I'll be in Montréal, Québec, Canada this weekend attending the Atheist Alliance International (AAI) convention, Atheists Without Borders (Atheés Sans Frontières). I'm arriving around 6pm on Thursday and leaving Sunday afternoon. Anyone else going? Contact me by email so we can get together. Maybe food and beverages on Thursday evening? (My address is at the top of the left sidebar.)
Most of Montréal is on a large island in the middle of the St. Lawrence river. The site was occupied by the St. Lawrence Iroquois when the first Europeans arrived in the 1530's. They had established a large village called Hochelaga but this village was largely deserted by the time Europeans constructed the first settlement in 1611.1 My ancestor, Barthélemy Montarras, was a soldier in the Compagnie Froment, Le régiment de Carignan, based in Montréal around 1665.
The dominant feature of the city is Mont Royal (Mount Royal) a group of hills right in the middle of Montréal island. The hills were first scaled by Jacques Cartier in 1535. A wooden cross was erected in 1635. The giant illuminated cross that we see today was built in 1924.Montréal has several half-decent universities but, more importantly, it has many excellent bistros and cafés. I hope to try several of them this weekend. There are some special dishes that you just can't get in Toronto—or if you can get them, they're not nearly as good. It's sad that some of my friends won't be able to sample the smoked meat or the poutine due to restrictions imposed by their doctor.
1. Quebec City was founded in 1608. Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1608 and the Mayflower arrived in Massachusetts in 1620.
I live south of the border, and though familiar with Toronto, hv never been to Montreal or Viille de Quebec till rently. What acharming time we had. I had forgotten what it means to take vacation. Lovely cities, and lovelier people. I mean it, went crosseyed gawking at women! And genuinely friendly folk, neither touristy obsequious nor rude. I got to eat poutine, actually a large family shared meal, had some great desserts, and quaffed awesome light beer! Quebec, mon cherie, je me souviens!
ReplyDeleteDidierot
If you want something truly delicious, you have to get a poutine with Montreal Smoked meat on top.
ReplyDeleteGee I love Montréal. I need to get back there. I miss living weekend-trip distance away.
ReplyDeleteRats. We're due to be up in Montreal 10/9...would have enjoyed meeting up. Anyway, have fun!
ReplyDeleteSee you there, Larry. We'll be bringing PZ from the airport.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget the bagels! For those who didn't know, Montreal has a style of bagel that is outrageously good, and can be placed up against New York's in quality. Smaller, a bit sweet, with a lovely fragrance from the wood-burning ovens they are cooked in. Mmmmmmmmmm.
ReplyDeleteGood thing about those half-decent universities :-)
ReplyDeleteFood-wise, my favorite thing in Montreal is creperies.
I'll be doing double duty as a convention volunteer and a CFI rep. Come to the Blasphemy Rights Party at 8pm!
ReplyDeleteHave fun! Try to drag some of your fellow atheists to a boîte à chanson.
ReplyDeleteCleanup in Aisle 9!
ReplyDeleteI'll be in Philadelphia seeing the Darwiniana at the Philosophical Society.
ReplyDeletescience cannot explain NOTHING!
ReplyDeleteHa - I've been working on nothing for years. Think I'm close to cracking it.
Larry, you have *got* to take up DM's offer of tea! Stick the meeting up on YouTube.
Montreal - my wife's home city (though she grew up in Tronno).
Definitely stop by Schwartz, Frite Alors, and L'Avenue. Schwartz for obvious reasons, Frite Alors for their poutine, and L'Avenue for their delicious brunch.
ReplyDeleteHello, I am so a descendant of Of Barthélemy Montarras
ReplyDeleteJanet Johnson
Brothers Lawrence (Larry), Peter, Paul