Caught Wet Handed Enjoying Montreal’s Downtown

When researching Canada, there is nothing better than to jump in with both feet. From community to community you are always on the move. Feet are hiking, canoes paddling, cameras clicking and video is rolling.  Not only do you have to learn each communities culture, history, street routes and adventures, but in this case,  respect the language and learn the language. It is a big rush on many fronts!

Marche Bonsecours on the Waterfront

Researching Montreal, Quebec, in my eyes, was like visiting a historic European city.. and how wild is it that it is right here in my own country.   The culture was oozing out of the city’s pores and the scenery was mixed, yet unique, with artistic and romantic tendencies.  It helps that I am an old historic building, fallen ruin and heritage home type of guy when it comes to city photography.  I truly enjoy these buildings of our Canadian past. Do not get me wrong I still enjoy taking pictures of wilderness, wildlife and landscapes the most – no.. I have not converted over. But you have to work with whats on your canvas and in a city wilderness is at a minimum. However, in a city historic architecture is usually at a premium.

Some buildings stood proud with giant stone pillars, others hid behind iron gates guarding their egos and secrets I guess. Then there were the buildings on everyone’s must-see-list brandishing a domed centre piece topped with statues. Montreal has many buildings on the must-see-list, domes or not – like the Marche Bonesecours, Les trois palais de justice, Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal, Centre d’histoire de Montreal and the Hotel de Ville.

Based near Laval, Quebec I boarded a 7 AMish train to downtown Montreal. (It is a good idea for my research to check out the local transit, plus it is an act of green). I was planning on spending the day walking the streets of Montreal visiting the atmosphere in the City Centre, Old Montreal, The Quays, The Village, University Quarter and The Latin and Chinese Quarters. My backpack on, tripod strapped in – I was good to go.

It was a slow and wonderful process in the morning as I started my adventure on the waterfront. A water view in a new city is always best before everyone in the city wakes up. But while I was finishing up my day in the downtown core of Montreal, at around 4 PM,  the black clouds began to roll in. Before you knew it, thunder was rolling, lightning was crackling. The skies opened up and buckets of rain poured  down. The winds started to gust. The streets of Montreal emptied.

I ended up walking the streets by myself for over an hour.  Montreal became a wet ghost town. Water poured over the brim of my baseball cap like a waterfall during the ice melt season.  Ahhh.. but I came prepared with my rain gear, as it only takes one time caught in a storm to teach me a lesson. I was dry from the waist up.

As I walked up one street and down another in the pouring rain I soon figured out what happen to everyone. The entire pedestrian population in Montreal were hiding inside stores, coffee shops, train stations, under awnings and huddled together in vacant store fronts like sardines, many of which had only t-shirts on.  And not many were smiling.

Before the storm moved in the skies were blue, the sun was bright. I was poking my head into interesting shops. I walked by vibrant outdoor patios – some full of life and laughter, while others seem more intellectual with patrons enjoying a glass of wine and a good book. Every time I turned a corner there stood another old building and another story, another picture.

Quay Promenade on Saint Laurent River

I started my day along the waterfront promenade of Montreal from the north end pf the walkway near the Clock Tower.  The waterfront is best known as The Quays because there are 4 harbours – Quai de l’Horloge, Quai Jaques-Cartier, Quai King Edward and Quai Alexandra. Each unique in its own way. Bassin Bonesecours, located between Quai de l’Horloge and Quai Jaques-Cartier is the most photogenic. The promenade walkway, separates from the shoreline, crosses foot bridges and tours around small spillwater waterfalls – all the time with views of the Saint Laurent River.

Not knowing much about Montreal quarters I wondered into what is called The Village Quarter on St. Catherines Street.  On this day, just my luck, there was a party going on. The entire St. Catherines Street (must have been 25+ blocks) was shut down for pedestrians only for the celebrations.  How cool is that!

Outdoor shops now lined the streets, many on the streets, hawking their gear. Musicians from many various cultures were playing their instruments. Outdoor patios were packed with people eating and, from what I could tell, more were people watching.

The big crowds were on the University end of St. Catherines where the streets were shut down for the Just For Laughs Festival. People were everywhere. It was exciting. However, big crowds tire me.  So after a spell, I started walking from one block to another, away from the festival, to check things out. Everything still seemed busy. The shops were still lining the streets hawking their gear, musicians were still playing instruments, patios were still busy.. hmmm.. something was up though.

Two men at a table.  Two women at a table. Very few mixed couples. Men were holding hands in the streets. Men dancing in dresses.  Women clad in leather. Women kissing women and men kissing men.  Love was in the air in The Village.

It was soon after that the skies opened up and  the rain began to pour.  At the time I was far away from the train station which was to take me back to Laval and home.  No use complaining, this was just another opportunity for a story in life. I turned up my music to drown out the rain. I geared up with rain gear. Packed the camera.  And started to hoof it back to the waterfront area where my train station waited.

In my hiking boots and shorts,  it did not matter, I always hike in shorts in the rain. This was no different except in a city. With good tunes and a good attitude the walk in the storm proved to be a “singing in the rain” moment. No one else was around to listen anyway. Besides walking home in a storm is another adventure in any beauitful city. Plus I had a light show from the lightening, the tap-tap-tap beat of the rian smashing the pavement and a booming orchestra from the thunder – Natures Symphony.