More Sightseeing in Montreal
Our hotel, The Travelodge, on Rue Levesque was very close to Montreal's Chinatown. (This hotel, by the way, deserves a full entry by itself as one of the world's worst. I wrote a review about it shortly upon our return to San Francisco on Tripadvisor. Check it out. See it under the heading: Stay away like a plague!.) Coming from SanFrancisco, I can say that the Chinatown in Montreal is just a fraction in size of the Chinatown we have back home in Northern California. Anyway, it is similar in that it is full of restaurants and dim sum places. We went there a couple a times so I could get my fix of Asian food.
Next to Chinatown is the humongous Palais du Congress or Convention Center.
This building is so colorful. It particularly looked impressive at night.
Another view of the Palais de Congress
This building is Montreal's version of San Francisco's Moscone Center
I was quite surprised to see a subway station in Montreal also named Metropolitain just like the one in Paris. Even the font of the sign is the exactly the same.
During our first day in Montreal, the shuttle we took from the airport to the hotel passed by the Basilique Cathedrale Marie Reine du Monde. The facade of the Cathedrale was truly impressive. We visited the cathedral several times during our stay in Montreal.
The Cathedrale Marie Reine du Monde
This is a must see when in Montreal. It is centrally located along one of the main avenues in the city.
Here's a partial close up view of the cathedral's facade.
Here's another view taken from one of the cathedral's sides.
Me with the Basilique-Cathedral Marie Reine de Monde in the background
Inside the Basilique-Cathedrale Marie Reine du Monde
A view of the main entrance to the Cathedrale Basilique Marie Reine de Monde
The Baldaquin or Baldachin which resembled the one inside St. Peter's in Rome
A close up look of the Baldachin. How grand!
Right across the Basilique-Cathedrale Marie Reine du Monde, is the very tall Sun Life Building as well as the monument dedicated to the soliders in the Boer War in South Africa
A closer look at the Equestrian Statue
Another angle of the Equestrian Statue of the monument dedicated to the soldiers of the Boer W
The monument dedicated to Queen Elizabeth in Dorchester Square (formerly called Dominion Square)
The Monument of Sir John MacDonald, Canada's First Prime Minister at MacDonald Park,
The Monument of Sir John MacDonald, Canada's First Prime Minister at MacDonald Park
Place du Canada
The Anglican Christ Church on St. Catherine Street in downtown Montreal
Inside the Anglican Christ Church
The altar inside the Anglican Christ Church up close
An even closer view of the altar
Rue Ste. Catherine is a popular destination among locals and tourists alike in Montreal. Why? It's the shopping!
La Baie is Canada's version of the States' Macy's
You go inside and you will think you are shopping in another Macy's Department Store.
The look and feel is so similar.
A few blocks north of Rue Ste. Catherine is McGill University.
This is the university's School of Management
The university's Department of East Asian Studies Building
The university library
TheMcGill University bookstore
Another view of the McGill University campus
From McGill University, we had lunch in one of the food courts inside a mall along Ste. Catherine and then we headed to the Biosphere, a geodesic sphere on the grounds of the 1967 World's Fair
The Biosphere
Close by was the Casino du Montreal. We took the shuttle that took tourists from the Biosphere to the casino and gambled a little bit.
A model of the Casino Montreal and its environs. Unfortunately, no one was allowed to take pictures of the casino. This was the only image I could take of it.
The best part of our visit was that both Marc and I each won $50 (Canadian) from playing the slots. What great luck! Next stop: Beaudry, Montreal's Gay Area
To get there, we took the Metro Train from Berri UQAM station. Meanwhile this was the scene outside the station. People playing chess and having fun one summer afternoon.
The entrance to the Berri UQAM Metro Station
Inside the Berri UQAM (University of Quebec at Montreal) Metro Station
Other passengers waiting for trains inside the Berri UQAM Metro Station
Inside the Berri UQAM Metro Station waiting for the train that was going to take us to Beaudry.
Excited to see Beaudry, Montreal's version of SF's Castro. The following were some scenes from Beaudry Street
Scenes from Beaudry Street
This is the Oscar Wilde Bar and Restaurant
I was quite surprised to see lots of saunas or sex clubs in Beaudry. They were practically on every block in the village. How open and liberal these Canadians are!
Here are some of the beautifully decorated bars. See the images of the drag queens?
