A Pause In Montréal

Posted on 10/08/2013 under Canada

I have been in Montréal nearly four weeks now, which is hard to believe because it has gone by so fast. This has largely been due to my time here being a whirlwind of meeting lots of people and there always being something to do in the city. Meeting people through Couch Surfing has been a great way to meet people (there are multiple planned activities happening every day!) and sample what the city has to offer. These activities include partying, sight seeing, a comedy festival, climbing, partying, exploring the local cafés, (a little) work, eating lots of delicious food and recovering from partying… to name a few.
Food trucks at the Just For Laughs comedy festival

Food trucks at the Just For Laughs comedy festival

Meeting up with Isabelle, a friend who I met last time I was in Montréal we hiked to the top of Mount Royal for some great views over the city before sampling some tasty food from the food trucks at the Just For Laughs comedy festival.
With Isabelle at the Mount Royal lookout

With Isabelle at the Mount Royal lookout (blurry because I accidentally set my camera to manual focus)

Dad had told me about a couple of places in Montréal that were big parts of what got him interested in design. Habitat 67 and The Biosphere were built for the 67 World’s Fair and I had fun checking them out and getting some pictures of me in front of them for him. The bike ride to Habitat goes along a bike path next to the canal with some impressive old industrial buildings. IMG_5497 I went to there with Catherine, a couch surfer I had met at a meetup. She is also a photographer so we had a quick trespassing (it is all private property) photo shoot infront of the buildings – which are a superb piece of architecture.
Messing around at Habitat 67

Messing around at Habitat 67

Adventuring to the biosphere with my housemate Camille we had to get on to the island by taking the Jacques Cartier Bridge, which has some really good views over the city.
Hanging out on the Jacques Cartier Bridge

Hanging out on the Jacques Cartier Bridge

Views of Montreal from the Jacques Cartier Bridge

Views of Montreal from the Jacques Cartier Bridge

The biosphere is now home to an environment museum which has some interesting (and fun!) exhibits. It was really cool to be able to get right up inside the sphere.
At the Biosphere

At the Biosphere

IMG_5563 I have been indoor climbing with a couple of girls who I met on Climbfind which has been both fun and a good workout. The gym we have been going to is huge, and has excellent walls.
Indoor climbing at Allez Up

Indoor climbing at Allez Up

Returning to the Tam Tams with some couch surfers we joined in with the dancing to the beat of many drums. This makes for a great atmosphere and we didn’t even slow down when a thunderstorm broke overhead. Dancing to the tribal beat in the rain and seeing the water spray off of the drums to the rhythm was a really special moment.
Dancing at the Tam Tams just before the thunderstorm broke

Dancing at the Tam Tams just before the thunderstorm broke

Me and Catherine took another cycle-tourism trip out to the 17976 Olympic Stadium, which has a huge single arm supporting it’s roof. Pretty neat eh? We also went for some lunchtime poutine accompanied by a very nice pint as my evening poutine habit creeps into the daytime.
The 1976 Olympic Stadium

The 1976 Olympic Stadium

My time in Montréal has been exactly what I had hoped for: great fun and a very different stage in my trip after three months in the van. I’m not sure how much longer I will stay here before continuing my trip East. Staying in one spot and being able to really appreciate the city has been fantastic – but I must admit a part of me misses life in van!

One thought on "A Pause In Montréal"

  1. Jessica A. Hawes says:
    August 11, 2013 at 5:38 am

    Enjoyed the follow-up to our phone chat. You certainly are seeing the sites (joke!) love, Grandma