Travelling Canada: One Week in Montreal

Hello! So if you read my 'something scary but exciting is happening' blog post, you'll know why I'm currently doing lots of blogging from Canada. If you didn't you should go and check that out now so that you can get up to date! I landed in Canada one week ago and it's fair to say that things have been pretty hectic so far, I haven't had a moment to sit and think but I guess that's the fun of travelling - you're always doing something, meeting someone or in my case, eating something. So far, I haven't even touched the base of Montreal, I've probably seen 1% of it (Montreal is pretty big) but I wanted to share my first few days with you because I want you all to come on this journey with me...

In Montreal, everything is French, so let's hope I'm going to come home fluent - when I say everything is French, I mean basically every single person speaks French (99.9999% of people), all the signs are mostly in French, the restaurants, everything - it's pretty daunting so I'm taking some French lessons to pick up my French again. 

We've had amazing sunshine for the first week. I wouldn't say it's Jamaica tanning weather (apparently the North American sun isn't very strong) so no amazing natural tan for me just yet but I'll keep you updated on that one.

The buildings in Montreal are impressive, places tend to look like castles.

Not forgetting how perfect McGill university is.

It feels like Hogwarts.

I'm currently living on Tim Hortons, I'd say it's Canada's answer to Starbucks/Krispy Kreme but half the price (around £1.00 for a huge doughnut!) 

   

Everyone seems to be celebrating something, at some point in Montreal. There's always something going on.

The port is my favourite part of Montreal so far. Montreal is so big, my feet are is agony from all the walking and I still really haven't seen that much of it yet.

You can be forgiven for thinking you're in Europe - Montreal feels extremely European. 

The artificial beach they put up during the Summer months is pretty cool.

   

and naturally I eyed up the boats, reminiscing my yacht trip in Vietnam. 

a random rail track throughout the port makes you think you're in Amsterdam rather than Canada.

and the bikes everywhere bring back memories of London.

  

Everywhere you walk, there is something that will catch your eye.

You can expect lots of foodie posts from me still, because I stumbled across an area called Le Plateau - Mont Royal which is bustling with the most gorgeous bars and restaurants.

We ate at L'entrepot, it was $5.00 for anything on the menu. 

'Berr for the chef, a happy ending for the hard working peeps in the kitchen'. Montreal has such a cool vibe to it.

Feeling like I was in Spain, I sipped a sangria.

The food was so good and cost us the equivalent of around £3.00

Afterwards we headed to a bar...

we bumped into some Irish friends - everyone in Montreal is so friendly, plus most people are also travelling too which really makes it great.

   

The shopping areas in Montreal are huge, they have underground shopping malls for miles. I've bought lots of things but there's still so much to see. I have a Sephora and a Brandy Melville on my doorstep which is proving pretty dangerous (haul coming very soon!)

I had my first vegan meal too - 

It was very erm, green.

  

In terms of food, I've eaten far too much since arriving. I want to sample everything. My apartment put on a free BBQ for us the other day and the burgers were bigger than my head. 

My Canadian friends introduced me to Beavertails... basically deep fat fried,thick pancake type things topped with anything you like. I went for oreo and my friend went for cinnamon. 

Give me another week and I'll have tried every flavour.

Poutine is the dish of Montreal and my golly it's good. I plan on trying every single poutine shop in Montreal - I am hunting for the best poutine. It's like a thick gravy with cheese and chips - even Mcdonalds sells it here. It would fit in perfectly in Yorkshire, in fact, I've definitely eaten it at Leeds Festival before.

Montreal certainly knows how to party, in the one week I've been here, I've been on a boat party...

Ignoring my ugly t-shirt (you had to wear it to get on the boat party). Obviously wearing my new Charlotte Tilbury lipstick too.

and I've also been to a pretty cool beach party. 

It was like american pie in real life.

My bikini is from Triangl and no longer fits me (apologies) and obviously my trusty Ray-bans.

It was a great way to meet other young people travelling too though.

  

Now I can't wait to get stuck into some outdoor sports and try my hand at some snow sports..

possibly some more beachy moments too - let's hope the sunshine stays out a little bit longer.

and I wouldn't mind sampling some more food...

A little look at the things that didn't make it onto my camera... 1. I tried my first ice cream sandwich, 2. my first Tim Hortons (frozen raspberry tea with a double chocolate strawberry doughnut - worth every calorie), 3. the most amazing Japanese tapas right beside my flat, 4. the view from my bedroom window, 5. Montreal sunset, 6. new friends, 7. I bought the whole of Forever21. 

So how do I feel about Montreal so far? I've met some incredible people, I've sampled some incredible food and there's so much I haven't done yet. Next up, I want to do some more exploring (there is literally so much I haven't shown you yet; Mont Royal, old Montreal which is so gorgeous, St Lawrence and more) - that's just Montreal! My next stop is Toronto and then New York City afterwards! I promise to keep you updated along the way and share all my adventures with you. You can expect lots and lots of hauls from me too, - let's just say the shopping here is pretty cool too and I just need to share Canadian/USA make up with you. 

I'll leave you with one piece of advice: If something terrifies you, do it. I physically couldn't get on the plane by myself, but I faced my biggest fear and set off travelling alone and honestly? I couldn't be happier.

Have you ever visited Canada? Do you like the look of Montreal? Do you want to travel?

Lots of love, Em x

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