23. GOOD OLD OLD AND NEW MONTREAL

Saturday January 5, 2013

Onward and upward... Up the planet that is, from Grant and Wanda's home in Brome just across the US/Canada border, up to Montreal, the largest city in Quebec and second largest in all Canada.

As with the entire province of Quebec, French is the city's official language. Fortunately for us, Wanda speaks French, and Grant is learning. "Learn, accept, understand" (with emphasis on accepting the rules of French regardless of whether they are understandable... sounds like Catholicism) is the motto he is working with. Actually although everyone we meet speaks to us in French at first, most quickly switch to English when they realise our francophonic (made up word) handicap.

To the Métro de Montréal... Inspired by the Paris Metro this is a pretty cool subway full of art and architecture. Every station was built in a different style by a different architect.

I just love that concrete geometry and the orange glazed brickwork.

Notice the Paris style rubber tyres.

Metro de diagram...

Founded in 1642 on an island in the mighty St Lawrence River. The river drains the Great Lakes and Niagara Falls to the Atlantic. Apparently First Nations native people occupied the island of Montreal as early as 4,000 years ago, however, archeological evidence indicates that neither they nor Paris had a fully functioning metro system at the time.

And, yep, Montreal has a Motto: Concordia Salus ("well-being through harmony)... I have absolutely no idea what that means. Mmm, I wonder if Sydney has a motto??? Anyways...

Cold underfoot

Is this Old Montreal or Paris? This classic Art Nouvea metro entry is on permanent loan since 1966 from you know where.

Old Montreal is a historic area located southeast of downtown. It's like Sydney's Rocks area only much older and much Frencher.

So French it has its own Notre-Dame Basilica. A Gothic Revival Style Building that was constructed in the 1820s.

Notre Dame Bascillica fountain

Iroquoi warrior figure on the base of the fountain across the road from Notre Dame

I hate these winters...

I prefer this 1931 Art Deco Aldred building just across the road from the Basilica

Gossip anyone?

More metro

Montreal Is named after Mount Royal. Actually it's a big hill located in the heart of the city. It's one of Montreal's largest greenspaces. The park, most of which is wooded, was designed by the same guy who also designed New York's Central Park back in the 1870s. The locals bring their skis and toboggans on the metro and bus to play on the snow.

The view.

The viewers.

Yep, it's cold, I think it's -6 Celsius.

It's about 3:30 pm. The sun sets around 4:30 here at this time of year.

And here are our dear friends Mike and Linda whom we stayed with in Toronto last visit. Time to say farewell to Grant and Wanda... In case your wondering, Hannah spent the day at grandmas. Thanx for taking such good care of us guys.

One more stop before we leave this rather nice city. Montreal Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witness's. Mike did a lot of plastering here when it was built 20 years ago.

Seating for almost 2600.

Baptism pool

Several classrooms for various schools.

And an RBC drafting room

Next stop, Sorel, an iron town, about an hour up the St Lawrence River.

Meet Tony, a great friend of Mike and Linda and it turns out...

... he is an excellent chef and charming host. Here we are again in the home of a brother we have never met before receiving still more hospitality, this time with a French Canadian twist.

And another warm bed.

Good night

Lloydnalex