Montreal

Here are some more pictures from our trip to Montreal. I liked the city, and was a bit surprised how French it was, so it really felt like you were outside of the U.S. I've only been to Canada once before (if you don't count the few times that I've been to the Niagara Falls on the Canada side), to Toronto, which has a much more "American" feel. In Montreal most people speak French, but of course they are bilingual, so no problem if French is not your strong suit. After New York most cities feel like small towns, and same with Montreal although it is a fairly big town with over 1.5 million people living there. It definitely felt less hurried, less business centric, less fashionable, and more provincial, more relaxed, more down-to-earth.

We stayed in the Marriott Chateau Champlain. Great location, and comfy beds ;-)

Olympic stadium and observation tower. 

Inside the dome, i.e., the Biodome, that hosts exhibits of the various ecosystems in the Americas

A fish in the Biodome.

Hotel lobby - the little lady hiding behind the curtain.

The view from our hotel window

What is it with kids and curtains? 

Leave the curtains alone!! 

Palais de Congres Montreal - convention center. Beautiful architecture! One of the best known Montreal buildings.

Montreal old town. 

An Egyptian solidarity demonstration close to our hotel. Peaceful, thank goodness.