I spent two years in the heart of downtown Montreal while working on my Master’s degree at McGill University. I love Montreal as a city—a wonderful mix of North America and Europe, old town and modern city, French and English (and many other cultures), frigid winters and hot summers, riverports and mountain overlooks. (1997,1998,2002, 2012)
The core of downtown Montreal as seen from the Mont Royal overlook.
There are lots of contrasts between old and new in the middle of downtown.
The amazing interior of Notre Dame de Montreal cathedral
Celebrating a little of Quebec culture at the St. Jean Baptiste Day parade, a day when many proudly proclaim Francophone identity of Quebec .
Montreal is an island in the St. Lawrence River with Mont Royal at its heart. Scattered throughout and around the city are both historic architecture and modern structures that give the city a unique look.
The old port (vieux port) of Montreal on the banks of the St. Laurent.
The Montreal city hall building at Place Jacques Cartier where de Gualle made his ‘Vive le Quebec Libre’ speech.
Another view of the harbor area on the St. Lawrence River.
Mont Royal gave the city its name and is a popular park with an overlook of the city. Here is the Lac aux Castors that is a popular skating site in winter.
On the other side, St. Joseph’s Oratory is a popular pilgrimage site whose journey includes a crawl along a stairway up the hill.
Down the south side of the island run the Lachine Canals which hold a very popular set of bike and pedestrian trails.
The 1976 Olympics still bear a mark on the city including the “high tech” stadium seen here.
I was there for the famous ice storm of ’98 that coated the region.
Smoked meat sandwich–a Montreal staple