After a good night's rest in this very comfortable but large Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel (21 floors) I had until 3.00pm this afternoon to explore Montreal.
I had visited Montreal way back in September 2012 as part of a cruise entitled 'Canada's Eastern Seaboard' aboard the Fred Olsen then Flagship The Balmoral. I recall then that on a walk from the ship there seemed to be very few shops at street level until I discovered that because of the winter weather many of teh shops, restaurants and coffee bars are located underground in a vast network of walkways that interconnect almost every building in the centre of Montreal.
Just for the record here is the link to my Blog from that cruise:
http://terry-canadaseasternseaboard.blogspot.com
Remembering this, and after an inquiry at Reception, I found my way out under the hotel into this underground labyrinth. Although there were plenty of shops and coffee bars and the signage was good, I found the experience very disorientating and decided that exploring at street level would be best for me.
It didn't take long for me to spot the starting point for a Grayline Hop-on Hop-off Bus and yes you guessed it, there was a modified London Routemaster bus ready to roll. I quickly ascertained that the route took 2 hours; the next bus left at 12.00pm which meant I would be back at 2.00pm with an hour to spare before my transfer to the airport. After some reassurance from the Guide aboard that the buses were running to time, I paid my fare and hopped aboard (Forgive the pun)!
With the cameras stowed away for travel I only had my phone for photos but it quickly proved very difficult to use since Montreal is under reconstruction and the roads are littered with 'neck breaking' potholes with which the suspension of a 50-year-old bus did not cope well. So, I gave up!
It turned out that one of the best views was the one from my Hotel Room window up the Place Ville Marie towards the famous McGill University in the far distance.
The Ring in the centre ground of the photo, is described in the following website: https://placevillemarie.com/en/the-ring as "an art installation with a timeless character symbolising the strong connection between Montreal, PVM (Place Ville Marie), Montrealers and visitors from around the world.
Designed by the internationally renowned Quebec creator Claude Cormier and his landscape architecture and urban design firm Claude Cormier Associates, "The Ring highlights the dynamism of the downtown core and is a testament to its cultural vibrancy."
This 30-metre diameter art installation was erected in June 2022. The sculpture is heated to prevent snow buildup, and has vibration dampers to prevent damage during high winds and earthquakes. It is suspended at the main entrance of the recently revitalised Esplanade PVM (Place Ville Marie), representing "a gateway to the city centre."
The photo shows that a Giant Silhouette was being suspended within the ring. The Hop-on Hop-off Tour Guide told me that as part of an art project, three giants will perch over Montreal for ten days in July and act as the focal points for events led by three of Quebec's most recognisable circus companies: Cirque Éloize, Les 7 Doigts, and Machine de Cirque.
You may also have noticed two pink, fun sculptures at the bottom of the photo. The sculptures are made of resin and stand up to 2.7 metres tall and are called the Monsieur Rose – the emblems of Mignonisme. This artistic movement, founded by Philippe Katerine, celebrates beauty in simplicity and wonderment in the everyday. With his touching and funny creations, the artist will turn downtown Montreal into his playground – with a delightfully silly touch. There is a series of these sculptures scattered around the city centre for tourists and others to enjoy. (An extract from the above mentioned PVM website).
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