My jet-set gal pal was zooming in for the weekend and I had exactly 48 hours to show her that Montréal hasn’t earned its avant-garde reputation for nothing. “Let the adventure begin!”
…was our war-cry as we left the airport for her luxurious boutique hotel. With no time to lose, we began her crash course on Montréal urban coolness.
I wanted to show her that our city is modern, but that we haven’t forgotten our Euro roots; that innovation and experimentation come as second-nature, from deluxe experiences to high-end pampering to places to unwind to groovy design.
But talk is talk—we had to walk the walk to really understand Montréal’s unique flair. On went the hot little designer dress with my frip leather jacket—yet another example of carefree, anything-goes Montréal style—and we were off. We zigzagged across the city, supping at elite restos, spoiling ourselves at a posh spa, shopping ‘til we dropped, hitting café terraces, discovering a new indie band along the way and best of all, hanging with the locals and revelling in their charmingly refreshing and relaxed attitude.
We came across a virtual parade of Montréal characters: free spirits going tribal to the tam-tams on Mount Royal, ravers braving the light of day on Île Sainte-Hélène’s Piknic Électronik, “beautiful people” out to be seen in Outremont, students living large on a shoestring in the McGill “ghetto”… I tried to pinpoint the supreme example of Montréal’s trend-setting nature, but in the end, it was just everywhere around us.
The city shines with a contagious joie de vivre that drives our creativity and sends trends flying around the world.
After a whirlwind tour of our fair city, what was the outcome? She loves Montréal (almost) as much as I do and can’t wait to come back. Quelle surprise.
