TRAVEL // Montreal, Quebec

Monday 1 June 2015

Hello!
Are you guys ready for my next instalment of my travel photos? Of course you are!
After a few days in Toronto, I grabbed my bags and jumped on a 4 hour train to Montreal. We met the most adorable Canadian couple who said 'ey' at the end of pretty much every sentence and who had been married for 60 years or something. They gave us lots of tips too - especially on marriage. You know you've got a winner if you have a husband who lets you eat crackers in bed apparently.


We filled up on lots of breakfast and pretty much ran out of the door of our hotel (The Montreal Travelodge - cheapest we could find and not fantastic but the location was brilliant!) We wandered down towards the Basilica Notre Dame and had a little walk around. The city itself was beautiful and seemed a lot more European than other places I have visited in Canada/the States. However, finding something open on a Monday is very challenging. No museums are open on Mondays unfortunately so beware if you are only doing a short trip!


The first place we really wanted to visit was the Basilica and it cost just $5 (I'm pretty sure) to have a wander in. It was absolutely spectacular. I have not seen anywhere like it for quite some time. It was really early in the morning and so wasn't too busy, thankfully. I think we must have spent a good hour in there in awe of it's beauty.



One thing that really got me was that everything really was in French! I'd just been in Toronto where everything was pretty darn English. 4 hours later and I had to figure out directions in French? Utter madness! 


As the day went on we lost multiple maps due to the winds that picked up all dust from the road and shoved it in your eye (sunglasses are a must!) I now need to go to Chicago just to see if the winds are stronger because if Chicago is the windy city - what is Montreal? I popped up to McGill University because I just cannot help myself when it comes to city university campuses. It's nice to see other prettier universities when yours is a concrete jungle with a lake (Sorry UEA!)


In the late afternoon/evening I made my sister pop into Timmie's (I miss those maple dip donuts so much!) to get a little pick me up before trekking up Mount Royal for a view of the city. It's quite a lot of stairs but 100% worth it. I may have wished that I fell down those stairs multiple times but the views were absolutely amazing. We could have had a clearer day (especially as it had been 25 degrees during the day!) and then it started to pour down with rain but that just gives me another excuse to go right?

And so that was my day in Montreal! I wish we could have stayed a bit longer and managed to see the museums but with 18 days to do 5 cities - something has got to suffer. I absolutely loved Montreal and would 100% go back if I had the chance.

Have you been to Montreal? What are your top tips? Let me know!

32 comments :

  1. Replies
    1. Isn't it so cheeky? I couldn't resist taking a photo!

      :)

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  2. I find reading your travel posts super inspiring Rachael! I feel like you're reminding me there is so much WORLD out there that I need to see! Thankyou :)
    Rebecca | The Two Twenty Somethings
    Xx

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    Replies
    1. Wow, thank you so much! That's so lovely! There is so much to see - I'm just so lucky I got to see so much in such a short period of time!

      :)

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  3. Great pictures! It looks like you had a great time :)

    Natalie Ann xo // Petal Poppet Blogs ♥

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  4. Such great pictures! I love getting to see peoples travel photos, so thank you for sharing!

    Georgia | The Weekend Attic - Personal Style, Beauty and Lifestyle

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  5. Maple dip doughnuts? They sound heavenly!
    Wow, gorgeous views and lovely pictures as well my dear. So jealous of you and your travels!

    A Little Twist Of…

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    Replies
    1. Thanks lovely! And oh, they are! The maple cream ones are horrible though - the cream is no good!

      :)

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  6. I grew up in Montreal, and I love visiting home now that I live in Toronto. My favorite thing to do in Montreal is definitely visit Old Port, it's incredible in the summer :)

    RachelShuchatMakeup

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    Replies
    1. I bet it's a lot of fun visiting home! I can imagine Old Port is gorgeous in the summer!

      :)

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  7. Looks like you are having a fab time!x
    Jess x
    www.momentsofbeautywars.blogspot.co.uk

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  8. Nice pictures! It looks great there, i've never been to Canada. I have family there, so i feel ashamed right now i never visited them haha, but it looks nice! (:

    Renate | MissRenate.com | Bloglovin'

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! I'd visit asap! I left about a month ago and already wish I was back. Who needs America when you need Canada eh?

      :)

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  9. I'd love to visit Canada. Montreal looks really cool.

    Samio
    www.samio.co.uk

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  10. Looks like a lovely place to visit, I'd like to go some day (: http://www.coffeeatmidnight13.blogspot.co.uk/

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    Replies
    1. It's definitely worth a visit. I wish I was there right now!

      :)

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  11. Your photographs are amazing and the basilica looks utterly awe inspiring! x
    fashionismyfirstlanguage.blogspot.ie

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! It was stunning. I didn't know what I was expecting but I was not expecting what I saw!

      :)

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  12. I've always wanted to visit here and it looks amazing! You took such beautiful photos. Thanks for sharing your trip! Making me very jealous! xx


    Sophie Elizabeth
    www.popcornandglitter.co.uk

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much - that really means a lot! It is so lovely in Montreal. I'd definitely recommend it.

      :)

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  13. I've never been to Montreal before but I love Canada, the church place looks amazing though! Love little moose mug haha x

    www.thoughneweyesx.com

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    Replies
    1. Doesn't it just? I wish I had picked up that moose mug!

      :)

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  14. Amazing pictures - looks like you had a lovely trip! That cathedral looks incredible. :)
    theemeralddove21.blogspot.co.uk

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  15. Looks like a wonderful trip. Beautiful photos, and the views from Mount Royal are breathtaking.
    Xo Amanda | http://sansscrubs.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Thank you so much - the view from Mount Royal was amazing!

      :)

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  16. Your travel posts make me so excited haha, I really want to travel some day! Montreal sounds amazing, the view from the top of that hike looks gorgeous :)

    Hannah x | hannatalks

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    1. It's so lovely in Montreal! I'd love to go back! I just want to be out travelling right now. I have this insane need to go to Alaska right now!

      :)

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Thank you so much for commenting! I appreciate every single one of them and will get back to them as soon as I can :)