Montreal, Quebec Review

Mon Dieu!  It's Affordable Europe, and only a few hours hours away!
I have spent time in Quebec, so jumped at the chance to enjoy a press trip to Montreal.  I was so busy, though, I didn't have time to do any research, much less bone up on French.  None of that mattered, however.  Everyone in Montreal speaks fluent English as well as French (and many speak other languages as well; French Canadians have great educations). 

A beautiful, historic Island
Montreal is actually an island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River.  Amazingly, beneath this bustling but thought-out cosmopolitan city lies a 21-mile underground city, where pedestrians can shop, eat, and access everything from hotels to skating rinks.  Two colleges keeps the city lively, while the crime rate is only 1% so relax and enjoy this wonderful city!

Food, Glorious Food!
Montreal boasts 1,700 parks, 29 distinct villages and TEN THOUSAND community gardens (!), while its residents and tourists support 6,000 restaurants (1,000 offer bring-your-own- wine corkage fees) and food that is to die for.  Montreal farmers' markets and shops sell loads of fresh strawberries, apples, cheese products and maple goodies.  La Fromaggerie, the Atwater district cheese shop where songwriter Leonard Cohen pops in from time to time, carries over 700 products, many of them artisanal and made with raw milk.  Stop in for a fun education and grab a picnic lunch to enjoy in a nearby park.  Fresh baguettes are sold by the thousands across the city,and breads are made according to growing season:  pumpkin, maple, asparagus, etc!     

Historic and Photogenic
The charming Hotel Pierre du Calvet (where Richard Gere, Aidan Quinn and Sophia Loren have all stayed) is the city's oldest hotel, and dates to 1725, while Montreal's crown gem, the Notre-Dame Basilica, will inspire and enthrall both the faithful and fans of Gothic Revival architecture.  If the doors are open to any public building, you are welcome to enter. 

Multi-Cultural and Enteratining
Montreal has a thriving Chinatown, Little Italy, and Little Spain....you'll know you've entered a different neighborhood even without cultural clues, because the lamp posts change.   Theater is big here, as are special events, notably June and July's Festival International du Jazz de Montreal, in which a large portion of the city is blocked off for stages and pedestrian access to free concerts day and night.  There's also professional sports, an IMAX theater, riverboat cruises, multiple museums, fabulous shopping, and cobblestone streets to wander down in Old Town.   The views from Mont Royal on a sunny day are wonderful.   I visited in summer, but skiiers and snow-shoers will love the city, too.

Libby's Hot Tip:  Take a two- or three-hour Grayline Tour to get oriented  upon arrival;  then you'll know what you want to go back and explore.  Also know that US Dollars are accepted here.  Don't change your money at the airport;  there are large fees involved.

Easy to Reach, Hard to Forget
Montreal is easy to reach:  many direct flights serve YUL, or connect through Toronto.  It's a short ride to the old city and even a long weekend will leave you feeling like you've had a European holiday.  Also important to remember, you can diet later.   Bon Apetit!   

The Bottom Line:  Libby Loves It!