Community Chat

[BellaPaprika]

Love French Canada! Quebec City ""Le Vieux Ville"" for its' old European vibe and Montreal for its' cultural and gastronomic offerings. Both are great walking cities and the people are friendly and helpful. Get to practice my rusty French and everyone is bilingual. I agree about using TripAdvisor and your hotel concierge is a great resource too. Bon voyage!

[terrier3]

On 6/10/2014 LipstickDiva said:

I'm glad to read this. I was just saying the other day to DH that I would love to go to both Quebec and Montreal.

It's like going to Europe at the prices of North America!

My son studied French for 8 years in grammar school and I went with them on many school trips. Plus we used to go on hockey trips to both Quebec and Montreal. The train is a lovely way to go in between the two cities on the St. Lawrence River.

The food is FANTASTIQUE!

[Magenta]

It's probably been 10 years or so that i last visited these fantastic cities. In particular, Quebec is extremely French and the walking/climbing a bit comes with the terroteries. At the years prior to my last outing there, and when we were there many a time, Chateau Frontenac used to have daily superb brunches and when I was there with my group, nearly all would stop and eat there, to everybody's pleasure. Or sit around in the lobby and watch the people while having a drink. Being European, it brought me right back to France, where I haven't been in nearly 2 decades, so it was nostalgia big time.

I loved Montréal too lots, both cities in fact Old Town. and the Cathedral there was also out of this world. There was one franchise of coffee shops named "Van Houten" where I swear they had the best cappuccino on this continent, and I frequented them whenever I was there. It's been too long for me to remember names of restaurants, but in general in both cities the food is superb and delicieuse. I miss them both. I do believe personally, that it is easier to get around in English in Montréal than in Quebec, although that has improved over the last years, I have been told.

Wherever you go, know that you have a great time. In Quebec, in fact, there used to be a visitor's center across from the Frontenac, so go there first thing, and get your info, city maps and all, however, you can't get anything about Montréal as officially it is in an English speaking province.

Beaucoup de plaisir and let us know about your activities and fun you had there upon your return.

Best,

Magenta

[BellaPaprika]

On 6/13/2014 Magenta said:

It's probably been 10 years or so that i last visited these fantastic cities. In particular, Quebec is extremely French and the walking/climbing a bit comes with the terroteries. At the years prior to my last outing there, and when we were there many a time, Chateau Frontenac used to have daily superb brunches and when I was there with my group, nearly all would stop and eat there, to everybody's pleasure. Or sit around in the lobby and watch the people while having a drink. Being European, it brought me right back to France, where I haven't been in nearly 2 decades, so it was nostalgia big time.

I loved Montréal too lots, both cities in fact Old Town. and the Cathedral there was also out of this world. There was one franchise of coffee shops named "Van Houten" where I swear they had the best cappuccino on this continent, and I frequented them whenever I was there. It's been too long for me to remember names of restaurants, but in general in both cities the food is superb and delicieuse. I miss them both. I do believe personally, that it is easier to get around in English in Montréal than in Quebec, although that has improved over the last years, I have been told.

Wherever you go, know that you have a great time. In Quebec, in fact, there used to be a visitor's center across from the Frontenac, so go there first thing, and get your info, city maps and all, however, you can't get anything about Montréal as officially it is in an English speaking province.

Beaucoup de plaisir and let us know about your activities and fun you had there upon your return.

Best,

Magenta

Magenta, Montreal is in Quebec province also which is the only officially French speaking Canadian province. All tourist info is available in both English and French.

[terrier3]

On 6/14/2014 BlueCollarBabe said:

On 6/13/2014 Magenta said:

It's probably been 10 years or so that i last visited these fantastic cities. In particular, Quebec is extremely French and the walking/climbing a bit comes with the terroteries. At the years prior to my last outing there, and when we were there many a time, Chateau Frontenac used to have daily superb brunches and when I was there with my group, nearly all would stop and eat there, to everybody's pleasure. Or sit around in the lobby and watch the people while having a drink. Being European, it brought me right back to France, where I haven't been in nearly 2 decades, so it was nostalgia big time.

I loved Montréal too lots, both cities in fact Old Town. and the Cathedral there was also out of this world. There was one franchise of coffee shops named "Van Houten" where I swear they had the best cappuccino on this continent, and I frequented them whenever I was there. It's been too long for me to remember names of restaurants, but in general in both cities the food is superb and delicieuse. I miss them both. I do believe personally, that it is easier to get around in English in Montréal than in Quebec, although that has improved over the last years, I have been told.

Wherever you go, know that you have a great time. In Quebec, in fact, there used to be a visitor's center across from the Frontenac, so go there first thing, and get your info, city maps and all, however, you can't get anything about Montréal as officially it is in an English speaking province.

Beaucoup de plaisir and let us know about your activities and fun you had there upon your return.

Best,

Magenta

Magenta, Montreal is in Quebec province also which is the only officially French speaking Canadian province. All tourist info is available in both English and French.

Just about everyone in the province is bi-lingual.

I have found that people are more likely to address us in English first in Montreal vs. Quebec City. But in both places, if they hear you speak in English, they will follow suit.

[BellaPaprika]

On 6/14/2014 terrier3 said:

On 6/14/2014 BlueCollarBabe said:

On 6/13/2014 Magenta said:

It's probably been 10 years or so that i last visited these fantastic cities. In particular, Quebec is extremely French and the walking/climbing a bit comes with the terroteries. At the years prior to my last outing there, and when we were there many a time, Chateau Frontenac used to have daily superb brunches and when I was there with my group, nearly all would stop and eat there, to everybody's pleasure. Or sit around in the lobby and watch the people while having a drink. Being European, it brought me right back to France, where I haven't been in nearly 2 decades, so it was nostalgia big time.

I loved Montréal too lots, both cities in fact Old Town. and the Cathedral there was also out of this world. There was one franchise of coffee shops named "Van Houten" where I swear they had the best cappuccino on this continent, and I frequented them whenever I was there. It's been too long for me to remember names of restaurants, but in general in both cities the food is superb and delicieuse. I miss them both. I do believe personally, that it is easier to get around in English in Montréal than in Quebec, although that has improved over the last years, I have been told.

Wherever you go, know that you have a great time. In Quebec, in fact, there used to be a visitor's center across from the Frontenac, so go there first thing, and get your info, city maps and all, however, you can't get anything about Montréal as officially it is in an English speaking province.

Beaucoup de plaisir and let us know about your activities and fun you had there upon your return.

Best,

Magenta

Magenta, Montreal is in Quebec province also which is the only officially French speaking Canadian province. All tourist info is available in both English and French.

Just about everyone in the province is bi-lingual.

I have found that people are more likely to address us in English first in Montreal vs. Quebec City. But in both places, if they hear you speak in English, they will follow suit.

Absolutely correct, Terrier. I was addressing Magenta's statement that Montreal was in "an officially English speaking province". It's not. It's in Quebec province also just like Quebec City. But it is fascinating how everyone in the cities switches between the two languages so easily and fluently. Now get a few miles (maybe 30 or so) outside the cities and you will meet people who only speak French. They try to use a little English if you aren't fluent in French but their English is about on a level with my French! Lovely lovely area to visit for sure.

[terrier3]

When you enter Canada, even in Ontario, the welcome signs are in both English & French.

All products that are sold are labeled in both languages too...in all provinces.

[Linders Back]

On 6/14/2014 terrier3 said:

When you enter Canada, even in Ontario, the welcome signs are in both English & French.

All products that are sold are labeled in both languages too...in all provinces.

Welcome signs in New Hampshire are in French and English, too. (and from the south, not just the Canadien border).