Often referred to as the Paris of the North America, more French
is spoken here than in any city outside of Paris. Montreal is the capitol of Quebec Province,
all of which is predominately French-speaking.
A cosmopolitan
atmosphere exists with a European flavor where old world charm is gracefully
combined with modern sensibility. It is a bustling study in contrasts where
Victorian brownstones nuzzle skyscrapers, and architectural marvels soar beside
stately neo-gothic churches. The city blends the old and new with ease that
presents a very comfortable feel. Crime is low and the city is safe to walk
most anywhere at any time.
In 1535 French explorer, Jacques Cartier,
was looking for passage to India, and was the first white man to set foot on
the island that became Montreal. At that time it was the site of a Hochelega
and Iroquois village. In 1611 de Champlain fortified a settlement and trading
center at the confluence of the St. Lawrence, Ottawa and Richelieu Rivers.
The British conquered New France in 1759,
but they confirmed the right of the French people to maintain their faith,
language and legal code. For many decades the minority British ran the city’s
economy. In 1867 the Articles of Confederation joined the provinces of Ottawa, Quebec,
New Brunswick
and Nova Scotia
into Canada,
effectively ending British rule in Ottawa.
OLD MONTREAL (Vieux Montreal) is southeast of down town, near the waterfront.
The picturesque cobbled city is full of art and architecture. Electric Victorian street
lamps softly illuminate the 18th and 19th century town
houses that line the narrow lanes of Old Montreal. Near Rue St. Helene the 1870
gas lights burn twenty-four hours a day and are the only real functioning gas
lights in the city.
The city's port operations were crucial
to the fascinating saga of Montréal's development. Because the Lachine Rapids
blocked further upstream navigation on the St. Lawrence
River, the city was born and flourished at this natural shipping
breakpoint. The Lachine
Canal opened in 1825
allowed ships to bypass the rapids. Rail transportation in 1893 made Montréal a
bustling hub of commerce and trade between the North American continent and the
rest of the world, and the pivotal point in an integrated transportation
network. A mile and a half esplanade
runs along the waterfront, where the harbor is the pulse of the city.
Sherbrooke
St, running east to west, is the main artery through down town. Numbers run
north from the river. Boulevard St-Laurent running north to south splits city
east and west.
F/E
means both French and English is spoken, although we never saw such a sign.
I don’t speak French, but we had no speech problem as nearly everyone speaks
English also. Montreal has a large gay community and is
gay-friendly. From all appearances the city is race tolerant as ethnicities
blend as well as the architecture.
Place
d’ Armes faces Notre Dame. In the center of the square is a monument to
Montréal's founder, Paul de Chomedey de Maisonneuve. On this site he and a few
Frenchmen had a brief skirmish with some Iroquois Indians resulting in a French
win. It is the heart of the city's historic centre and sums up its diverse
heritage. The red brick New York Life building sits to the right of the square.
Built in 1888, it is the city’s first skyscraper. Offices occupy the building
now with an apartment in the clock tower. The domed Bank of Montréal, 1817,
building sits behind the Place d’ Armes. It is the oldest banking institution
in the country. The façade of the head office is inspiring evoking the power of
Rome.
Redesigned in 1905, the lavish interior echoes the success of the institution.
After the English won the battle of the Plains of Abraham, 1759,
Scots emigrated to Quebec
and set up the banking industry.
Montreal gets 9-feet of snow a year so all the big buildings have underground
parking to keep cars off the street and plows able to function.
You might like to also check
post: Olympic park 1-16-13
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& Quebec City Surprises 3-3-13
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Ramezay 3-31-13
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