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Lots of stuff to do in Montreal:
Walk around the old city. It's very different from most North American cities because the old city is so old. Narrow street, cobble stone streets, French restaurants, cafes, bars...
Notre Dame is a must see.
The old port is nice. There's a planetarium and Imax theatre down there.
The Biodome beside Olymipic statium is an interesting indoor Zoo. Check out the beaver dams and Penguins.
Go to the hockey game!
Sainte Cathrine's Street is the main downtown business and entertainment street. Walk from St. Laurent west to Guy. That's where the heart of the city pumps. Lots of shopping, bars, movie theatres, strip clubs...
The Montreal underground (vast expanse of underground, interconnected malls) stretches for blocks in every direction centred at the corner of university and Sainte Cathrines. Go explore. If it's cold it's the best place to be. The Metro (Subway) system is interlinked with the underground network.
Check out the McGill university campus. I'm part of class of 2001, which is why I can write this post. It's a great campus, and a great university. The location can't be beat, as it's smack downtown with Mount Royal in the background. You should consider going there, even if you pay American rates, I think it is still cheaper than many state colleges.
Hike up Mount Royal (how Montreal got it's name). There's a great view of the city from the top.
St. Laurent Street north of Sherbrooke Street has tons of bars. It's next door to the McGill student Ghetto, so lots of university students hang out here. For cheap beer and a good crowd, go to Le Biftek. Go to Tokyo Bar for more expensive beer, and interesting music. Cafe Campus on Prince Arthur just off St. Laurent has a large francophone following if that is what you want to experience. Angel's has a younger crowd. Good for dancing and cheap drinks depending on the night.
If you want to eat for fairly cheap, and drink at the same time, go to a Greek restaurant on Prince Arthur St. Most allow you to bring your own wine.
St. Sulpice (bad spelling) is on St. Denis Street just north of Saint Cathrines. It is a big bar with a huge patio. It is full of francophone Montrealers, it's a good place to experience Montreal culture.
Crescent Street north of Saint Cathrines is the club district. It is a mainly anglophone part of town with very popular clubs. This is where most tourists go. Cheers and the Hard Rock Cafe are located here.
If you want to get better service in restaurants, bars, shops, etc... try using your French, if you have any. A little effort will go a long way. This is not always necessary, as half the time the downtown shops have anglophone employees, but it is usually better to err on the side of French. Nothing is more irritating than someone DEMANDING to speak in English. In most of the bars I have mentioned, English is the first language, so don't worry about those places. If the person you are talking to has weak English, and you have no French, be kind and speak slowly. Most Montrealers are completely bilingual though. This is not the case in Quebec outside Montreal (except for the Eastern Townships).
Well, I could go on forever, but lucky for you (and all others) I won't. Have fun in Montreal.
Eric
'96 900 ST
BTW, I moved to Halifax in June, so no more Montreal for me.
posted by 24.222.1...
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