Things I've learned while visiting Montreal

[NightTrain]

1. When I cross the border into Canada, my blood pressure immediately drops several points.

2. There is no French word for "bling-bling."

3. Poutine is fucking awesome!

4. Canadians know more about American politics than most Americans do.

5. Montreal has lots of French people. Who knew? :shrug:

6. Unlike Americans, Canadian pedestrians are quite serious about the law that gives them the right of way over motorists.

7. Montreal has installed cordoned-off bicycle lanes on all its major streets. And the city has tens of thousands of bicyclists.

8. In certain ways, Montreal is similar to Manhattan. For example:

a) It's an island.
b) Most of the streets are laid out in a grid.
c) There's a section on the southeastern part of the island that reminds me a lot of Greenwich Village.
d) It has its own version of Chinatown.

9. "Robot Wars" is a compellingly watchable TV show.

10. Montreal's sports stadium is a testament to architectural ugliness.

11. Despite their ability to speak my native tongue quite artculately, a number of Montrealers were inexplicably compelled to apologize to me for their "poor English." :shrug:

12. Our neighbors to the north desperately want us to go to the polls on November 2nd and elect John Kerry. So vote, fer chrissake!

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

1. Is the McDonalds or Taco Bell drive through in French?

I think that would be a trip...US fast food...but in French!

[NightTrain]

2. Come on! You don't really believe that I ate U.S. fast food in Montreal?

I was too busy chowing down poutine, baby! ;)

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

3. heh..i was just thinking about it for kicks...

...just for the novelty value....checking it out to see if the menu really IS in French, or the guy in the drive-thru takes the order in French or somthing...just order a coffee/.

Someone told me they serve wine at McDonalds in Quebec, but that might be an urban legend.

[sleepyhead]

8. Poutine!

(SIGH) Mr. Sleepyhead and I went to Montreal for our honeymoon and I ate a ton of poutine! Probably took in about 10,000 grams of carbs but it was definitely worth it. Loved the city, too. I got to try out my very rudimentary high-school French and everyone was very kind to me and helped me with my pronunciation. Can't wait to go back!

[ForrestGump]

4. You forgot to mention that it's the Secret Supermodels' Playground

Mon dieu!

[sasquatch]

5. You didn't know Montreal was French

:wow:
I've never been in Montreal yet I knew that!

[sasquatch]

6. You didn't know Montreal was French

:wow:
I've never been in Montreal yet I knew that!

[chaska]

7. One place I've always wanted to go...

I've met several Quebec-ers (sp?) on hiking trips. They seem to smoke more than I would expect of hikers. Did you notice that this was the case? Or non?

Ah the memories, they do come flooding back. Once a couple from Montreal that I met in NH (again hiking) hauled in a whole gallon of wine ... ten miles from the nearest road!!! Got to practice my French and down some red. Good times.

[carpetbagger]

10. They do smoke a lot in Quebec, come to think about it.

Incredible place. If you go up there, spend some time in the wild areas, especially areas north and northeast of Quebec City (the Charlevoix and Sagueney regions).

[venus]

9. I know what you mean.

We went to Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies, near Calgary. wow. I really loved the people and the cleanliness of this place. Heard Montreal is cool. Maybe I'll try it next time. My third trip to Canada.

[rockymountaindem]

11. Toronto is much nicer than Montreal.

You should come here instead the next time you cross the border.

[SmileyBoy]

12. Poutine kicks ASS!!!

I had the best Poutine in my life in Toronto last year.

I have to drive 220 miles from here (to Winnipeg) to get Poutine, and even then it's only sold at KFC or A&W.

KFC Poutine is pretty good, tho.