Our second day was the only poor weather day of the entire trip, with the morning featuring heavy rain and very overcast skies. Luckily things dried up later in the day, and whilst the humidity had increased somewhat, we made the climb up Mount Royal to admire the view from the chalet at the top. The park area around made a nice contrast to the busy city below, with the contrast made doubly apparent having to literally barge our way through the student protestors to get to the base of the mountain. I must admit it was a little unnerving and at first I wasn’t willing to cross through the protest, but a local lady who had kindly stopped to help us with directions assured us that it would be fine.







The good weather returned for our third day, during which we took a taxi to the delightful botanical gardens. The Chinese garden and rock garden were particular highlights, and the Olympic park made a stunning backdrop to this green oasis. The gardens are well worth a visit for anybody finding themselves in Montreal.









Summary

Montreal was a city of a number of contrasts. I appreciated the architectural merit of the old town and greatly enjoyed exploring the botanical gardens along with its associated insectarium. However, downtown felt rather bland, as if it was lacking a certain energy. Perhaps the student protests had put a damper on the city’s usual vibe, but something certainly felt to be missing. I would recommend a visit to Montreal for any first-timer in Eastern Canada, as there are most certainly some hidden gems to discover.

Next: BA Club World, YUL-LHR