If you want to experience a vibrant, quirky city with stunning architecture and a rich history, you only need head to Canada's Montreal.
When a place is founded in 1642, you know you're in for a conglomeration of building styles and narrow streets.
French is the dominant language in this part of the country and they are not fond of including including English in any of the signs, even though both are national co-languages. At least the road signs are more hieroglyphic than written.
It's also a foodie city so you know we were in heaven.
With so much to see and do here, we decided our best way to make the most of our limited time was to take another tour, this time on scooters!
The only requirement of being able to ride a bike was mostly accurate. Our amazingly knowledgeable and very funny guide kept telling us to "be chill" but also for us to "dominant the road!"
There were 14 of us, mostly competent riders with a few questionables. We were either stretched out in a long line dominating the roads or bunched up at a stop sign being chill while waiting to go. Dave and I were, surprisingly, the two trouble makers in the group probably due to of our over confidence (Dave's was at least well earned) and silly nature.
Several breaks were involved as we motored around town during our three hour tour but my favorites were Mont Royal and the Jean-Talon Market.
We left our mighty steeds in the park at Mont Royal's base to stretch our legs as we summited the 234 meter hill. Mont Royal is the tallest point in the city as no buildings are allowed to rise above it...New York City it's not.
On a clear day, the view of the city must be spectacular. On an overcast and hazy one like we had, it was still pretty impressive.
We were left on our own for a bit at the Jean-Talon Market to drool over beautifully fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and so much more all enticingly arranged.
There we snacked on the freshest, moistest baklava I have ever been lucky enough to devour...and then we waited...and waited...and waited.
Four members of our crew were late returning to the meeting spot, having been caught in a different building during the torrential downpour that ensued when we were supposed to leave. At times the rain was blowing sideways. Not ideal scooter weather.
When the rain began to slack, our trusty guide went to locate our missing brethren. Scooter code means no one is left behind.
Once able to race home (scooters are only allowed to go up to 32 kph in the city so race might be an exaggeration), I found myself alone in the lead position (our guide stopped to make sure everyone was with us) when I came across a lake barring the route. Puddles do not take up the entire road for at least 20 feet across. I watched a man wading through the water, it was above his calves.
I steeled my nerves and drove on. No point in lifting the feet, I was already drenched from the rain, the cheap poncho only mildly successfully in keeping me dry. The water washed above my ankles and sprayed up my legs to the seat. I could hear Dave laughing as he splashed along behind me.
Timing being everything, the rain ended as we dropped off our faithful bikes to wander around the city on foot for the rest of the day.
This city (as most large cities with history do) loves its monuments and statues but my favorite sits in front of the Notre-Dame Basilica. It seems I like musketeers. Maybe it's the mustache but then again, it could be the hat.
Dating from 1895, the Maisonneuve Monument was created in memory of Montreal's founder, Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve. There are four additional statues at the base, including the musketeer crouched above, Lambert Closse.
If you own a jeep, like we do, and you run across a store called le petit duck shoppe, you must go in.
A recent trend among jeep owners is to put ducks on other jeeps they find when the owners aren't around. As this all started in Canada, I'm wondering if the person who came up with this fun way to build community spirit didn't have stock in this store.
Montreal was a delight. Even though we saw much, there is so much more we missed. No arm twisting needed for us to want to come back.
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