Montreal

This was my first time hanging out in a big city on my own. I used a little French when traveling solo on spring break to this exotic North American city with an European feel. Rode the Parisian-style metro around town, having fun pronouncing correctly station names such as Lionel Groulx or Champs de Mars. Tried escargot, it was good. Checked out the gay bars bustling with activity, and met a young French-Montrealer Alain whom I hung out with, although his English was very limited and so was my French. St. John the Divine was a very impressive shrine on a commanding hilltop location. I was also impressed with the suburban residences and churches such as in Outremont constructed of granite stone. It was early spring but evenings on the street the temperature was 25 degrees below zero plus wind chill, and much snow was still on the ground.