I ♥ Montreal!

Having lived in Montreal for two months, I have become acquainted with some of the city's unusual quirks.  Being a quirky gal myself, Montreal's oddities make me love it all the more.  Here, I submit to you, a few of my favorites:


Sidewalk Cleaners of Unusual Shape and Size

A sidewalk clearner on the loose.

If you happen to be out during a street cleaning, you may be lucky enough to spot one of these fine creatures.  They have been observed on the sidewalks of Montreal in both a red and a white variety.  These cleaners are modified tractors with an elephant trunk to suck up all the gum, paper, and litter that didn't make it into the trash bin.  They are incredibly noisy, but delightfully unusual looking.  Perhaps these are common in other cities around the world, but this Chicagoan gawks every time one comes her way.  I have decided this behavior is acceptable while I am here on a visitor's visa and will continue to shamelessly act like a tourist and snap photos until I am granted residency.


An Abundance of Telephone Booths

Three telephone booths - all
under one tree!

In most North American cities, the phone booth is an ancient relic from long ago found mainly in old films and nostalgic stories of a pre-cellphone era.  Sure, you may find a payphone here and there.  But I am referring to a real, superman-style telephone booth.  Because Montreal has one of the lowest rates of mobile phone use in Canada, it is one of the few places where telephone booths can be found in great abundance.  I am distracted by the unusual presence of phone booths everywhere I go.  Telephone booths can be found near most major corners, on top of Mont-Royal, and even right outside our front door.  I have never had a reason to use one, but it is yet another thing at which I like to marvel.


Exterior Staircases in a City with Snow Five Months of the Year

Staircases wind and curve their way
down to sidewalks all over Montreal.

Wrought iron staircases winding down from balconies and twisting over gardens can be seen in every shape and color on multi-story buildings.  They are an iconic characteristic of Montreal architecture.  Having yet to experience a Montreal winter, I find the staircases charming.  But I had to wonder how they could be so popular in a place with so much snow.  Of course the explanation is a story with many twists and turns.  Around 1890, residential buildings were required to have a setback from the sidewalks.  So staircases were pushed out into this mandatory band of land to preserve the amount of livable space inside.  Landlords liked that this created more rentable area.  The church liked that neighbors were able to keep an eye on one another.  As aesthetics changed, the elites decided the staircases were ugly and brick archways were built to hide them - creating nice little nooks for unwholesome activities.  The church did not like that at all, so in the 1940's a new bylaw was passed preventing the construction of outdoor staircases for "safety reasons".  The rule was repealed in the 1980's, and Montreal's staircases and charm are now protected.


On a side note: My two months in Montreal also mark a full two months of living with Adam (the most consecutive time we have spent together in years!).  Adam has his own set of quirks, which I happen to still find endearing, but that is another story for another day. :)