Old world charm and Canadian slang galore, Montreal will take you on a cultural trip.
Montreal evokes the charm of cobblestone streets found in the quaint
European towns we often see in movies. However, it is distinctly Canadian in its geography, culture, and cuisine, offering the best of music festivals, delicious food, and the warmest, most polite people.
Montreal is a city in Quebec, known for its jazz music festivals, poutine, and being a bilingual city with almost two million people calling it home. But with the old-world charm, certain customs need to be learned before visiting Montreal. It is a happening city, and you're bound to end up in a festival or the other, no matter the season you choose to visit.
Here are some things to know about this charming city.
Bilingual city:
Quebec is a bilingual state. It is not mandatory to know French along with English, but it comes in handy as restaurant menus have items written in French before English. As long as you are polite, people will gladly switch to English for you.
Montreal has its own slang:
A dep is a convenience store. Likewise, 5-a-7 means Happy Hour. A lot of slang is used from the Quebecois terminology.
Best time to be in Montreal:
Winter can be harsh in Canada, especially in January and February. But the intense cold doesn't stop Igloofest from happening. But spring months are the best to visit. Montreal has loads of festivals lined up for summer months so if sweating is not a big concern, the summer months are good as well.
Public transport is neat:
Subway and buses run multiple routes and you never have to walk too far to avail of public transport. There is even a dedicated public transport that runs twice every hour to and from the airport. Big bucks saved without having to book a cab.
Montreal bagels must be tried:
Montreal bagels are made on wood fire and are sweeter than much esteemed New York-style bagels. A must-try when you are in Montreal.
Live music everywhere:
Every venue is a music venue. live gigs, concerts, and basement music gigs are plenty. Montreal has a rich music heritage and the night-time music scene around the Plateau and Mile End is rich, and touring gigs mostly happen at the Metropolis and the Fairmount Theatre.
Walking and cycling are encouraged:
The city center is a collection of the best eateries and shopping places, and walking is easy. Around the city, there are plenty of bike lanes and car drivers are conscious of bikers. You can even rent two-wheelers to go about the city.
