Impressions sur Montréal

Soyez bienvenue à Montréal! 

I've been here a week now and am loving it! First impressions, Montrealers are super hospitable and friendly, well of course, other than when they're driving... I think I just might be one of the most law-abiding drivers on the island, and for those of you who know how I drive, well that's saying something! No worries, I'm picking up the "appropriate" hand gestures and honking signals quickly enough. 

View through my bedroom window

Last weekend I thoroughly explored the shops of Rue Ste-Catherine downtown, and quickly used up a healthy chunk of my clothing & shoes budget for the year... Money well spent though, it felt good to start the week at my new office with an updated wardrobe, from new boots to scarves and winter hats. :)

Expecting a weekend of rain, I was thrilled to wake up to a sunny day this morning, so I decided to break in my new boots and go for a stroll down to Vieux Montreal, just 1km from my apartment. 

Lovely fall weather

Ok, so I think I live in the hood, but it's a quiet hood, so not bad.  :)

Lachine Canal

Found my way to Vieux Montreal, and stopped in at the first bustling breakfast café I spotted, conveniently at the corner of "Evans Court". :) Grabbed my café allongé (which is apparently just a slightly larger espresso) and brioche avec sirop d’érable (maple & pecan cinnamon bun) to go, and strolled down to the docks.

Vieux Ports

Bonsecour Market

View of downtown from across the canal

I walked about as far as my blisters from my new boots allowed, and then rented a bixi bike (brilliant idea Montreal!) and cruised back along the canal to pick up my weekly groceries at Marché Atwater and buy some blister patches for my feet. :( I felt very metropolitan as I cruised along the canal on my rental bike, in my knee high boots & skinny jeans, with my scarf and hair flowing in the wind. Bike helmets and spandex are for the "commoners", cyclists here are fashionistas on wheels. 

Marché Atwater

Les citrouilles!

Finished up my shopping, packed it into the little rack on the front of my bike, and cruised home just in time as it clouded over and started to rain.

Beautiful clouds

Looking forward to exploring more of Montréal, and I've already gotten myself an invite to a girls' weekly dinner club, so yaay, now I have an excuse to try out all the fantastic restaurants around town. Local hockey arena & pool just 3 min from my apartment, and the YCMA gym is just 2 min the other direction, so I'm feeling more & more at home here everyday! :)