Montreal, Quebec
By Luc Bussieres
3 Jun 2009
What city do you live in? What neighborhood?
I live in Montreal in the borough "Plateau Mont-Royal", this borough is so close to everything, we don't even need a car, we can easily walk to the downtown area where all of our famous festivals take place and luckily all outdoor activities are free : The Jazz Festival, Just for Laughs, The Francofolies as well as the African music festival, just to name a few.
What are some adjectives that describe your neighborhood?
The "Plateau Mont-Royal" is one of the hippest places in Montreal although every borough has their own "cachet" where all cultures are celebrated.
How long have you lived there, and what brought you there?
I was born in Montreal in 1962.
What is your favorite thing about this place? Your least favorite?
What I love about Montreal are the festivals in the summer especially all the life, culture and fun that comes with it.
What I dislike the most is the way Montrealers drive, they don't obey the laws, and often 2 or 3 cars will pass on the red light so the wont have to wait for the next one.
Do you feel that you belong there?
Yes, I'm a real urban person and I love living close to all the action, when I need quiet time, I wake up at 3am and drive out of the city to a remote location to do some photography and I love listening to the sound of birds and nature waking up.
What is the most common misconception about where you live?
"That it's a dangerous city" (misconception coming mostly from small rural villages)
You can walk without care at night downtown or in my borough and not be afraid. There are some boroughs (like anywhere else) that I wouldn't venture out with my Nikon D200 on my shoulder not to attract any trouble.
What is a special fact about your city that you have to live there to know?
We have an underground city that spans over a 30 km network under the downtown area, this being the largest in the world, it's very useful during snow storms or harsh winter days.
What aspect of your city do you secretly love?
It's not a secret to anyone around me that I love the cold winter days because of the beauty and colors they bring out.
Anything else you'd like to add?
On Sunday afternoons, at the bottom of the Mont-Royal, when it's nice out, over a hundred Tam-Tam players come out and jam together, it's a special occasion for everyone to enjoy the sun, listen and dance to the rhythm of the music.
1 response
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Rey mos gave props (3 Jun 2009):
Just reminded me of my Xmas holiday in 2007, including an overnite stay in Montreal! I remembered that we have to queu just to buy "bagel" in the popular store.
