If you go to Canada one day, you should definitely visit its French-speaking part of Quebec. And the most interesting city in Quebec is, of course, Montreal. The influence of France here is felt in everything, starting from the French language that sounds everywhere and ending with the architecture and the menu in numerous cafes. However, you can find something to see outside the city, and not just inside the city limits.
It is the second largest city in Canada. Despite the above circumstance, the capital of the province of Quebec is not Montreal, but the city of the same name. Also, by the way, very interesting from the point of view of a tourist. In 1976, Montreal took the most expensive Olympics in the history of the Olympic Games. The city authorities paid debts for it until 2006, that is, for thirty years. Strictly speaking, in numbers, many Olympics are more expensive, but $ 5 billion in 1976 is equivalent to more than $ 25 billion in our time, so yes, it was the most expensive. Among all the French-speaking cities in the world, Montreal ranks third in terms of population, second only to Paris and Abidjan, located in the African country of Côte d’Ivoire.
The old name of the city is Ville-Marie, which translates from French as “City of Mary”. The tower of the Olympic Stadium in Montreal is tilted at an angle, like the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. At the same time, the Montreal Tower is the tallest falling tower in the world. In the local subway train cars are equipped with tires like cars. From year to year Montreal is included in the lists of the best cities for living in the world. As, by the way, and other Canadian city – Vancouver. About 40 thousand Russians live permanently in Montreal.
In 2006, UNESCO was named Montreal “city of design” for its attractive architecture. This city ranks second in the Western Hemisphere in terms of the number of cafes and restaurants per capita. The first place is held by New York. About 50% of the population of Montreal speaks English. If you go here, it is better to learn French. Of the four universities in Montreal, two are taught in English, and two more in French. Because of the climatic features, summer in Montreal is usually hot and humid, and in winter fierce snow storms often rage. According to statistics, half of all Montreal people use private vehicles to drive to work. Despite the fact that in Canada, both English and French have the status of state, in Montreal only French is considered official. Montreal has 30 sister cities, but not a single Russian one among them.
