Pay a visit to Montreal any time of year and for sure there will be something to enjoy. It is a vibrant city that brims with culture, nature, fine dining, and most of all, joie de vivre—or what the French call “the joy of living.”
I arrived in the city last June just in time for the opening of the Montreal Jazz Festival, the largest of its kind in the world, attracting millions of people every year. This year’s festival, the 36th edition, runs from June 26 to July 5.
There was a group of six of us, and we walked 15 minutes from our hotel for a quick dinner before the outdoor opening night concert. The restaurant choice was Le Contemporain, housed in the Museum of Contemporary Art in the heart of the festival site. It was a beautifully warm night and we ate on the terrace, savouring a meal that was delicately prepared and decorated with herbs and blue cornflowers.
After dinner we headed for the concert. The street was packed with thousands of people filled with anticipation. The crowd began swaying to the beat as the French performer Woodkid launched into a mellow, well-orchestrated song. The spirit of the city and its people was in the air and I let myself be absorbed by it.
Needing some rest after a long day’s travel, I left the concert early and made my way to the elegant Marriott Chateau Champlain with its half-moon windows and wonderful views located in the heart of downtown just a short walk to Old Montreal.
