I checked into the Intercontinental Montreal on 24th May – my last stop on this round the world trip.

Like other Canadian cities, Montreal is connected to a network of underground tunnels that connect office buildings, shopping malls and Metro stations to allow locals to stay underground during the harsh winters. I had the city before about 20 years ago but couldn’t remember much of it. Just as Quebec City reminded me of Luxembourg, Montreal brought Paris to mind with its Metro signs (and rubber wheeled trains)

I started off in the old City which dates back to 1642 – Montreal is celebrating its 375th anniversary this year.

I came across a lovely old hotel called Hostellerie Pierre Du Calvet (www.pierreducalvet.ca) which had much more character than my corporate hotel.

The City Hall (Hôtel de Ville) is not quite as old. The current building was completed in 1878 after the previous one burnt down.

Another building of note in the old City is the Notre Dame Basilica.

As you leave the old City towards the current City Centre, the buildings change again.

One old banking hall has been cleverly been converted by the Crew Collective (crew.co) – a new serviced office company who like their coffee (and architecture!)

The next day I headed out to Le Plateau – Mont Royal, a suburb north of the City Centre. It is mainly residential.

It is also home to L’Oratoire Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal – a Catholic Basilica – the largest church in Canada (and 27th largest in the world).

 

The area also has some colourful shops.

and Schwartz’s – a popular Hebrew Deli, famous for its Montreal style, smoked meat.

I was lucky with the weather again and I headed out to one of the parks to catch up on my reading.

I took a picnic from one of the local Boulangeries.

and came across this little chap.

The following day, I went out to the Olympic Park. Unfortunately, the tower in the stadium is being renovated and I was unable to go up to the top.

The city is very impressive at night with many of the buildings illuminated.

There is also an impressive sound and light (and water) show running on one of the piers as part of the 375th anniversary celebrations. Everything is projected onto some stacked shipping containers on the far pier.

On my last night I went to see Volta, the new show from Cirque Du Soleil (www.cirquedusoleil.com/volta).

Montreal was the final stop on my round the world trip and I flew back to London on 28th June. In the 147 days I have been travelling, I clocked up the following stats:

• 42,918 miles flown on 32 flights with 10 airlines
• Plus 4,454 miles by car, 276 miles by train and 150 miles by ferry
• 72 nights in hotels, 62 nights in hostels, 7 nights with friends and 6 on overnight flights
• 1 serious disease (Dysentery) and 1 displaced crown
• 1 good time had