Where I hang out in Montreal

I would say my favorite part of the city to hang out in is saint Denis street in Montreal’s Latin quarter. The reason is this is not the main strip that Saint Catherine’s Montreal or too far off like the Italian section, but it is right in the action, quiet and has a lot of good but cheap restaurants (like Zyngs or any French dinner on the street).

I used to stay at Hôtel du Manoir St-Denis, which is about 50 dollars Canadian a night.  There are much more charming ones and commercial chains but I prefer this because I am cheap and it is a family owned business.

If you are there to meet French girls from Montreal I highly recommend you do not go to Saint Catherine’s street. This is just for tourists. Better go to Chapters and Indigo book store and simple try to strike up a conversation on the street. I think most Americans go there to meet French girls. It gets old to see bands of Americans walking around he city for this purpose. Yes French Canadian girls are much nicer than American girls and are the closest think you have to Europe in North America  but the approach is all wrong.  Be cool about it. Go to yoga class or the gym but not drink to excess as Quebecois have seen this too much.

There are many American girls that go to hen parties there also, something that is a little funny to see but I think Native Montrealers just ignore.

If you are into the outdoors go to the Mont Royal or the old town port and walk along the river.

Hang out and walk along the river in Montreal's old town

All of these things are within 20 minute walk on the Latin quarter where you can stay. In the Latin Quarter you can park on the street no problem or there is a cheap pay parking garage.

I really personally enjoyed going to Montreal’s Notre-Dame Brasilica.  The stain glass had very interesting scenes of native Americans and the history of the church in Quebec.

The other great place in Montreal I can highly recommend is the Biosphere. And the botanical gardens and the city center in general.

Montreal city center

The French side is the east side of the Island of Montreal, the West side is the English side of the city. I prefer the French side as I can go to an English-speaking business city in America any day of the week, so why would I want to hang out there.

Botanical gardens people like, but if you want to hang out stay in the center city and the Latin Quarter. Let me know if you have any other ideas about Montreal and places to spend time.

How did Paris become a Romantic city?

It is in the collective unconsciousness, mostly of American girls, but also Eastern European girls that Paris exists as a city of romance.  I think for both groups of women there is a different reason.

The American reason for viewing Paris as the city of love is because of our grandparents generation.  Paris was the closest connection to Europe besides England.  England is more a colder climate and culture, however, France is a Gothic Roman catholic culture.  The French are a mix between northern European productive and Mediterranean relax and enjoy our lives.

France was the easiest foreign county for Americans to travel to in Europe, that was not English speaking.  Many of our parents’ dream was to go to France and Italy.  Germany was rebuilding and Eastern Europe was under communism and Spain was too poor and England was not foreign enough to be romantic, therefore, that only left France.  And Paris is the center of France.

Our parents and grandparents would visit Paris and see the Gothic structures and charming cafes in contrast to American classical structures and sky scrapers, and the our imagination an images of Romantic Paris began to be formed.

Eastern European girls on the other hand dreamed of escaping to Paris as Poland had a very good relationship with France.  Both were catholic countries that stood in opposition to Germany.  So to go to Paris for work or vacation was the ideal, it was close and friendly.

Paris is a beautiful city, and to see its trees and art is where the connection starts.  Then seeing people relaxing in cafes and outward expressions of love.

In fact, when in America, if you were to see two people kissing in public, in a Boston park, for example,  you might feel awkward.  Other people might comment, ‘they must be from Europe’.  American is puritan. French culture is tolerant of public displays of affection. So if you want to kiss your sweetheart in Paris you can without drawing attention.

Films of Romantic Paris

The film industry help perpetuate the idea that Paris is about amour. Many films feature Paris as the run away place for lovers.  Even films like Casablanca just mentioned Paris or some storyline connected the “La Ville-Lumière” (“The City of Light” ) arose and this conjures up images of love.

The downside of Parisian love life myth

What is the counter argument that Paris is a place for sweethearts? I am not totally sold on the idea that Paris is for lovers. Why?

• The wealth of Paris was built on imperialism, so behind the glitter there are centuries of colonization it was built on.
• Many other cities in Europe have beautiful Gothic architecture, Lviv and Krakow have more churches and maybe more cafes and certainly more green parks and river areas than Paris for example.
• Paris and Parisiens are not tourist friendly, as the French be difficult if you are not fluent in the French language
• Horrible traffic in Paris
• Paris is extremely expensive – for me this is is the biggest impediment. Until the Euro falls, I will have to pay a pretty penny (Euro penny) to kiss my darling on the Eiffel tower or to walk along the Seine hand in hand.

However, I love Paris.  I just wanted to make the point Paris is romantic because people think it so, not because it in fact it.

Brand name of love

Going to Paris is like owning a pair of Nike.  It has brand name recognition, but it may or may not be the best.  But people like brand names and labels so they will pay for it.

Therefore, is Paris the city of love?  I think Paris is a city of love not the one and only city of romance. I think it is not the most romantic city in the world. rather, it think of it as one of many cities.

It might rest in the collective unconsciousness as romantic, but understand why, instead of accepting what others say. If you want a romantic escape consider less expensive places than France, even Montreal, Sherbrooke or Quebec  for français, or a city like Krakow or Lviv for European in general.  In fact many Russian films about Paris were filmed in Lviv because of the similarity of look with Gothic structure and cobble stone streets.

I fact, once when I was in Lviv and took pictures and told my friends I was in Paris and they all were ‘wow and this is beautiful, how romantic’, until I told them this was Lviv, Ukraine.  Then they said ‘oh’.  But they did not know the difference, it was only the brand name label that mattered.

So is Paris romantic or a myth? Well I am taking my sweetheart there next week for valentines day  and I am very much looking forward to it.

Which is better to visit Montreal or Quebec? I am very partial towards one of these cities. I love Montreal. I have often thought of living there. However, this is a very qualified answer. You need to read on to be able to make a more informed choice.

My experiences with Montreal

I lived in New England most of my life. When I lived in a beautiful city like Boston, I was going to Montreal at least once a month. I did not have a business purpose, rather I went to this city because there were so many things to do, and it was an adventure.  It was like a European city in the Americas. I would go to authentic French resturants in the Montreal old town, to Spas on St. Laurent street.

I got my first seaweed wrap on Sr. Laurent street (I am a guy, I just like to explore and try new things). I remember staying in a hotel drinking as much juice as I could because it came with the meal and then going to the spa for my treatment. When I was wrapped in seaweed, I really had to go to the men’s room. Well that was an adventure, I guess.

On St. Catharines steet, I use to take yoga classes. In fact, the pretty French girls in the class would ask where I was if I missed a few weeks. They assumed I lived downtown.

Also the bookstores ,  like Indigos and Chapters on St. Catharines steet was a great place to hang out.

I stayed usually on Saint-Denis in winter in the Quartier-Latin of Monteal. I stayed at a hotel called Du Manoir.  It was cheap and family run and if you step our your door you have all the nightlife of the Latin Quarter.

I went shopping in the North section of the Island of Montreal, which was the Italian section. I would buy authentic French Canadian produce and Italian imported goods.  The Canadian dollar was so weak compared to the US dollar that doing my groceary shopping there would pay for the expense of the trip.

I bought some really cool shirts that I have seven years latter in some of the store there. MEC or Mountain equiptment co-op.  Those same shirts I wore when I first meet my wife and she was impressed by my style.  So I guess it was worth it. MEC has a climbing wall inside also.  I went with my friend George and he did not buy anything there.  I do not know why to this day, they have great clothes.

I have also stayed in the gay hotel with my buddy George.  We are not gay, but we did not know that this hotel was for gays, until the guy in front of use winked at me.  It was a nice hotel by the way.

Do not forget the biosphere or the botanical; gardens. I love the Biosphere as  it is a self contrail ecosystem with four environments.

The have some great Gothic shops downtown. I always said if I won lotto I would buy some crazy Gothic attire and wear it downtown.

Mont Royal is a great Sunday afternoon hike before you go home. I have so many fond memories of Montreal. However, my most fondest was in the 1967 worlds fair, Expo 67.  I was four years old but I remember it in detail.  It was so hot that when my dad bought me ice cream he has to  ‘help’  me with it.  He had the lions share. It was a wonderful time in my life.

Quebec city

I have not been to Quebec city in years.  However, Quebec city is cleaner and prettier than Montreal. Its safer and more authentic. You do not feel like you are in Europe, rather you feel like you are in Europe 300 years ago.

You can sit on the hill overlooking the Saint Lawrence river or take pictures of the ice castle during the winter carnival.

Quebec city is culture is a lot of ohh and ahhs.  Montreal is just play.

Which to visit Montreal or Quebec

So Montreal or Quebec is a little like asking  Ginger or Mary Ann.  I think Ginger is like Montreal, just fun; while Mary Ann is charming and nice, like  Quebec.

If you have any questions about Montreal or Quebec just ask I do not think I am an expert but as a tourist, and a world traveler I think I can point you in the right direction.