Montreal's Japanese Garden

The serene Japanese Garden in Montreal stretches over 2.5 hectares and incorporates the traditional elements of stone, water and plants.  Designed by Ken Nakajima and opened in 1989, it is a typical stroll garden, inviting visitors to embark on a journey of contemplation, past stones set carefully to suggest mountains and valleys; around ponds and along streams that reflect the sky and clouds overhead; over arched or zigzag bridges; and through simple gardens featuring Japanese tree peonies, maples, irises and other plants. (Source)

Images of Montreal's Chinatown

This is at the corner of St-Laurent Bivd. and Viger Street. Proceed northwards on St-Laurent and you'll find grocery stores, diners, dim-sum houses, jewelry shops and Chinese herb shops.

Popular Chinese rotisserie showcase:
left: roast pork on hook
right: roast duck hanging from hooks
bottom: salted chicken and soya sauce chicken

Freshly baked goods Cantonese style available here. Specialty of the house: egg tarts (lower right) and poster on the right.

If you look for the two distinctive Chinese pavillions on the roof-top of the Holiday Inn Select Centreville, you'll know exactly where Montreal's Chinatown is.

McGill University: The Roddick Gates

The main entrance to McGill University is through the Roddick Gates at the corner of Sherbrooke Street and McGill College Avenue. Lady Roddick donated the gates to the university in memory of her late husband, Sir Thomas George Roddick, who was a doctor and dean of the Faculty of Medicine. They were officially opened by her on May 28, 1925.

Black and white photo source and more info:
1935 Graduating Procession, McCord Museum

Due to copyright restrictions, I cannot upload THIS photo from 1869 taken by one Alexander Anderson that depicts what it was like then !   I think it's priceless !

Maison Saint-Gabriel House, Montreal

This farmhouse is an example of French-inspired rural architecture: stone masonry, a pitched roof and a wood frame. Located in Pointe-Saint-Charles, 5 minutes drive from downtown Montreal, the Maison Saint-Gabriel House was purchased by Marguerite Bourgeoys in 1668. And for 300 years, it housed the Sisters of the Congregation de Notre-Dame of Montreal, who operated the farm to supply their own community. Currently, the museum is a great showcase of New France / Quebec rural farm-life... definitely worth a visit. I personally come once or twice a year just to enjoy the zen atmosphere and the surrounding gardens.

St. Henri Park: Jacques Cartier Monument

A tranquil little Montreal neighborhood park: the St. Henri Park has a very elaborate Victorian style fountain and a statute of Jacques Cartier perched at the top. The original sculpture was done by Joseph-Arthur Vincent but, in the 1990s, the Cartier statue was replaced with a copy after having crumbled due to prolonged exposure to the elements. Currently, the restored Vincent sculpture is sited in the Place Saint-Henri Metro Station and placed in a light shaft over the Côte Vertu platform. If you are in the area, check it out !

Typical Montreal Outdoor Stairs

The wrought iron outer staircases that grace many Montreal duplexes / triplexes are one of the city's most distinctive architecture design features. Originally, Montreal duplexes were first built to accommodate people from a wide variety of classes and ethnicities. However, this was largely a cutural phenomenon. The French and ethnic middle class preferred duplexes, whereas the English speaking middle class adopted row-houses and detached houses.

Basilic Restaurant in Montreal's Chinatown

Located in the heart of Montreal's Chinatown, this small restaurant is one of my faves for Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese (Pan-Asian) cuisine. The food presentation is creative, the portions are very generous and the service is efficient. And above all, the food is very tasty and prepared with care. FYI, the bathrooms here are very clean and that's a good sign.  :-)
BASILIC 83 de-la-Gauchetière Street West / corner St. Urbain.



Place des Arts

Walking around on one of the pathways that surround the (PdA) Place des Arts in downtown Montreal, even on a cool April day like today is fun. There is always something happening here. This is the arts center of Montreal. The Salle Wifrid-Pelletier, one of the venues that houses the performing arts/music/opera events, is the building on the left. The Musee d'Art Contemporain de Montreal that has all the funky and interesting art work is on the right. The building in the middle of the photo is the Complexe Desjardins (hotel and shopping). Note the stylish lighting structures that line the walkway, looking like dancing figures in celebration. Only in Montreal, my hometown !