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Montréal, Québec

Three and a half days wasn't really enough for Montréal.
     It's not exactly that there are thousands of things to do- not for a European, anyway- but just to soak up enough of the rich atmosphere would probably take another week.
     As far from Vancouver as from Europe, Montréal is a truly bilingual city. Though all signs are written only secondarily, if at all, in English, most people speak both this and French, and maybe a couple more languages as well. One of my favourite things has been starting a conversation in English, et puis qu'on continue en Francais. The city is even roughly split in two by its two half-heritages, the business district ruled by the literal-minded anglophones and the cool centreville by les francophones who remain so proud of their language.
     We managed to spend the weekend here going to only one museum- any longer touristy stay would merit visiting a couple more, considering their abundance in the city. This is one of those rare places in Canada where there actually is history before the 1700s, so museums, galleries and churches pepper the place, offering brilliant architecture from outside and fascinating stories inside.
     The museum we chose was the Centre du Science. Voila l'exposition principale-





           Say no more.
     Il reste, bien sur, the origin of the name- Montréal is easily derived from the name Mont Royal, the tree-topped hill that sticks out unceremoniously from the middle of the city. On well-tempered Sundays, this landmark- turned- venue teems with the people of Montréal, francophones and anglophones alike, for a Tam Tam. Visitors all come together to play in drum circles, practice circus arts, shop at al-fresco stalls and partake in a spontaneous swordfight with no teams, winner or real structure.

     

     It's hard to think of a comparable spontaneous public gathering. Where else would you see people from age seven up to fifty, whether dressed in Abercrombie, full armour or bare-chested hitting out at one another with foam-wrapped toy swords? Where else would a bunch of bankers, bakers, skateboarders all gather together to play their hand-drums? Where else would the passing smell of marijuana form just part of the nasal mix?
     Well, a lot of places for that last one.

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