richardab

Hey everyone, I didn't have time to do my Paris vacation this Summer so I am going to try the next best thing, Montreal. It's only 90 minutes away and I hope I get a taste of Paris while I'm there. Does anyone remember when I blogged live from Paris?

http://richardab.typepad.com/iheartparis/

Well, I am traveling to Montreal this weekend and I will be posting my adventures and restaurants thoughts live via Blackberry on my blog. If you want to follow my travels I will be in Montreal from Thursday, 7/21 thru Sunday, 7/24.

http://richardab.typepad.com/iheartmontreal/

StCirq

Hi, Richard. I did the same thing in 2004. My trip report is posted on www.slowtrav.com. You might want to check it out, especially for the recommendation to get out of Montreal to the seaside towns.

I loved Montreal! It wasn't Paris but it was a darn good substitute!

Carta_Pisana

here are a couple restaurant recs:

http://www.brunoise.ca/

http://www.restaurantlesremparts.com/

Au Pied de Cochon
536 rue Duluth Est, 514.281.1114

enjoy Montreal...

AnthonyGA

What does Montréal have in common with Paris?

icithecat

I am sorry but..
<especially for the recommendation to get out of Montreal to the seaside towns>????
The Seaside is many hours drive away.
A trip to New Brunswick is not a trip to Montreal.

Robespierre

Half of the signs are in English!

rubytwo

half the signs in France are in English. STOP!!!

SuzieC

Well, Richardab - I've certainly enjoyed your blogs and travels - you "tell it like it is". I will follow this from your point of view because - I've had the same question!
Have fun for the long weekend!

grandmere

I say it's "Paris without the jetlag"!

elle

We've done this when time was tight. Montreal is a 55 minute flight from Philadelphia, so it's perfect for an escape.

Stay in the Vieux Ville area for more atmosphere. Downtown Montreal could be anywhere. We love the Hotel Gault.

ahotpoet

I was in Quebec City and pretended I was in Paris. The St. Lawrence was the Seine (OK maybe that's a stretch) but I cannot tell you how much I loved Quebec. We stayed across the river and took a ferry across. The majesty of the Chateau on the hill was wonderful. Everytime we approached I felt like I was coming home.

AnselmAdorne

I don't get any feeling of being in France when I'm in Quebec, but the fact that I was born in Montreal and grew up in Quebec City may have something to do with it. It just feels like home.

But you're right, ahotpeot, that view of Quebec City on the ferry from Lévis is wonderful.

Anselm

StCirq

<<The Seaside is many hours drive away.>>

I misused "seaside." Sorry. My recollection of the lovely town of Ste-Anne de Bellevue, which took about 45 minutes to reach by train, was that it was on the ocean, when it fact it's on the St-Lawrence river. That's one big river! Anyway, the point is you can get out of town to some lovely watery places very quickly and easily by bus and train (and if you buy a metro pass, you can use the bus system for no extra money to get well outside of town).

oakglen

Hi Richard, we did the same trip a year ago. Don't miss the frites at L'Express, this is as close as Montreal comes to Brasserie Balzar in Paris. Toque would be our choice for a splurge meal. JP

cmt

I enjoyed Montreal, too, but I didn't try to imagine that it was Paris or any other European location. In fact, I especially liked thinking about it as a product of an American experience that in some ways was similar to that of large cities in the east coast of the US and in some ways very different, because of differences between Canadian and US history. In my fairly brief visit, I enjoyed it for what it was.

By the way, some of those riverside locales really do have the refreshing and relaxing but energizing feel of the seashore, and a trip to a small town with your Metro pass can be a nice break from the big city.

Scarlett

Ahh Richard, I love Montreal!
For the past 5-6 years, we went in the summer (Aug) or fall (Sept & Nov) and loved it every time.
Go to Le Petit Extra, look for the waitress that looks like Fanny Ardant !
Yes, do go to L'Express.
For a posh night out, Toque.
Take a walk along the streets in the evening in Old Town, listen for the cafe music and listen to for all the French spoken
Have moules & frites anywhere!
Take a picnic to Mt Royal, meander rue St Denis, have lunch in every outdoor cafe, they are all good
Enjoy! We are moving next week to Oregon, I guess my next Canadian city will be Vancouver

travelbunny

what do you mean half the signs are in English? There are very strict language laws that prohibit or strictly limit English signs.

AnselmAdorne

Scarlett, you'll love Vancouver, and next thing you know, Ger will be suggesting you visit Victoria!!

Anselm

RonZ

Have a great dinner at Auberge Bonaparte.

Somehow "We'll always have Montreal" doesn't have the same ring...

Robespierre

Half the signs in France are in English, but half the signs in Montréal are in French.

That was <b>Just A Joke</b>, see? It wasn't meant to be <b>One Hundred Percent Absolute Literal Truth</b>. Get it? Now get over it. And yourself.