Fascinating Place
Written: May 28 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Friendly City
Cons: None
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| radi's Full Review: Quebec |
Apart from being a major cosmopolitan city with many different communities living together, and having a collection of awesome ethnic restaurants, the people of Montreal are very friendly, and Montreal is also a very safe city -- there are no regions I am afraid of being in at any time of the day or night -- as long as there are other people around, I feel totally safe.
There is no city that is more inviting, more fascinating, and more
exciting, than the city of Montreal. From its museums, to its parks, to its bubbling and bustling tourist streets like Ste Catherine, St Laurent, and St Denis, there is never a dull moment in Montreal, and even after visiting so many times, I always end up discovering something new about this truly amazing place on each new visit. It does help me a lot that English is spoken everywhere here, and the US$ is very strong with respect to the CDN$ right now!
(Of course, English is being attacked -- there are frightening restrictions on personal freedom which prohibit even private business owners from using English names on outdoor signs -- a rule imposed by the local laws and enforced by the language police. It is quite sad actually, I feel pity for French Governments everywhere, in France and in Quebec, they seem so terrorized by anything American -- whether it is English, or whether it is the Hollywood movies, the French seem to need to resort to draconian laws to protect themselves from free speech! Anyway...)
Food in Montreal is always the tops. I've eaten in numerous places; I'm always on my own exploring restaurants, and such a policy is bound to end in tragic results in other cities, it is hard to escape bad food! Amazingly, even with just randomly choosing a restaurant, I have always encountered excellent cuisine in Montreal.
The number one restaurant in Montreal, as far as I'm concerned, is Schwartz's Deli on Boul St Laurent! As I write this paragraph sitting in Boston, I am reminded of the taste of those excellent smoked meat sandwiches -- succulent meat that flakes as soon as you put it in your mouth, the exquisite mild pepper spices... Accompanied with a black cherry soda or hot tea, it is truly an unique experience! Take a seat at the bar-stool at the deli counter, and enjoy the food amidst the hustle and bustle. The interior of Schwartz's is kind-of run-down, but that, with the extremely busy waiters, and the tables where you will find yourself doubled up with strangers because space is so tight, is what creates the unique atmosphere of enjoying smoked meat at Schwartz's.
Here's a bigger picture of Schwartz's Deli, note the crowd that is always waiting to get in! Also, you may notice the door to the right -- the long piece of white paper contains a poem by a budding poet who lives next door (I guess!), and that too is a long time fixture in Montreal (I've seen it there for at least a few years now)!
I cannot go more than 8-12 weeks without partaking of the famous Schwartz Smoked Meat Sandwich, and that is usually the primary objective that motivates me to pack up and drive up! Of course, it only helps when there also happens to be an Asterix Exhibition on at the Museum, or when it is summer and the outdoor music festivals have begun, or when it is winter and the city is temptingly inviting because there are no crowds of tourists anywhere, or ... etc., etc.! Montreal has a unending supply of delights for any tourist at any time of the year. It is my number one destination for any vacation.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
radi
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Reviews written: 20
Trusted by: 5 members
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