Ahh... Montreal. A very european city with churches intermingled with skyscrappers and other commercial buildings.
Another shot of chaotic but beautiful Montreal.
McGill University campus -- truly the most beautiful campus in Montreal! An internationally renowned university in science and business as well.
I loved this statue on the campus. It's a victorian character who seems to be almost losing a tough battle against the wind on the day that this sculpture was created.
My Finnish friend, Heli, and I visited Montreal's Chinatown. I still am shocked that she has never seen a Chinatown before!
Street food kiosks are seen every now and then, particularly in our Chinatowns. Here these people are making a VERY sweet stringy candy that tastes almost like cotton candy.. but sweeter if you can believe it!
Though it's hard to see... after a long trek, Heli and I finally found the famous "Montreal Smoked Meet (corn beef) Sandwich" BENS... each sandwich was big enough for two people or more.
Here's another one of my favourite restaurants in Montreal... Eggspectations!! Absolutely fantastic. Great service (cute waiters), chic atmosphere, fresh fruit juices everytime, and very creative breakfast/lunch dishes!! (for location, see restaurant guide in the "Gastronomic Delights" section of the site).
The Montreal Jazz Festival -- Supposed to be the country's best (though the Toronto Beaches Jazz Festival is also great fun!). Montreal and Toronto have a ton of fun festivals throughout the summer!
Skyline of Montreal.
An old church in southern Quebec (near Grandby, for the 1% of you who even know where THAT is!). French Canadians tend to be more religious than their anglo counterparts.
This was really a beautiful church... we were even able to listen to some live gregorian chanting while we visited!!
Here is a tiny sister church next to the previous head church.
Isn't it cute?
Quebec City's Winter Carnival. On only three weeks in Jan/Feb...but be warned you are going there in the coldest time of the year so wear a couple of extra socks to ensure you'll be warm enough to take time to see the fabulous ice sculptures.
Ice sculpture of a girl resting... or maybe she's just bored.
Abstract art mixture of modern and native americans (First Nations People is our official term).
Great ice block castle (for a really good ice castle, see my pictures of the Ice Hotel just outside of Quebec City (link below photo album).
More ice castles. This one had a fun slide that we - of course - indulged in ! Big kids at play here again!
Lots of great ice sculptures inside the castle too. I don't know about you but I never got this kind of a resul from an ice cube.
Larger-than-life Foozball... yes it's true. Kids are tied to these rods and they kick a ball around. No, the rods don't move... that would be too much fun!!
This jovial fellow is demonstrating what is making him most jovial... his Caribou plastic festival Cane... which is completely filled with Caribou, the traditional Quebecois alcoholic beverage of choice for the festival (a mixture of wine, brandy, whiskey, and a bunch of other stuff. It actually tastes pretty good, especially when you're freezing and they serve it hot!)
Me and my quebecois grandmother. She has given me the tuque (woolen hat), the funky necktie thingie and scarf/belt that is the traditional Quebecois festival costume that my grandfather used to wear! Wow, now that's an amazing hand-me-down!!!!
