In may of 2017 I had my sights on Montreal. A few years ago I happened across a photo of Old Downtown Montreal at Christmas time and immediately decided this was a city I had to visit! The travel gods, however, had different plans for me and I instead ended up in Niagara Falls which was amazing, and on the Canadian side as well.

Finally this week the stars aligned and off to Montreal I went! The photo that inspired me didn’t even come close giving me an accurate impression of what a wonderful city Montreal is and how amazing it’s people are.

I had the pleasure of flying up on Air Canada from Orlando. It was actually the first time in a long time that I had flown an international carrier out of the U.S. Their Airbus was spacious and the flight crew amazing. The WiFi was a little pricey so I opted to live without the internet for 3 hours.

Our final descent into Montreal was lovely as all the trees were in shades of yellow, gold, and red for fall! Such a pretty view as we glided over the small towns outside of the city.

Once we landed in Montreal I was very impressed with the immigration and customs process. The airport is very modern and they make the process quick and easy. I didn’t take any photos as I was in a different country and didn’t know what the rules on photography were. The arrivals hall is huge with kiosks to zoom you through the process.

Getting from the airport to the city is easy. I opted for an Uber. It was about $20 the U.S and we were downtown at my hotel in about 20 minutes. There is also the 747 Bus Service that brings you downtown for $10 and takes about forty-five minutes to an hour.

I chose the Empire Suites Hotel which is right in the center of the city. Empire was great and the staff was wonderful. The room appeared to be newly refurbished and the location was very central. I would stay there again in a heartbeat!

Yes, there are the normal high rise hotels, which are expensive, but there are also tons of older hotels with great rates. I do however advise that you read the reviews and see what’s going on in those older properties. I did notice that some of them I had looked at did not look to be in the best of shape once I was there in person.

Let’s talk getting around. Montreal has great public transportation! The Metro will get you everywhere you need to go. It includes the subway and the buses. You can purchase and Opus card for $6 and then add money to your card from there. Good news is the card is good for four years so if you are going to return, no need to buy a new card! Also, the city is very walkable.

My first stop was not far from my hotel and a MUST see while in Montreal. The Notre-Dame Basilica Montreal. Entry is $6 CAD and is worth every penny. At night they have a light and music show inside the Basilica called Aura.

I then walked down to Old Downtown Montreal. Here you will find the historic buildings of the old city. Because I was here in October there was not much of the hustle and bustle I would expect to find during the summer time. There are many shops and restaurants, a historic chapel, and the Marche Bonsecours. Marche Bonsecours has a level of shops and another of restaurants. This area is adjacent to the Old Port and they are the main tourist areas of the city. Just a note – everything I had read prior to arriving said to avoid eating in these areas if you are looking for good food.

As I was strolling through I noticed a small church. It is the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. It was the first stone church built in Montreal in 1675. The patron of this church is Sainte Marguerite Bourgeoys. Over time sailors crossing the Atlantic would come here to pray for safe passage and it has since been known as the “Sailors Church”. I asked one of the docents what the ships hanging from the ceilings of the church represented. This is when he told me about the sailors. He told me that some would bring model wooden ships as gifts to the church, and pointed out the one handing over the center aisle, being the oldest given to the church in 1872. To this very day, there is a group of sailors who make an annual pilgrimage to the church!

As I stated above the area adjacent to the Old Downtown is the Old Port of Montreal. This has the large Ferris wheel, zip lines, tacky tourist shops, and all that normally comes with areas like these. It would definitely keep the kiddos entertained!

After all this exploring on my first day, I was ready for a nice meal. I had found a highly recommended restaurant named L’ Express so I hopped back on the Metro and made my way to that part of town.

L’ Express is a French bistro-style restaurant with impeccable service! I was greeted warmly and was showered with attention from the moment I sat down. A basket of warm french bread, butter, and a jar of cornichons were brought to my table to savor while I browsed the menu.

There were so many options that sounded splendid and I decided on the warm beet salad to start. For my main course, I chose the hangar steak with leek butter and pomme frites. It was all pure heaven and L’ Express is a must do while in Montreal!

Before embarking on my adventure I searched for Anthony Bourdain in Montreal as I always loved watching his shows. He insisted that no trip to Montreal was complete without a stop at Schwartz’s. They are famous for what the people of Montreal call smoked meat. To those of us from America, it’s a hybrid hot corned beef with pastrami seasoning. IT”S AMAZING!

On day two I slept in and then headed right for Schwartz’s. As I was walking to the deli I came across Saint Louis Square. It was a fairyland of fall yellow, and I just to detour for a few moments. The park itself was lovely and I found a small building in the center crowned with flowers. After peeking in the windows it appeared to be an artists studio. The row houses around the square were eclectic and the architectural styles and colors were so varied!

Also on my walk, I couldn’t help but notice all the fabulous murals. They are all over the city and really add to the diversity of Montreal!

Let me assure you that once I made it to Schwartz’s I was not disappointed in any way shape or form. It’s a super casual “drop in as you” are a deli. There are tables that seat six which you share with others, and they have a counter. I had the pleasure of dining with a local woman named Catherine. We talked about Montreal and what I had planned for the day while we savored each bite. One of the great things I found about the pomme frite or “fries” in Montreal, as they were all hand cut and super crisp!

Catherine suggested since I was headed in the direction of Mount Royal to visit the Oratory of St. Joseph. I bid her farewell and started walking to a church nearby that looked amazing, only to find that it was not open except for mass. On my way there I passed by a small patisserie, took two steps back and went inside. It is called Notre Dame du Rosaire. I found a lovely French woman who spoke almost no English, however, I had no problem pointing to the pastries I wanted. The coconut macaroon was gooey and crunchy on top! The egg tart with lemon curd in a filo pastry shell was even more amazing! I recommend you walk over here after visiting Schwartz’s for a sweet treat!

After enjoying my sweet treats I made my way downtown to the Cathedral of Mary Queen of the World. It was absolutely spectacular and the sheer size was overwhelming! I found myself turning in circles and not knowing where to look next. The perspectives changed every few feet, and you were once again in awe of the cathedral’s grandeur.

From downtown, I took the Metro and then a bus to visit the Oratory of St. Joseph as Catherine had recommended. As soon as I got off the bus I could see the massive Oratory on the bill above the neighborhood. Then I turned a corner and it was directly in front of me, imposing and yet awe-inspiring! I also took note of the number of steps up to the top! Good news is there is a shuttle bus. So I took the bus up and walked down.

Once inside the Oratory, I found an architectural style that I did not expect. It was not ornate but rather simple. A lot of cement. At first, I was admittedly underwhelmed. Then I started to wander around. Then, I saw the beauty! The structure is simple however there is a lot of stained glass. As the sun shone through the colored glass it painted the Oratory with heavenly colored light! It was absolutely breathtaking!

And then the COLOR!

After exploring the inside you can walk out of the front and overlook the west side of the city, and the grounds below. The views are fantastic!

My next stop was to the top of Mount Royal and the Chalet. Mount Royal is a public park with lots of walking trails and outdoor activities. It also offers one of the best views of downtown Montreal. City bus 11 will take you up to the top where it is a 5-minute walk to the Chalet. You must do this while in Montreal as the view is stunning!

On my last morning before heading to the airport I had breakfast at Cora. There are a few around the city and it’s a great place for a morning meal. They offer omelets, crepes, various eggs benedict, pancakes. The food is great and the prices are right.

When leaving Canada to return to the U.S. you are processed through the Canadian version of the TSA. They were very polite however they make TSA look like speed demons with regards to how fast they process people. After that, you are then processed through US Customs and Immigration, that way when you enter the U.S. you simply get off the plane and head home. Give yourself an hour to get through the whole process, do not make the mistake of getting to the airport late, or you are not going to make your flight. On my way home I was treated to a ride on the CRJ200 by Bombardier. This is an amazing plane and fast as a rocket! I thoroughly enjoyed the ride and the service provided by Air Canada!

My overall impression of Montreal is that this is a fabulous city! The people are polite, public transportation is great, and it’s beautiful. It’s modern, yet old. What caught my attention most if that everyone was comfortable with who they were. You can be gay, black, Muslim, old, young. It doesn’t matter, all are accepted here. All seemed comfortable in their own skin here. No one seemed to be afraid of who they are. I only scratched the surface of what Montreal has to offer, and I’d love to come back and explore more. The people could not have been more welcoming and I hope that one day soon I will be welcomed back into the arms of Montreal.

The Coat of Arms for Montreal states, “Concordia Salus”, a Latin phrase translated as “Well-being through Harmony”. I believe that represents Montreal perfectly!