Marvelous Montreal

Stroll down almost any street and you can feel Montreal's palpable French vibe.

Sidewalk cafes spill over with patrons sipping coffee or champagne, cyclists pedal along sections of the city’s 400 miles of bike trails. Everywhere, people seem to be intent on experiencing what the French call joie de vivre — or the joy of life.

The second largest French-speaking city after Paris, Montreal fools visitors into thinking they've arrived in France, but without accompanying jetlag or expense. And snobbery (that unfortunate French attribute) is conspicuously absent in Montreal; friendly people and genuine hospitality are not. Even locals who struggle with English are happy to give directions and advice. They are Canadians, after all.

No wonder that in countless surveys, the metropolitan city of 3 million has ranked as the world’s number one city to live.

To get a feel for Montreal, walk along St. Denis or Rue Saint-Paul and have lunch at Jardin Nelson, with its beautiful gardens. There is more than a visitor could possibly see in a week, but if you're like me, simply to stroll around and absorb the European ambience is a sufficiently pleasurable experience in Marvelous Montreal.