A tale of 3 cities in Canada- Montreal (Part 1: A city with 2 souls)

In Montreal city, Canada's bilingual trait is fully evident. In the packed Grey Hound bus terminal at Montreal, I overheard numerous conversations held in both English and French, a marked difference when compared to Toronto (mostly English) and Quebec city (mostly French, wait a minute, everyone speaks French there). Hence, it would be safe to conclude that the assimilation between the English and French speaking populace is largely successful in this city. Indeed, the assimilation does not end with language alone. Culturally, the city dwellers in Montreal has even managed to blend the unique old world charm from their rich bilingual heritage, with towering skyscrapers and a bustling traffic network snaking through the entire city.




Montreal city's beautiful skyline, somehow, the city reminds me of Toronto and a little bit of Quebec city. Best of both world? Not exactly, just that there is a hint of unique identity not found in both Toronto and Quebec city. The identity of a city with 2 souls: that of French and English.




At the peak of Parc Mont-Royal, a park that lies on the fringe of the city's central business district. Parc Mont-Royal is Montreal's version of Central Park, and surprise, surprise, both parks were designed by the same guy.



Beavers are omnipresent in Canada, but the ones at Parc Mont-Royal are slightly more used to human presence as proven in the above picture.


Beaver Lake, but contrary to its moniker, we did not see any beavers at the lake.


A giant cross made out of iron on the slopes of the park. It looked more like a radar to me.

With Christmas only a day away, there wasn't a slightest hint that it was going to snow in Montreal. All these while, the three of us were speculating and running wild imaginations on spending our very first 'white' Christmas in our entire life. Annoyingly, the temperature just did not seem cold enough for any snow to fall. Instead, I felt warm during my hike up to Mont-Royal and I can assure you that the hike was not strenuous at all. The convenient culprit for our annoyance? Needless to say, Global Warming.