Well after around 10 weeks walking around my local area, around Mile End, up to Jean Talon and into Little Italy, then between here and Université de Montréal I thought I would share with you some of the local street architecture. I do have a collection of more “special” architecture around Old Montréal, a warehouse that’s captured my imagination, some pretty interesting wall art, and a selection of churches, but be patient, I still have 20 days here to add to those! And yes, I’ve done a LOT of walking.
The picture up the top – that’s been my home this last 10 weeks, and I’m not sure that I’ll miss the stairs. The no parking sign – that means that every Thursday in the months when there is no snow, between 1230 and 1330, you will be booked for parking there as the street sweeping truck needs to clean. The other side of the road is a different day.
My street, my coffee shop’s outdoor area, and my God it’s been hot! Humid even for a Brisbane girl.
With the long nights, heat, and apartment living the local parks are full to overflowing. I didn’t feel comfortable photographing, just believe me there was never an angle without spying on some family, a spare square meter to put your rug, or for that matter clean air. Well unless you want to join the ducks in the lake. The desire to burn wood in small portable barbeques meant it was really smokey. But restaurants abound and some nights even the icons come out for a walk and a drink.
Below is a view of Université de Montréal from the Oratory, remember Stairway to knowledge and A Turkish Muslim, a Canadian Hindu and an Australian agnostic go into a Catholic Basilica ? And yes it was about to storm, well as much as it storms here, not like Brisbane.
And this is my utterly amazing local library. I have spent hours in there and not just because the air conditioning functions beautifully. Did have to laugh one day I was working at home and they sent an email saying the wifi was down… Sadly the playground has signs that it’s for people under 10 only or I’d have been in under that bucket thing some hot days.
And then there are the streets of houses, lovely houses, lovely big old green trees. Many old buildings are probably divided into apartments, but just lovely. Of course I only photographed the ones I liked so there are plenty of ugly ones, just not here.
There are apartment blocks that no developer would think efficient, but they’re so full of charm and style, and 100 year old plumbing.
And of course there was the day when Port-u-gal won the football and people were not watching alone at home, they were out in the streets, at the sports bar, having fun.
What else can I show you? Oh, love this park – and yes I visited in the rain with my orange umbrella. Can you imagine, the pond in your local park is also a real sized, ice skating ring in winter. With a lover’s nook up the top! Sigh, we were all teenagers once.
And all over Côte-des-Neiges Saint Joseph watches. There’s a law, no building on the island can be taller than Saint Joseph.
So lovely people, they have been my streets of Montreal this summer.
Wendy's Out of Station 