Visiting Montreal -- questions :)

[Rajah]

Hi all! My first time venturing over to this board

DH will be going to a conference in Montreal in October, and I may join him for a few days before the conference for a little sight-seeing.

I've had some people recommend I/we (I, since DH doesn't want to) learn some French, others tell me there's no need, and still others say don't bother unless I can find someone to teach specifically *Canadian* French. So I thought I'd come to y'all, who are probably better situated to give advice

So, here are my questions: would it be beneficial to learn French, especially if the only French I can find is for "France" French?

Are there any sights y'all would recommend? We're looking at probably 5 days up in that area. We plan to rent a car and would be flying in. Neither of us are big on the "big city" things (clubs, bars, skyscrapers, etc), we're looking for the unique, fantastic, and charming. We've thought about running down to Toronto and seeing Niagara Falls as long as we're that close (since we likely won't be back in that part of the world again for a long, long time), but we've also had Old Quebec City recommended as a place to see.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!!

 

[SandraC]

Hi, I was born in La Belle Province and now live in Ontario (near Toronto). France french is fine in Montreal.

You must come to Toronto! And visit Niagara Falls too!

From Montreal, take the HIGHWAY 401 Westbound for about 6 hours to Toronto. It's an easy drive with lots of rest stops a long the way. From mid-town Toronto, Niagara Falls in only about 90 minutes away!

Montreal and Toronto are totally different! You will enjoy the variety! S

 

[diz karen]

There really is no need to learn french, unless you think it would be fun. The majority of people in Montreal are bilingual. If you are dealing with someone who only speaks french it is usually easy to find someone who will translate for you. I grew up in Quebec and lived in Montreal for a number of years. My french is not that great and I got by just fine.

 

[#1 Disney Fan]

I really can't help you out on the Montreal questions, Rajah, but just wanted to say welcome to visiting the other "CB!" I'm from out west and was only in Quebec once when I was about 5, so I don't remember too much, but I've visted lots of places in Ontario quite a bit (Ottawa, Toronto, Niagara Falls, Niagara-On-The-Lake etc) so I might be able to help you out a little bit there if you decide to take that side-trip. The Lion King is currently playing in Toronto if you're looking for more of an incentive to make the trek down there.

 

[emmalgin]

No need to learn. However using a few words/phrases to show you are trying would go a long ways.

Parlez vous anglais - Do you speak english....

Bonjour, merci, aurevoir.... Hello, thanks, goodby...

The usual....

I'm from Toronto and frankly not worth the 5 hour drive. However if the weather is good, I'd certainly do the 2 hour drive to Quesbec City.

Plenty in Montreal to keep you busy I think....

 

[Baboo]

Hi Rajah! Welcome to the Canadian Board! You and Von Drake might enjoy one of the boat trips on the St. Lawrence river. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking and you might get to see some of the beluga whales that only live there.
As far as French goes, as the others have said, you won't have a problem communicating with most of the people that live there, but you should also be aware that all of the signs there are only in French. It might be a good idea to learn some directions in French so that you know where to go when you're driving.

 

[Sandyrella]

I am a born and raised Montrealer who is not bilingual. While I can understand and read French, I have a really hard time forming sentences. You do not need to learn it to visit but I do agree with Baboo who suggested you learn a few words to help with directions since all of our signs are in French (north, south, east, west, and street are nord, sud, est, ouest and rue) They are quite simple and will go a long way. Also, the words Emmalgin suggested are great words to show that the effort is being made, however, I really don't think you'll need to know much. "France" French is as perfectly understood here just as "British" English. Quebecers do have there own slang but you don't need to know it. The French we learn in school is the France version.

Anyone who works with the public is, by law, supposed to be bilingual so shopping and restaurants will not be a problem.

As for going to Toronto, it is a long drive if you only have 5 days here. Niagara Falls is absolutely one of my favorite places on earth but it is also two hours past Toronto so figure a good 7 hours from Montreal.

Quebec City is also beautiful and very quaint in a European kind of way, but again, it's a bit of a drive, 2-3 hours. Montreal is an amazing city and has so much to offer. Old Montreal has the same old city charm that Quebec City has. The cobblestone streets, cafes, shops, etc. along with street entertainment, make it a top tourist attraction.

Another nice day trip is to our country's capital, Ottawa. I personally LOVE Ottawa. It is really a beautiful city with plenty of museums. Our parliament buildings are quite impressive also.

Please keep in mind that Montreal could get quite chilly in October so pack accordingly.

Have fun planning and when you have an idea of what you want to do, come back to let us know so that perhaps we can help you out some more.

 

[Sandyrella]

That a drive "up north" is beautiful in October, depending on when in October. The fall foliage is usually at it's peak the first week or so of October. The colors are wonderful!

Going "up north" is what we call a drive to the Laurentian mountains, just north of Montreal. You can stop at one of many little towns for lunch and then come back. It's no more than an hour away. This is where we go to ski in the winter and go to the lake in the summer. One of the most popular towns is St. Sauveur which has many great restaurants and stores. It also has a whole bunch of factory outlets (Nike, Hilfiger, Reebok, Levi, to name just a few). While the prices may not be as good as in the U.S., your dollar will by a whole lot more. Don't forget that for every US$100.00 you get between CAD $150 and $160.00!!!

Another nice drive to see the fall foliage is to the Eastern Townships, also about an hour away. There are also some great little towns in that direction....Bromont, Knowlton, Magog, again, with good restaurants and stores.

Hope this all helps!
Sandy