Bonjour Montreal,

A big "Bonjour" to Montreal, an international city located in the French speaking province known as Quebec. Situated on the Saint Lawrence River, Montreal is easy to navigate whether you choose to bicycle, drive, walk, or rely on the dependable bus and subway system.I recently visited Montreal for the seventh time and I discovered places and things I never knew of in my previous visits. Whether you stay a day, a week, a month, or become a lifelong resident Montreal has much to offer. Let's explore the wonders of M O N T R E A L.........

Rue Wellington in the heart of Verdun is one of the coolest streets in the world. It's named for the Duke of Wellington who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo. Promenade Wellington is a 1.3 kilometer strip with over two hundred and fifty businesses. It's pedestrian friendly from June to mid September. Begin your adventure with an in-house drink at Cafe Komma Rosta. You can have your caffeine for the day with a mochaccino or enjoy something more exotic like a yuzu soda, ginger lemonade, or sudachi ice tea. The Salvation Army Thrift Store has discounted prices on a variety of items; books, clothing, footwear, games, toys and more. If you want clothes designed and made in Montreal go over to Marigold. Here women will find unique clothing that's fashionable in a boutique setting. Dumplings are a must when in Montreal, they're so tasty and authentic. 3 Madames Dumplings are a hand-crafted creation, with recipes passed down through generations. Choose pan fried or steamed dumplings available with beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, and mixed vegetables. If you really want to please your palate, a meal at Ketiw Cambodigien (Cambodian) is high recommended. The food is so fresh, and flavorful, and made with high quality ingredients. Try the iconic noodle bowl, Cambodian sandwich (Nun Pang), and the combo dishes. The staff here is fantastique. Do you like cycling? If you want to purchase a bicycle or just get a tune up there's two good bicycle shops to choose from, Atelier and Cycles Campus Verdun. If you need a break from exploring and shopping, relax in Parc Mullins-Wellington, an ideal park for taking in the natural scenery.

La Ronde Amusement Park Quebec's largest and most exciting theme park has over forty rides and attractions. Check their website. La Ronde Amusement Park is not open year round.

Old Montreal is a major attraction neighborhood that feels like France. Dating to the 17th century, Old Montreal's narrow cobblestone streets are full of lively plazas, charming shops, and cafes. Eat crepes, ride the Ferris wheel, walk along the Saint Lawrence River, and visit the Point-a-Calliere museum with its city archeological ruins. The Old Port of Montreal is home to the Montreal Science Center and the iconic Clock Tower.

Notre Dame Basilica is located in Old Montreal and a national historic site of Canada whose origins date back to the founding of Montreal. Daily Mass Hours, Visiting Hours, and Ticket Prices are on the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal website. 

Jean Talon Market is an established open-air market with many vendors selling produce, meats, cheeses, fish, and baked goods. There are restaurants located next to the market too. The produce here is top notch. What a fun place to explore and fill your tummy.

Eaton Center is an ideal place to shop.  It's accessible through the Underground City.

What is the Underground City?

Montreal's popular underground city is a pedestrian network under the heart of the city for kilometres. It links metro stations to shopping plazas for about 33 kilometers (20.5 miles) If you want to escape the frigid winters in Montreal you can eat, stroll, and shop through the underground city.

If you're looking for cultural stimulation, you'll find it in Montreal. There's professional ballet, opera, and theater. There's the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and there are a variety of museums. Cirque du Soleil's headquarters are in Montreal and their talented performers will mesmerize you with their acrobats. Cirque Du Soleil cast members train extensively. Daily training and warm-ups last more than 90 minutes along with regular rehearsals. The daily workouts can include weight lifting, stretching, handstands, pull-ups, sit-ups, and rope work.

Other things to do on your visit to Montreal is to perhaps take a French language class or a cooking class. If you like bagels, you can learn to make Montreal Style Bagels at a baking workshop. It's called "The Bagel Class,"

BAGELS are synonymous with Montreal. Honestly,  I never had a bagel anywhere in the world that's as awesome as a Montreal-bagel. Locals and tourists head to Fairmount Bagel or St-Viateur Bagel for the cities best bagels.

Neighborhoods: There are lots of interesting neighborhoods in Montreal and they're all worth exploring. Here they are:

Airport and West End

Downtown

East End and Montreal North

Old Montreal and Old Port

Plateau-Mont-Royal and Mile End

Little Italy and Villeray

Olympic District and Hochelaga-Maisonneuve

The Village

Mount Royal, Outremont, and Westmount

Quartiers du Canal (Griffintown, Little Burgundy, and Saint-Henri)

What's wonderful about Montreal is that it's an international city with an urban feel but yet you can escape to the beautiful outdoor areas rather quickly. The Laurentian Mountains are one of the oldest mountain regions in the world and there is plenty of outdoor activities in the region from camping to skiing, to cycling to swimming and more. Some places worth visiting in the Laurentian Mountains are Val-Morin, Sainte-Adele, and Mont Tremblant.