I once spent a full day flying from Montreal to Montreal. (Long story short: The weather in Halifax prevented a full touch-down and we were diverted to Boston then back to Montreal.) Whenever I return to Montreal, it kind of feels the same way – leaving home to go home. I lived in Montreal twice – the first being as a university student living life to its fullest and the second time was four years post-graduation when I joined Mike on his job transfer. We were newly engaged/married, young, hardworking and child-free.

I always say I have a love-hate relationship with the city – mostly love, but like any relationship, it can kick you in the butt and make you cry. Halifax is the lovely little sister to Montreal – she’s easy going and can lack oomph but she is not as jerky as her big sister. There were many days when I woke up loving Montreal, only to hate her later on when a person forgot to say merci when you held the door open. Or even worse, when you sheepishly attempted to speak french to a store clerk and they replied back in english with a snarky french accent.

Mais, Montreal is beautiful – full amazing things. I know the city like the back of my hand. I lived in NDG, downtown and on le plateau. I once spent a day driving the metro and stopping at every station just for fun. I trained for two full marathons while living there and ran the Montreal marathon so have covered many streets by foot. I worked in Saint Laurent and have friends as far as Hudson. I once bought a rug at Ikea and carried it down the highway and on the bus to rue Saint Marc. I have toured the city numerous times with visiting family and friends and often joke with my co-workers that I know the city better than them!

This weekend we are driving back for my friend’s wedding. To say I am excited is an understatement. Some of my favourite people, places, restaurants and memories are in this city and it is going to be an epic end to the summer. -xomeg

our back patio on rue gauthier

Top 5 favourite MONTREAL things to eat (according to me)

1. Montreal Bagels
2. Poutine
3. Killer Tomato sandwich from Café Santropol 
4. Vegetarian club at Restaurant L’Anecdote
5. Indian vegetarian at Pushaps

Top 5 favourite MONTREAL things to see (according to me)

1. Mont Royal
2. Habitat 67
3. Parc la fontaine and le plateau
4. An early morning run in Old Montreal (very quiet!)
5. My favourite spot downtown between a church and a office tower

Top 5 memories

1. Getting engaged in Old Montreal
2. Buying our first house on Rue Gauthier
3. Finishing a marathon inside the Olympic Stadium
4. First pub crawl , first cab ride and hearing that Princess Diana died (all on one night)
5. First apartment and roommates

Top 5 things I miss

1. Being only a shortish drive from Erin, the States, Ottawa and other pretty french places
2. Riding the metro
3. Spending a cold winter day walking downtown but never stepping outside
4. Buying stuff to make supper from the little fruiterie on the walk home from the metro station
5. Hearing french

Top 5 things I do not miss

1. Smog and the smell of the city in the sumer (salt air is much better)
2. Bone-dry winters
3. Using up all of my vacation time to travel home
4. The lack oceans
5. Concorida University Hall Building

I am not going to name my top 5 quebecois because that’s just mean but you know who you are (wink wink).