The further north we got in Vermont, the more the landscape changed: pine trees became deciduous trees and hilly forests eventually made room for flat farming areas. It was a dreary day when we passed into Canada. Our passports were quickly checked and soon we were on our way to Montréal. As my flight back to Aotearoa, New Zealand, left from Montreal, we made this the end of our road trip. Neither John nor I ever had been to Montréal. However, we are not interested in cities, so we were looking forward to hiking up the mountain that gave the city its name. But before that, we met up with John’s hiking buddy from when he thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2018.
Montréal is the largest city in the province of Quebec; it was founded in 1642 by French settlers, and with 1.7 mio inhabitants, it is the second-largest city in Canada. Walking around the city, it felt like Montreal was the perfect mixture of a typical North American city with high-rise buildings and European aspects and flair. For example, many small lanes in the inner city have cobblestones, cafés have outside seating areas, and European-inspired restaurants … French is widely spoken as it is the official language.
Mount Royal is a triple-peaked mountain around which the early settlement was built. Nowadays, it is a green oasis and recreational area for Montréalers, or as they call themselves, Québecois.
As my flight the next day was not scheduled before 4:35 pm, we had plenty of time to stroll around Île Sainte-Hélène in the morning. This island in the Saint Lawrence River is home to the Biosphere (an interpretative museum), parks, and the Aquatic Complex used during the 1976 Olympics.
Soon, we had to go to the airport to drop me off for my long flights: via Vancouver, I made my way back to the Southern Hemisphere.
