Montreal Part II
Travel Excursion
By Patrice Raplee
Last month, Travel Excursion visited Montreal, Quebec for a three-part
destination expose. This month TE explores Old Montreal and the international
shopping above and below ground.
Old Montreal is a charming and fascinating haven for visitors with
its spectacular architecture, port, museums, art galleries, boutiques,
cafes and restaurants. Narrow cobblestone streets that date back to
the origins of the French Colony meander past magnificent stone buildings
from the 1700s. Public squares inhabit Old Montreal and are filled
with colorful street performers, artisans and their wares during the
warmer months. An array of outdoor sidewalk-cafes that serve marvelous
cuisine surround many of the bustling squares; visitors can dine on
French delicacies and not miss the activity that constantly pervades
Old Montreal.
Part of the charm of the area is to wander off the beaten path and
find superb little cafes that have been created in multi-level stone
courtyards and tucked away between buildings. These restaurants and
cafes present an authentic European atmosphere and gourmet fare that
attracts locals and visitors from all over the world. For one of the
finest steak and seafood restaurants in the historic section and with
a fascinating history, visit Gibbys on Place d’Youville. Built
in 1740, Gibbys stone architecture and courtyard is the quintessential
embodiment of French ambience.
In this historic section of town, walking tours are available, as well
as horse-drawn carriage rides. The sound of the horses’ hooves
clopping along the cobblestones, coupled with the European architecture
and faint aroma of mingled cuisine and wine wafting on the breeze is
a divine setting for a sunset stroll along the quaint avenues.
There are numerous attractions in Old Montreal, including five history
museums, 30 art galleries and glorious cathedrals. The Notre-Dame Basilica
presents a spectacular sound and light performance of the historic
birth of Montreal and the Basilica in this gothic revival church. If
you seek a bit of modern entertainment, the Montreal Science Centre
is located on the pier of the Old Montreal Port and houses interesting
exhibitions and an Imax theatre. The old port runs along the St. Lawrence
River, with a walking promenade that features a multitude of attractions
and restaurants.
If shopping is the order of business for the day, there
are exquisite boutiques offering everything from art, chic and alternative
clothing
and shoes, to gourmet wines and cheeses. For visitors who seek medieval
apparel or acquirements, the shop Excalibor is unsurpassed in its quality
of merchandise. Located on Rue Saint Paul, this unique boutique draws
global customers for the craftsmanship of its swords and authentically
recreated medieval clothing and accessories. Customers may also order
merchandise online at www.excalibor.com .
A popular shopping center for visitors is the Bonsecours Market, also
located on Rue Saint Paul. Formerly the old city hall from 1847, the
building is a reminder of the classical revival style that was in vogue
at that time. The market houses some of the finest boutiques in the
area. The Bonsecours is also illuminated in the evening, as are most
of the buildings in the heart of Old Montreal and worth the perusal
even in the chillier months.
Old Montreal is a destination in itself and is the city’s birthplace.
Plan on at least two full days to capture the essence of this magnificent
historically preserved conurbation.
Downtown Montreal is the international shopping Mecca with
Sainte-Catherine Ouest, (West) Street that is often compared with 5th
Avenue Street
in New York. While there are smatterings of older style architecture
and churches mixed in, the modern downtown area features the pulse
of the city. Every block is filled with famous designers of apparel,
jewelry and accessories; Versace, Prada, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana,
Louis Vouitton, Long Champ, Tiffany and Channel. Montreal offers the
best shopping outside of New York, from gorgeous affordable fashions
to embarrassingly expensive couture. Streets such as Sainte Catherine,
Sherbrooke, Maisonneuvu, Rue Peel and McGill showcase boutiques and
shopping centers, as well as fabulous restaurants, cafes and coffee
bistros.
For reasonable prices on apparel and accessories, try Les Ailes De
La Mode, Simons, Eaton Center and La Baie on Sainte Catherine. There
are also numerous boutiques above and below ground in the city’s
malls that are filled with excellent bargains. For haute couture of
designer status, Ogilvy on the corner of Del La Montagne purveys scrumptious
jewelry, handbags, shoes and clothing. The celebrities of course frequent
Holt Renfrew on Sherbrooke Street. This glamorous couture habitat presents
Prada and Gucci in a setting truly befitting the elite! If couture
is your partner’s preference and you desire other shopping options,
Holt Renfrew also provides a marvelous little culinary section.
The best men’s boutique in Montreal is L’uomo, located
on Rue Peel. Italian fashions encompass this establishment and the
selection is quite impressive. For the gentleman who embraces European
fit and style, L’uomo is worth a trip to Montreal. If Italian
fashion is not desirable, Ralph Lauren is just a few blocks away on
Sherbrooke Street.
Jewelry purveyors are sprinkled among the boutiques of downtown
and certainly there are the ultra expensive; however, there is Maidor,
an exquisite establishment for the discerning customer of fine jewelry,
located on Rue University. Maidor creates exceptional works of art
and provides the finest of stones for much less than the other
upscale jewelry stores in Montreal. If a customer has a design in mind,
the
jewelry artisans of Maidor can craft the piece perfectly or help
a customer to design something new. TE highly recommends visiting
Maidor
if you wish the highest quality of jewelry and personal service
for the best price. For additional information go to www.maidor.com or
call 514-875-7960.
Winter in Montreal is extreme and this is the reason the city has
underground malls that run beneath the entire downtown area.
Anything you can think
to purchase or eat is located in this subterranean paradise,
including access to the metro, train station and sports centers.
An amazing
interlace of stores and restaurants on various levels winds through
underground
and connects to office and mall entrances above ground. A person
need not surface until they wish to go home!
Montreal is a multi-faceted city that offers an enormous variety
of different attractions, shopping, dining, music and art.
The sights and establishments that TE features on the Montreal
series
is but
a
small scratch of the surface on a city that is the exciting
focus of international travel. Join us next month for a continuing
exploration of the magnificent city of Montreal!
For additional information on Montreal go to http://www.tourisme-montreal.org
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