Montreal and Quebec: just me rambling, not very bike related

[Caffeine]

I just got back from Montreal.   I wasn't there for the Gran Prix, I just happened to pick that weekend.  Stayed at a B&B where EVERYONE was in town for the race, so I got to talk about it every morning.  By the day of the race, I was sorry it was sold out!  I wanted to see it!

We did go to a race-related street fair type thing...lots of ricers and only one F-1 car on display near the Hard Rock.  (No, we didn't go to the Hard Rock, which I hate...but someone in the group had to get a Hard Rock Montreal bottle opener for someone back home).   Saw some Japanese market Nissans and Toyotas (grey imports?) that we don't normally see in the US.

Suzuki had 3 bikes set up on display, which I damn near ran to to take a look at.   Turns out it was 3 CBR 125's.  I didn't know they came that small.  I wanted to ask if they came with a weed-whacker attachment.   Looks like they were marketing to beginner bikers.   At any rate, 13 horsepower never looked so good.      And thinner back tires than the GS!

Saw a lot of bikes around Montreal.   A lot of Katanas and Vulcans.  The only GS I saw was in Quebec City.   Anyone want to fess up to being the owner of the blue/white '2005 F?

In Montreal, it sounded like about 80% french being spoken, while in Quebec City it was more like 95%.  For the most part, Canadians are a goddamn friendly, helpful and courteous bunch!  It helps to know some basic French.  Nice road manners too.  I'd love to have a bike up there, just not in January.

So many good restaurants in Montreal, and you can get a nice meal for under $20, including tip.  You can get a freaking awesome meal for $30.  And the restaurants don't rush you out the door. 

One guest at the B&B had been a truck driver for 35 years and was a car nut...he was full of great stories.   I'd get up early just to hear him talk over coffee. 

Definitely a place I'll go back to!   

[CasiUSA]

I was there for GP this past weekend. I go a few times a year and it's a super fun time. (Always make it for GP)
If you stay within Montreal city limits, most people speak French primarily, but will be happy to speak English for you.
The food is amazing there, and the prices are pretty good. (When I started going for GP, the dollar was 2:1, it was like monopoly money to me- now it's almost par  )

I saw those CBR125's on Crescent st, they're awesome!! What nights did you go? Did you walk around anywhere else in MTL?
As far as going to the race- you need to just go to the scalpers right outside the gates. That's what we do every year, and we always end up paying less than face value for some reason.

[bettingpython]

Ok sounds like fun but there is one problem, you obviously had too much to drink. Suzuki does not make the CBR125, maybe it was a dealership display that carried suzuki and Honda because the CBR125 is a Honda.

[Wrecent_Wryder]

Since somebody brought it up anyway...

I've never been to Canada. Europe, Bermuda, up and down the Left & Right coasts of the US, Hawaii.. but never Canada.

I'm starting to plan a trip for July, and I was thinking of these two cities.

I went to nursery school in France, but these days I only catch about a third of spoken French, maybe a bit more. From time to time I work on it, though, and would welcome the chance to immerse a bit.

Recommendations would be more than welcome. I'll be going with the lady of my life, so not looking to "hook up", and thus probably not a lot of emphasis on the "night life" which I know Montreal is famous for. We'll be mostly trying to get a feel for what the places are really like, insofar as we can without getting too far over our heads linguistically. If we enjoy it, we'll certainly be going again.

[Caffeine]

HONDA CBR, sorry.   Typing faster than my brain is going.

We were at the Crescent during the daytime on Saturday.   I didn't know you could get Gran Prix tickets from scalpers...I should have tried that.   We did see the big crash on TV while eating poutine in a restaurant.  (Note:  poutine will fill you up, possibly for several days!)

One of the friends I went with had friends in Montreal and they chauffered us around, so I kinda lost track of exactly where we went.   It went by kinda quick at times.   But they knew some great restaurants!

Night life was very active.   I'm not much for it these days, but we did our share of drinking.   There is no shortage of drinking establishments!   I know one place charged me $7 for a beer and I was not happy about that.  (It was a Corona, and we theorized that the beer was $3 and the lime slice was $4)

Wrecent_Wryder, if you know the basic phrases, you'll be fine.   My french is pretty awful, but I still got by OK. 

One day seems like enough for Quebec City.  It was for me, anyway.  A day trip by bus runs about $75 per person, so the 3 of us rented a car and drove out there, which was $120 for the day, including parking.   But Quebec City was a 2.5 hour drive each way, so we felt like it was a big investment of time and money for a relatively small payoff.   Still, it's a very beautiful place!  (Spend the two bucks to take the funicular to the bottom of the hill; your knees will thank you!  Take the stairs back up.)

Getting around Montreal, the Metro (subway) is cheap and easy to figure out.

[trumpetguy]

I haven't been to Quebec City, but Montreal is like being in Europe EXCEPT they'll voluntarily speak English with zero attitude about it.   I speak NO French and had a great time.  You walk into a store, they greet you in French, then as soon as they recognize that you are not a French speaker they switch to English.

And the women are amazing --- I don't know if they're more beautiful because they speak French, or just are beautiful, but it's not a bad thing!

[CasiUSA]

And the women are amazing --- I don't know if they're more beautiful because they speak French, or just are beautiful, but it's not a bad thing!

++ and Triple +....actually, here's a few more +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

My friends and I decided that even the mediocre women there are more attractive than they are here- it may be the french, the fashion, or the amicability of them. Always a mystery...