Upon arrival, language hit me the hardest. We all know Americans love their English (myself included), so it came as a rude awakening when I realized French was their primary language. Only after meeting up with a former American resident was I informed that there are even laws in place to keep the French culture dominant in Montréal. Don’t get me wrong, you can freely speak English, but be prepared to ask the locals to repeat a few times before they catch on to your bilingual disabilities.
For those of you that have read my previous posts, you know that I have a love for street art (check my Instagram if you haven’t). Street art is such a norm in Montréal. It’s something you’ll notice even when traveling to or from the Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. Everything is tagged up, and there are tons of murals to find all over the city. It almost becomes a scavenger hunt trying to see them all. You can find blogs featuring the locations of artists’ work, many of which can are near Mile End.
Place de Artes is another borough in Montréal where you’ll find many art museums and exhibits, most of them free (my favorite word). Montréal’s art scene is impressive, with festivals devoted to fashion, food, and street art. Most of these are during the summer months, so you’ll want to do your research ahead of time. For example, MURAL Festival 2017 is on the way!
Traveling around this city is the easiest I’d ever experienced. The metro system is simple to understand and traverse. With buses that run every 10-minutes and signs conveniently placed throughout the city, you would almost have to make it a goal to get lost. I was a pro by my second day.
What I loved most about Montréal is that boutiques and privately owned eateries run the city. There are some chains like A&W and TCBY with malls here and there, but the experience you get in a small café or bagel shop is always unique. I also noticed popular spots were typically understaffed compared to back home. You’ll have one person taking your order, cooking it, and serving you. An indication that we may have a problem with patience back in the States. No complaints about the food though, I was more than satisfied with every meal. As a vegetarian, many places catered to the diet and even modified their dishes.
If the hipster scene isn’t you and you like to explore, Old Montréal is where you want to be. I’m still in awe of how stunning Notre-Dame Basilica stands. I lost count of how many times I heard the word “Wow!” from each person that entered. No matter how many photos I took, they couldn’t come close to capturing its beauty. This church dates back to 1830. It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but I can guarantee you’ll be astonished once you walk in. The detail and structure are phenomenal! It’s also a nice walk down Rue Saint-Paul and Rue Notre Dame with similar architecture.
You also wouldn’t be a tourist if you didn’t check out Mont-Royal, which I also learned is the direct translation of Montréal. Make sure you’ve had a proper breakfast, and bring plenty of water before attempting to make it to the top because you’re going to need it! Thanks to the internet, there is misinformation about how to reach the top. If you plan on getting off at Mont-Royal on the metro, you’ll want to take a bus to get to the starting point. If you like a challenge, like I do, and decide to go on foot, you’ll walk through most of McGill University. Once you make it to the top of Mont-Royal, not only will you feel slightly exhausted but also accomplished. The site overlooking the city is one you shouldn’t miss. The best way to take that iconic trip picture for social media!
Overall I would recommend Montréal if you’re one for the arts. I was able to cover a lot within four days. I would also suggest going in the summer or during warmer weather months starting in May. It also wouldn’t hurt to pick up some Français or at least cheat it out and download Google translate!
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