Montreal Oct 2016

While Quebec City is the soul of French-Canadian culture, Montreal is the heart of commercial activities and named a Beta + world city.  It has also become somewhat of a foodie city with quite a few food tours available.  Old Montreal is the city’s birthplace with buildings dating from the 17th century.  Similar to Quebec City, I love the old-world atmosphere here.  We stayed at the W Montreal on Square Victoria near Old Montreal.

Place d’Armes is one of the most beautiful squares in Montreal and home to the gothic Notre-Dame Basilica, the old Bank of Montreal, and Aldred Building which is the first skyscraper and Montreal’s version of the Empire State Building.  Nearby is Rue St-Paul which is the old main street, now filled with shops, restaurants, and galleries.  The narrow cobblestone street will lead you to Place Jacques Cartier near the Montreal Town Hall and Chateau Ramezay.

Other than the Old Town of Montreal, we also managed to visit Habitat 67, the Mile End (Soho) area, as well as the Parc du Mont Royal.

dscf0184Notre Dame Basilica

dscf0196Beautiful blue vaulted ceilings with golden stars at Notre-Dame Basilica

dscf0190The interior of Notre-Dame Basilica is modelled after Saint-Chapelle in Paris.

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dscf0198Alfred Building – Montreal’s own Empire State Building

dscf0205Place Jacques Cartier

dscf0206Montreal Town Hall

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dscf0225Rue St Paul

dscf0215Up on the bell tower of Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours

dscf0222Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours offers panoramic views over Old Montreal as well as the downtown area.  Here we see the Clock Tower adjacent to Plage de l’Horloge which is an urban beach complete with a boardwalk, sand, showers, etc.

dscf0237Habitat 67 is often compared to a housing complex made of lego.  It was designed for the Expo of 1967 and remained one of the most important buildings ever designed.

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dscf0303Beautiful Crew Cafe took over the 1920s Royal Bank keeping everything as is.

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dscf0295Love how even the bank teller windows have been preserved.

dscf0300The original desks at the bank where you fill out deposit slips.

dscf0291Probably the most beautiful cafe I have been to yet.

dscf0248Leisurely stroll amongst the foliage in Parc du Mont Royal.

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dscf0268Completely fogged in at the lookout on top of Mont Royal

dscf0266Kondiaronk Belvedere, a semicircular plaza with a chalet, usually offers panoramic views of Montreal downtown.

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dscf0284Parc du Mont Royal was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who also co-designed Central Park in New York.

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After our short stop in Montreal, we head northwest towards Churchill to encounter some polar bears.  Stay tuned!

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