What I have thoroughly been enjoying about Montreal is it’s walkablity. Yes, the hills can be tough, but the bus and the metro (similar to the subway) are easy access with our passes. The metro is also located where most of the underground shopping is. You see, Montreal is known for its frosty, snowy, and downright dangerously freezing winters, so for the sake of its residents many stores are located underground so they don’t have to brave the blistery weather and stick their heads above ground before the groundhog does.
These last few days have been of exploration. Earlier this week a group of us wandered down Rue Saint-Denis for some hours. It is a colorful street filled with cafés and unique shops. The store fronts are colorfully painted upon old brick buildings and the window displays beg you to come in and see all of the wonderfully creative things they have to offer. Montreal truly does have fantastic shopping. We then stumbled upon an empty art studio where we proceeded to take pictures of ourselves just for kicks. Time passed and we realized we had been out for a while and decided to venture back to McGill only to discover we weren’t quite sure in what direction to go. But no worries, we found our way home.
One of our “field trips” was to Canada’s capitol, Ottawa. We took about a 2 hour bus ride down to Parliament and proceeded to go on tours of Parliament and learn about how this country governs itself. It is a unique country; having so much diversity yet somehow managing to keep such a peaceful environment for its people. Learning about the politics and political history of Canada has made me realize how differently this country is run from the U.S. I also am fascinated by the conflict the French and English have had with each other beginning on the Plains of Abraham, and how Quebec has yet to sign Canada’s constitution. A quick glimpse into this conflict would be to watch Bon Cop, Bad Cop. Montreal with its flare and ferocity has been the center of many Francophone revolutions, yet as an English speaker I have yet to feel any hostility directed towards me.
Au Reviour,
Amiliah
PS—If you ever get the chance, go to Montreal during the International jazz festival. It is absolutely beauty to the ears. Music, I believe, is the closest thing to experiencing magic.
These last few days have been of exploration. Earlier this week a group of us wandered down Rue Saint-Denis for some hours. It is a colorful street filled with cafés and unique shops. The store fronts are colorfully painted upon old brick buildings and the window displays beg you to come in and see all of the wonderfully creative things they have to offer. Montreal truly does have fantastic shopping. We then stumbled upon an empty art studio where we proceeded to take pictures of ourselves just for kicks. Time passed and we realized we had been out for a while and decided to venture back to McGill only to discover we weren’t quite sure in what direction to go. But no worries, we found our way home.
One of our “field trips” was to Canada’s capitol, Ottawa. We took about a 2 hour bus ride down to Parliament and proceeded to go on tours of Parliament and learn about how this country governs itself. It is a unique country; having so much diversity yet somehow managing to keep such a peaceful environment for its people. Learning about the politics and political history of Canada has made me realize how differently this country is run from the U.S. I also am fascinated by the conflict the French and English have had with each other beginning on the Plains of Abraham, and how Quebec has yet to sign Canada’s constitution. A quick glimpse into this conflict would be to watch Bon Cop, Bad Cop. Montreal with its flare and ferocity has been the center of many Francophone revolutions, yet as an English speaker I have yet to feel any hostility directed towards me.
Au Reviour,
Amiliah
PS—If you ever get the chance, go to Montreal during the International jazz festival. It is absolutely beauty to the ears. Music, I believe, is the closest thing to experiencing magic.
Jazz Festival
ahh, the music/magic quote. love it. can hear you saying it.
ReplyDeletecan't wait to see your pictures!!