Montreal: Paris on ice

Since Paris is no place to be in August as everything is closed, we took off for Montreal to get a little French flair and feast on the city's best thing since sliced bread:

Bagels.

But of course, we found so much more in this great Canadian city. On the one hand, Montreal is influenced by Paris, including a Pantheon, Notre Dame and Latin Quarter. On the other hand, the city is all Canadian... full of immigrants, hipsters and ice cold beer.

Basically it's where the cool kids hang out.

In Montreal you'll find the old brick mixing with the new glass, cobblestones of the old town butting up against the ancient Fleuve Saint-Laurent, fresh graffiti greeting the hundreds of bicycle riders, ivy climbing thousands of steep stairs, and above all, French words mingling with English to create my favourite language of all:

Franglais.

Micro-brew beer is on tap, construction crews carry coolers like the businessmen carry briefcases, and the hotels offer ice machines on every floor. If you've ever been to Paris, you'll know how they scoff when you ask for ice. But here in Montreal, keeping cool is part of the identity of this great Canadian town. 

In Canada you have two seasons: Winter and Construction.

Lunch break.

More lunch breaks. Hmm, good idea.

Montreal has a strong hipster vibe.

And the signage is vintage cool.

Even more vintage is the old town.

They build a beach in summer along the fleuve just like in Paris.

But I prefer to stick to the shade.

Also found a Métro station entrance replica of those in Paris.

But inside, definitely brown-brick Canadian.

I love when a colour-coordinated foreground walks in front the right background.

I kept the ice machine busy in the hotel. So fun. And all the ice is FREE.

In Montreal, the stairs are on the outside of buildings unlike in other cities where you'll have a foyer and a stairwell. This must annoy postal carriers in icy winter.

This girl looked relaxed and happy. I wonder what she's reading.

I stopped by the bookstore and found my favourite read.

Notice my sweaty crazy hair. It was very hot that day.

So I cooled down like a true Montrealer. Cheers!