Montreal in December?

akptc

akptc

Shoot first, think later
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Dec 9, 2005
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Calling out to all Montrealers. I will be visiting there in late December - early January and hope you can help me out.

Firstly, does it really get THAT cold over there? I hope to avoid packing a suitcase of thermal underwear.

Secondly, which parts of the city would you recommend for spectacular winterscapes?

Thanks in advance.

Andy
 
It is going to be cold. If you are photographer who walks a lot.
Montreal is the best Canadian city for visiting. Subway is not rudimental. :)

You could go everywhere from water front in Old Port up to the Montain, which is worth to go up to as well.
Montreal is city where vibrant is true meaning.
 
If you want to avoid the cold explore the underground city. Somehow there are over twenty miles (under thirty miles) of shops and tunnels that are all connected and together are the worlds largest underground structure. I was only able to explore a small part of it.

The mapping was not clear to me, and I did not have the time to explore fully. The interconnections are rather extensive, and it seems that if one wanted to you could live in a building that is connected to the underground, do all your shopping, and even go to work without needing a coat or going outside. Could be like living in a bubble.

Anyways could be a great adventure.

Montreal is about half the size of NYC, and it is a great city.

Cal
 
At the moment it's -4°F! I live in that type of weather and can't wander about to photograph. Add the wind and it's brutal. The underground world sounds great.

John
 
johnwolf said:
At the moment it's -4°F! I live in that type of weather and can't wander about to photograph. Add the wind and it's brutal. The underground world sounds great.

John
Click to expand...

John,

I think visiting Montreal's Underground City would be a great week's vacation and it seems for a tourist it might take a week to actually see and experience. If I had the time I would love to create a Montreal Meet-Up to do just that.

Not only a cool place to shoot, but kinda like exploring the bowels of Montreal.

From what I researched there wasn't a guide book I could buy, and maybe one has yet to be created.

Cal
 
Andy, good thing your not flying in this weekend as I'll bet flights will see cancellations because of huge storm coming. And Cal; Montreal has only 1 1/2 million people compared to your 8 million plus in New York. Montreal is a lot smaller than 1/2. Older parts of Montreal are nice for taking photos. If you can do it; Quebec city is our oldest city, and great pic's available there
 
oltimer said:
Andy, good thing your not flying in this weekend as I'll bet flights will see cancellations because of huge storm coming. And Cal; Montreal has only 1 1/2 million people compared to your 8 million plus in New York. Montreal is a lot smaller than 1/2. Older parts of Montreal are nice for taking photos. If you can do it; Quebec city is our oldest city, and great pic's available there
Click to expand...

O,

I think my 4 million number is likely the greater Montreal area? or am I confusing Montreal with Toronto? Still Montreal is a great city. One and a half million kinda explains why Montreal is so clean. I really loved the Montreal waterfront.

Here in NYC we are now currently 8.6 million. We were 8.4 million not too long ago.

Anyways my stays in both Toronto and Montreal were both too short. Quebec city is on my list. Thanks for the clarity.

I wonder if someone could give some details about the Underground City. It seemed like one had to be a local to learn how to navigate it and find all the connections.

Thanks in advance.

Cal
 
oltimer said:
At 4 million Cal; you "were thinking about Toronto"
Click to expand...

O,

I was there in August. A lot like NYC with 180 languages (NYC has only 200). Half the city's population is immigrants, and in a militarily statagic location that was defended bravely.

Thanks for the clarity.

Cal
 
Ah, Quebec City.. used to go for the winter festival every year, well, really the ralley de Quebec, but fell on the same week. Great city.
 
Tin said:
Here are some photos of the underground city:

http://montreal.about.com/od/historypeopleplaces/ig/Underground-City/

And here is a map from the same site:

http://montreal.about.com/od/underground-city/ss/Montreal-Underground-City-Map.htm

And of course I have never been there. I only read about right in this thread.


Tin
Click to expand...

Tin,

Thanks so much for the links.

It seems I can feel relieved that I'm not just a clueless tourist, and that navigating the Underground City really is a challenge.

Kinda like urban orienteering, and really is a challenge.

The idea of actually coming up with an even better map or documenting this area could lead to creating a well needed guide/book.

I take no exception if someone else does make a guide and profits from it. The guide would help a lot of people, and I for one would use it.

Cal
 
So I went on a search and on Wikipedia they say 1/2 a million people pass through the Undergound City every day. It connects McGill University, Montreal Museum of Arts, Concordia University, Universite de Montreal along with additional other campus tunnel networks.

There are 32 kilometers of tunnels (20 miles) under a 12 square kilometers of the most densely populated part of Montreal.

There are 120 exterior entrance points including 60 or so in Metro Stations.

BTW the Underground City is climate controlled, whatever that means. Does seem like one could explore a good part of Montreal without needing a coat in the dead of winter.

Also there are some parts that are ground level, and it is reported there are also enclosed "skyways" so the term Underground City is a bit of a misnomer.

Cal
 
Cal, I completely forgot about the underground stuff until you mentioned it, and of course Tin putting up the added bonus. I know the better Hotels their talk about it; and of course the cities Tourist brochures mention it. For me Quebec city being the oldest in Canada; and in fact dates to 1600, is the tourist location as 1st for many.
 
oltimer said:
Cal, I completely forgot about the underground stuff until you mentioned it, and of course Tin putting up the added bonus. I know the better Hotels their talk about it; and of course the cities Tourist brochures mention it. For me Quebec city being the oldest in Canada; and in fact dates to 1600, is the tourist location as 1st for many.
Click to expand...

O,

Canada is pretty easy to get to for me. I have used Amtrac because I don't own a car. When in Montreal and Toronto we walked the city and did not use any public transportation.

You guys are so polite, kinda made me ashamed of being a New Yorker. Also in Toronto you guys actually follow the law and it is not a free for all like her in NYC. Over a week I saw only a handful of people jay-walk, both pedestrians, cyclists, and motor vehicles actually respectively yield right away. I guess if you are Canadian you might not take notice.

Anyways in a strange twist all your good manners was rude to me. LOL. Actually made me realize how rude and annoying I am. LOL. Anyways it was hard for me to be good. My gal yelled at me a few times because I was not respecting the culture. LOL.

I enjoy history. Back in 1992 you guys kinda lost your triple AAA bond rating and it created a crisis, but under a liberal government you cut the budget and went into austerity mode, but you created what some people call VAT to raise revenues to pay down the debt. Anyways it took about a decade and you got your AAA bond rating back.

Anyways I don't know if what Canada performed could be done in the U.S. I know there is the good, the bad, and the ugly; but I can see how me/we Americans are bad neighbors.

What I saw in Toronto and Montreal is the redevelopments, large amounts of construction, and an infiltration of wealthy who likely are not Canadians. This is similar to what is happening here in NYC. Boy wish I could buy a loft in the Old City in Montreal. I like Montreal because it is only about 6 hours by train to NYC.

Anyways I kinda appreciate what you guys have, and of course I'm aware that you guys are going through a rough patch with the low oil prices.

I read a story about an American who went to see a baseball game in Toronto. It was likely the Yankees or Red Sox if I remember correctly, and they first played The Star Spangled Banner. It was reported that the Blue Jay fans clapped and cheered rather loudly, but when the Canadian Anthem was going to be played it was reported all was quiet any one could hear a pin drop in the sold out stadium, and then something started a clamour of sorts that spiraled into deafening roar. It was clear to the author that Canadians love their country.

I am not a baseball fan, but out of all the teams after visiting Toronto I kinda am a Blue Jays fan. It was interesting how the fans and families really supported their team. It left a deep-deep impression that was beautiful.

Anyways I want you guys to know I appreciate your great cities.

Vancouver is also on my list.

Cal
 
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