Walking on Mount Royal

The colours are starting. They are never as vibrant in the city as in the countryside. This year, in particular, I find them mainly muted, with leaves drying up before they really show their usual flashy fall foliage.

A walk around the mountain is never complete without a stop at the lookout to see the view. When the distant mountains are visible, I know we are breathing fairly clean air!




Facing west, you can see out to the silver ribbon of a river. As we go about our daily routines, it is easy to forget that Montreal is on an island. It is not everywhere that we get views of the river. Yet that is such an important part of why the city was established here in the days when ship travel was the most important form of transportation.

Toronto Skyline

Toronto Skyline, a photo by susanvg on Flickr.

Porter Airlines makes flying pleasant. They have small planes which fly from Billy Bishop Airport on Toronto Island. This is the view from the window as I was approaching the check-in area. I've written about Porter before.

A free shuttle takes you from downtown to a ferry on which a three minute ride takes you to Toronto Island. No long lines as the planes are small and security, while thorough is not unpleasant. The lounge is comfortable, with free wi-fi, a "business centre" with computers for use by anyone and a cafe area provides free drinks, coffee, teas, cookies and other snacks. You feel like a person, not like cattle, which is more the case in larger airports.

Towards Downtown

Towards Downtown, originally uploaded by susanvg.

I sometimes have meetings in a building on Fullum Street in Montreal. Inside it is typically bureaucratic, with little cubicles and many people. Those who are lucky enough to be by a window have magnificent view. This was taken through the windows in the cafeteria.

A little further to the right of this photograph is "the mountain" - actually not much more than a hill at 233 m (764 ft). The city has a bylaw restricting the height of buildings so that Mount Royal remains higher thus preserving the wonderful view from the summit. So while Montreal has buildings, some of which top 40 stories, it does not have the skyscrapers that tower over some cities.

Day 222: Skyline

Day 222: Skyline, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Most of the time I do not think of Montreal as an island. Many days pass when I do not even glimpse the river. Today I met with a colleague at her apartment on the south shore. Coming back I admired the view of downtown Montreal. I am often frustrated as I cross the Champlain Bridge that there is nowhere to stop and take a photograph. Today traffic slowed to a halt. I grabbed my camera and snapped this picture through the window before the cars ahead of me started to inch forward again.
Montreal Skyline...

Day 137: Looking Downtown

Day 137: Looking Downtown, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Montreal has a vital downtown - safe, walkable and lively. This photograph was taken looking towards downtown from the south. The building on the right is Place Ville Marie, one of Montreal's first skyscrapers, built in 1962. It was also the first to house an underground shopping mall. Now Montreal has an underground life - miles of tunnels connect buildings and underground shopping centres - a boon to winter shoppers, movie goers, office workers... As they are also connected to the metro (our subway system) people can accomplish a lot without going outside.

We do not have huge skyscrapers as there is now a law regulating the height so that they do not overshadow our mountain. You can see one view of the city here - taken from the mountain looking slightly east of these buildings.