Out and About Montreal Quebec

The best way I know how to describe Montreal is to employ both the French and English cultures right up front.

Savoir Faire, (know-how) and Joie de Vie, (the joy of life and living). That pretty well describes the Francaphone attitude to life. Historical, cultural and fun-loving, in the Anglophone vernacular. My sons, who were brought up here but who have gone on to various parts of the world, have been know to say that there is no one who knows how to put on a party like Montreal. The reason for this is the French culture who believe that life was meant for living in a fun way and in taking advantage of all that life has to offer.

Let me tell you what life has to offer in Montreal during the summer and Tourist season. It begins with a bang, which are the Grande Prixe car races which happen here every June. This event takes place on one of three man-made islands in the harbour, which were created for "Man and His World", the world's fair which took place here in 1967.

Bookings for that event, both Hotel and B&B must be made about 6 months in advance. However, there are always some last minute guest cancellations and I have been known to accommodate people right up to a week prior to the event.

But let us move on. The great, world renowned Jazz Festival begins here on the last week-end of June and lasts until the end of the first week-end in July. That is a 10 day period of music, food and fun and is very securely controlled so that in over 20 years, I have never heard of any major crowd problems. To repeat, " Montreal really knows how to throw on a party", which is what this is.

The" Just For Laughs" festival follows the Jazz festival, and this event is now attracting so many of the really great comedians from the U.S., Montreal and elsewhere that again, it is necessary to come on over andenjoy with us and please don't wait too long to make your reservations. I know I keep saying this, but I have been successful in finding accommodations even up to one week in advance of the event.

Playing is not all that we do here in Montreal. We have many museums the largest of which is the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. The McCord Museum specialized in the history of Montreal and of Quebec as do many other museums which may be found all over the city and also in Old Montreal.

Old Montreal, that deserves a paragraph of its own. It is located at the port of Montreal and is preserved as it was when the French and British colonists first arrived here began to create their city on the banksmighty St. Lawrence river.

Here you will find great restaurants of many cultures, (Old Quebec Included), boutiques, museums, bicycle, skate board and in-line skating paths which run along the port. There are also picnic areas and if fast foods drink and ice creams are your choice, you will find them also. Needles to say, out door dining is everywhere weather permitting.

There are many great churches to see which are famous for their beauty and also offer classical music concerts. One of these churches is, Notre Dame Basilica, located in old Montreal and is a very popular place to visit with our tourists.

Our most famous church is St. Joseph's Oratory, which is situated up on a mountain and easily accessible by car. For those more pious folks, there are many leather cover stairs going up where some believe that if you ascend on your knees, one stair at a time, saying a prayer as you go, miraculous thinks can happen.

We have a very long street right in the centre of our Island, St. Laurence Blvd. Which has delicatessens of each culture which arrived on our shores through the years and that can be both interesting and delicious.

Come to Montreal and let us welcome you and show you around, I'm sure that you will never regret it.

Article by Mona of Mona's Downtown Montreal Bed & Breakfast