From the Hotel it is a short walk to the old city, Vieux Montréal. It’s interesting to hear French all around you, however one big difference with France is that these French speaking people do speak English as well However, I tried to speak in French as much as possible. It was tough though, as my last French class is about 15 years ago and I’ve never used French a lot.

Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours

Inside Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours

Walking around Vieux-Montréal it became clear that the French immigrants really tried to build a new city that felt like home. It really feels French, the style of the houses, wine at lunchtime, the beautifully painted interrior of the Chappelle Notra-Dame-de-Bon-Secours (from 1655) and the many nice restaurants and lunchrooms. If I didn’t know I was in Canada I would really say I was in France

Rue Saint-Paul

A short walk from the Chapel is the Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal. I did not go in as you had to pay an entrance fee and I have seen quite a number of nice old(er) churches around Europe already, and the outside is nice as well.

Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal

After having had a dark beer and some soup for lunch at Les 3 Brasseurs (they brew their own abbey style beer) and some more walks around the old city center I walked into the new center. The new city center is much more modern and feels more Northern American, although with a European twist.