I enjoy hanging out in Montreal, so I decided to do so from Thursday until Sunday last week to ring in my twenty-ninth birthday – or at least that was my excuse. Some of you may remember my Montreal pictures from last August.
This time I decided to drive. Better to be boxed in a car for under seven hours than crammed in a train for nearly eleven. At least that was my logic.
Driving came with its own problems.
But being pulled over in upstate New York to start the trip and blowing a tire in Montreal to end it could not ruin three sunny days in the City of Saints with a close friend. You can find snapshots of the long weekend below.
Whenever I go again, I’ll make sure it’s in July when the city hosts the world’s largest comedy festival. Endless stand up sounds like my kind of party.
For now I’m looking forward to a solo trip to Vietnam in December.
On Thursday, August 27th, I left Plainfield at around 5am to pick up my friend Dana from Queens on the way to Montreal
Later that day, Montreal’s prolific Haitian-Canadian writer Dany Laferriere stepped onto the red carpet for the premier of “Muhammad: Messenger of God”. We just happened to end up here on a long walk.
The film was supported by the Iranian regime, and a protest took place a block away in support of Iranian political prisoners.
A look down Saint Catherine Street in the arts district
During our stay, a festival called Nuit Blanche was taking place in the Plateau neighborhood where our apartment was. Performers, fine artists, and vendors lined the streets from the morning until very late at night.
What colors, on the morning of Friday, August 28
Two trains arrive at the same time at Sherbrook Metro Station
Cabbage at Jean-Talon Market, Friday, August 28
I laughed. Please forgive my childish sense of humor
Montreal from atop Mont Royal
A friendly squirrel
The squirrel even let Dana pet it
Interesting sculpture at McGill University
I love these bike lanes. In most cities, while bike lanes are safer, you are still one mishap from being hit. Not in Montreal, where curbs often separate the bike lanes from the street.
Old school Bell payphones were everywhere. I just had to.
I posted pictures of “Graffiti Grandma” (my name, not theirs) last time I visited. I was happy to learn that she hadn’t yet been replaced.
A new mural
This one replaced a Tupac mural.
At the Chinatown entrance
Notre Dame Basilica
Every trip deserves a selfie
Back at the Nuit Blanche festival, artists on Friday painted in the middle of the street.
People born in the 80s and 90s might member “Doug” on Nickelodeon. This looks just like the Honker Burger. It was a good place for 3am fries.
Got a flat tire during the afternoon of Saturday, August 29th, on our only drive through Montreal. It wasn’t a problem until the only person who fixed flats on Sunday told me that my tire was destroyed, and that he didn’t have one to fit my car. Suppliers were all closed. Luckily he found one in a pile out back.
The stairs at Saint Joseph’s Oratory
Through the doors
It was pretty scary with the organ playing, and statues like these
The dome above
Proof that decrepit and badly maintained storefronts can still be quite charming, if they are retro enough
I’ll need help figuring this new mural out.
Dana got a tattoo on Saturday night. I did not.
The best sandwich I’ve ever eaten. Grilled tempeh with cashew cheese.
Plainfield View 
I’ve never been there and I really enjoyed yourcreative picture tour! and glad u didn’t go for a tatoo! so simplistic some youth of to-day!
Loved the pictures. Looks like you had a great time. Can’t wait for more!