About the City's Urban Quirks
There's a lot to love about most of Montréal's iconic urban fixtures. Emphasis on most, as I need to tell you first about the orange and white elephant in the room.
I Want to Know Why There are Cones Everywhere
No, Montréal isn't home to VLC Media Player. It is host to constant construction and road work. It's like the Sagrada Familia but spread out all over the place. They estimate Montréal will be completed in 3067. You'll see cones, construction signs, and lots of orange and white striped road barrels, like this one:
Meet Ponto, Montréal's unofficial mascot, created by cartoonist Tania Mignacca.
If you're on foot, biking or using public transport, it's not a problem. If you're driving though, as a visitor you will not have the best time. Be sure to use your favorite map app on your phone to help you navigate the ever-changing labyrinth of looping one-way streets and closed roads. Daedalus would be proud of our city planners.
It's Not all Detours and Potholes
Now that that's out of the way, I'd like to turn your attention to the more pleasant and unique urban traits of Montréal. Venturing in the residential districts, you will certainly run into the emblematic wrought iron balconies and outdoor staircases the city is known for. They're beautiful but they can be a bit scary, sometimes being really steep! If you go around the block you might happen upon one of our many ruelles vertes (green alleyways). People have been turning alleyways into parks and community spaces all over the city. There's now more than 450 of them! It's fun to take a stroll through these quiet and verdant spaces. You're likely to run into a lot of birds and cats, too!
Green isn't just for the alleys, it's everywhere! You'll most likely run into several parks, squares and urban planters all around. Unless you decide to spend your whole trip... underground? That's right, there's a vast network of pedestrian walkways, all under Montréal's downtown. This Underground City connects the Métro, office towers, both the McGill and UQAM universities, shopping malls, residential complexes and more to each other. You can even start your subterranean adventures right from the Intercontinental Hotel!
Landmarks & Sightseeing
Being an island, there are several bridges. The Jacques Cartier bridge is most likely the one you have in mind when thinking about Montréal. At night, an intricate system of LED lights traces patterns across its structure. The city got the nickname "la ville aux cent clochers" (the city of a hundred belltowers) from having so many churches, something north of 600! Amongst them are the beautiful Notre-Dame Basilica in the Old Port, and Saint Joseph's Oratory, the biggest church in Canada. The oratory is located on the Mont Royal, a mountain right in the middle of the island. That mountain in itself is another Montréal icon. In the distance, you might also spot another symbol, the Olympic Stadium, featuring the world’s tallest inclined tower! The Old Port (where we're staying) is also a charming area to explore, with its cobblestone streets lined with little cafés, bakeries, restaurants and shops.