Moments in Montréal

If I were to attempt to describe Montréal in one word… I would not be able to. Montréal itself is so diverse and reminds me of a multitude of cities; each neighbourhood has its own character. Picture this: part Paris, part New York City, part Edinburgh, and Port Jefferson, NY all rolled into one. Every neighbourhood is defined not only by its architecture, but where it is in relation to the St. Lawerence River and Mount Royal. Perhaps the best way to discuss my past last trip to Montréal is to break it up into the following parts: Notre-Dame and French inspiration, international connections, and Mount Royal.

If you recently read the Québec City blog post, you are probably thinking: another Notre-Dame church? Yes, but this one is vastly different in comparison to the last two. When Ramón and I hopped off the subway, we meandered through busy streets until we arrived at the quiet piazza by the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal. The only sounds in this area were soft conversations in Québécois French and the occasional car rolling by. Since we were early to visit the church, we stopped by a lovely French-styled café that reminded me of cute cafés I visited back in Paris. After a couple of pastries shared between us and some espresso, we strolled back outside and into the church once it opened. There, I was greeted by brilliant royal blues and purples in the church’s interior that took me back to the ceiling of Sainte-Chapelle. However, the wooden sculptures were equally fascinating, reminding me of painted figures in Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. The whole experience was so overwhelming yet breathtaking, including in the side and back chapels, that several times I decided to just sit back and absorb what I was viewing.

While there was no shortage of French-inspired restaurants, churches, and French culture embedded in this Canadian city, there was also an international atmosphere to Montréal. For example, browsing the Bonsecours Market felt as if I was exploring all of Canada and the world in a singular, long corridor. Do not worry, these stalls are indoors and a collection of food stops are open all year round so you can visit any time - rain or shine. In addition, we visited the Pointe-à-Callière (the Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History) and the Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal which highlighted the metropolitan atmosphere of the city. Art collections from all over the world were highlighted in these museums, along with a wide range of perspectives to discuss different objects and events. Arguably, the Pointe-à-Callière is one of my favourite museums now with how well done the exhibits were, how much we were able to explore archaeological sites of Montréal, and the innovative interactive and accessible displays. Plus, it did not hurt that I was able to board a pirate ship. Whether you want to explore Montréal and the world through international cuisine, shopping, or art history, the city offers all three of these opportunities.

Now, before discussing Mount Royal, I would like to mention that we were able to explore a lot of the city without a steep climb. For example, any part of the city along the St. Lawerence River provides relatively flat paths to walk along. Ramón and I learned about the city in this area through audio guides, informational plaques, and public posters. Yet, if you have more time in Montréal, and are ready for a hike, then go for it! Hike up Mount Royal.

When I think about our adventure up Mount Royal, I laugh as I was not mentally prepared (even though I was warned) for how steep the hike was, and how I felt after the hike. For context, we tried doing this adventure before a rain storm hit… but we got caught in the rain once we reached the peak. After we finished carefully running down the mountain, I felt like I had sea legs. So, to help you in your adventure up Mount Royal, I would like to provide a few warnings and suggestions.

First, there are stairs, but it is pretty steep at specific points in the walking trails. I would suggest wearing good walking shoes or light hiking shoes. Second, check the weather before you go to the top. Since we did part of this in the rain, it was for sure an experience trying to avoid streams of water in the lower part of Mount Royal as we made it back to the McGill University area. Third, take your time. I would not suggest this hike as a last minute thing adventure as the walk is so much more enjoyable when you are taking it at a leisurely pace. Especially once you are up at the top and able to view the whole city below. Overall, Mount Royal is beautiful, but take into account these notes before you attempt this adventure.

Montréal of course is more than my three aforementioned three groupings, but this is how I thought I could best describe my experience in the city over a handful of days. If you would be interested in hearing about my food adventures (so many different types), or have any questions, feel free to let me know on my Instagram post about the blog. In the meantime, thank you for reading, and until next time.