) or La Ville Souterraine, which translates to “the network” and “the underground city.”

The tunnels connect office buildings to each other as well as to museums, the metro and more.

You can feel like you’re outside but here, it’s nice and toasty.

The tunnels are also connected to food courts and shopping malls.

The Cours Mont Royal shopping center has an amazing 1000-doll Barbie Museum!

The Barbie exhibit is free to the public and is the only one of its kind in the world.

The connected “underground city” even has a colorful piece of the Berlin Wall.

Montreal is colorful inside and outside. This is Simon’s Department Store.

McGill subway station

The vibrant Palais de Congress

Colorful outdoor spaces and restaurants

Did you know Montreal is famous for its spiral staircases?

And of course, there’s the street art . . .

I can’t wait to tell my girlfriends more about our trip to Montreal!