French and English are the official languages but you can listen to almost every language in this cosmopolitan metropolis. There were times when there was tensions between the languages, times where French speakers were powerless and had no say, times were English speakers were not allowed to express them selves in their language, times of division.
Today Montreal is perhaps the best example of Canada, a true bilingual city were both languages often get merged “ ‘a la’ Montrealais ”!
Montreal is an island in the middle of Saint Lawrence river. The heart of Montreal is the Mount Royal - the equivalent of Central Park in New York - where every Sunday during the summer, you can experience a replica of Woodstock festival, locally designated by the Tam-Tam’s. The Tam-Tam’s is a weekly celebration of music, life, color, art, peace and unity among the diverse cultures that live in this city. People gather to voluntarily play music and dance providing an amazing show where everybody can participate.
Montrealers celebrate life at its full extent; they are generally easygoing people a great concern for respect of human kind and its diversity and for the world environment protection. I like to call them green socialists.
Montrealers stimulate and promote individuality and harmony among the generated diversity It is perhaps the best example of a society where individuals are respected for whatever they are, regardless they ethnic background, education level, personal style, sexual orientation, religious believes, etc…
The fashion and trends in Montreal, are up to each one’s style, so sitting at a terrace sipping your beer or coffee and people watching can be a very pleasant experience
Montreal is also a city of festivals: The Jazz Festival, Just For Laugh, Cinema Festivals, Clubbing Festivals, Diversity Festival, etc, etc…
There is only one thing that I don’t like about Montreal, it’s the long and freezing winters. But then again, this winter plays an important role in Montrealers life style. It’s the time of the year where people tend to stay more at home, updating them selves and catching up with friends, recharging energies before the next eclectic summer!
Montreal is where I grew up, a unique city in North America, full of beautiful people that grab life to its limits and respecting others.
Bienvenue a Montreal / Welcome to Montreal!
Down Town Montreal seen from the top of Mount Royal, by night - July 04
Montreal's Relaxed Old Europe Feeling - July 04
Montreal's Old Architecture - July 04
Montreal's Modern Architecture - July 04
Montreal 25the Jazz Festival - July 04
Today, they say, it’s the Internet’s 35th anniversary, congratulations for this achievement.
It was only 10 years ago when I first arrived in Hong Kong and was delighted to see rickshaws parked in front of the Star Ferry Pier, in Central district, with their drivers sitting on them, waiting for their clients.
The profile of these rickshaw drivers were old Chinese men with gig golden smiles, dressed in traditional fisherman’s black suits. They could not speak English but they had their techniques in fishing in tourist into their rickshaws.
An excellent book by Tiziano Terzani that takes you into a trip around a spiritual dimension of South-East Asia!
Francesca sits on the front porch with some iced tea, trying to cool herself off. It is a scorcher. She is barefoot, her blouse hanging out of her jeans, her hair fastened up by a tortoise shell comb.
"-- going over and over in my mind every detail, every moment of our time together and I ask myself, "What happened to me in Madison County?" I struggle to put it together in a way that allows me to continue knowing we're on separate roads. But then I look through the lens of my camera, and you're there. I start to write an article and I find myself writing it to you. It's clear to me now we have been moving towards each other, towards those four days, all our lives -–"
