So what did YOU think of Montreal?

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

I'm sitting in the airport right now after a weekend up here in Maple Syrup Land.

 

Not quite what I expected. Your thoughts and experiences?

[bigvalboy]

Doesn't sound like you had fun. If that's the case, I'm sorry Mr. E. I went twice a year for years, and had some wonderful experiences, but I lost interest a number of years ago. For me, I saw things beginning to change at the bars on St. Catherine's. When I first started going, it didn't seem like such a hustle, and the boys didn't seem so jaded. After 9-11, there was a lot of anti-American sentiment, and on several occasions I was openly challenged, and had some really terrible things said to me by perfect strangers in restuarants and bars, and on the street. My last trip I got robbed while with an escort. I know I know, I dropped my guard. It was the only time it has ever happened, but it irritated me. It was just one of many things that drove me away. Suddenly Montreal didn't seem so appealing, I lost the desire, and stopped going.

 

To be fair, I still have many friends, some from the forum, who go all the time, and still love Montreal, but everything in life changes, so for now, I'm just as happy staying closer to home.

[Steven_Draker]

Did you go to Montreal for business or pleasure?

 

I had a lot of fun when I visited La Métropole du Québec: Montréal, its historic sites and monuments, the bars and clubs on Saint Catherine. I even took a side trip to see Quebec City and Le Château Frontenac. Great memories.

 

Personally, I found Canadians warm and nice people and the men: beautiful and sexy. I say there must be something in the water.

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

Doesn't sound like you had fun. If that's the case, I'm sorry Mr. E. I went twice a year for years, and had some wonderful experiences, but I lost interest a number of years ago. For me, I saw things beginning to change at the bars on St. Catherine's. When I first started going, it didn't seem like such a hustle, and the boys didn't seem so jaded. After 9-11, there was a lot of anti-American sentiment, and on several occasions I was openly challenged, and had some really terrible things said to me by perfect strangers in restuarants and bars, and on the street. My last trip I got robbed while with an escort. I know I know, I dropped my guard. It was the only time it has ever happened, but it irritated me. It was just one of many things that drove me away. Suddenly Montreal didn't seem so appealing, I lost the desire, and stopped going.

 

To be fair, I still have many friends, some from the forum, who go all the time, and still love Montreal, but everything in life changes, so for now, I'm just as happy staying closer to home.

 

Quite the opposite. I left saying to my travel companion that I would enjoy living there for six months or so to really have a chance to see all of the city. We did a walking guided tour, which was actually one of the best things about the trip, and the weather was stunning until Monday morning when it turned gray and colder. Even then, we had a lot of fun, and one of the best meals I've had in a long, long time.

 

But I guess that Montreal had a reputation in my head for being a little naughtier than how it was presented. It was almost as if school had let out and wasn't back in session just yet.

[bigvalboy]

Quite the opposite. I left saying to my travel companion that I would enjoy living there for six months or so to really have a chance to see all of the city. We did a walking guided tour, which was actually one of the best things about the trip, and the weather was stunning until Monday morning when it turned gray and colder. Even then, we had a lot of fun, and one of the best meals I've had in a long, long time.

 

But I guess that Montreal had a reputation in my head for being a little naughtier than how it was presented. It was almost as if school had let out and wasn't back in session just yet.

 

Ahh well that is good news. So glad that you had a wonderful time. Montreal itself is a spectacular city, and I do have friends who can't get enough of it, one even living there part of the year. I even enjoyed the winters. For myself, I had years of nothing but fun, but in the end, things just turned sour, so I moved on. Nice to know that you had fun.

[wisconsinguy]

Chris, U were that close to me to not to meet at Denny's for the grand slam breakfast? i thought u were the GRAND SLAM?

[Diverdan]

I guess my experience is like BVB... I have not been to Montreal in many years, but the few times I was there, I had an incredibly good time, also got to Ottawa, and had a private tour of the Capital by one of their young and very handsome guides. But on my last trip, I had a most unfortunate experience with a young man... he tried to rob me, but was unsuccessful... but it caused a row in the bar and hotel where I was staying. However, that being said, I would still like to go back to Montreal, and I have even fonder memories of trips to Toronto and Vancouver.

[+ Chris Eisenhower]

Chris, U were that close to me to not to meet at Denny's for the grand slam breakfast? i thought u were the GRAND SLAM?

 

I know, I didn't even get poutine.

 

#FAIL

[wisconsinguy]

I know, I didn't even get poutine.

 

#FAIL

Maybe I get a free bee the next time.

[tyro]

Is THAT all it takes? Shoot.......

T

[+ Gar1eth]

Did you go to Montreal for business or pleasure?

 

I had a lot of fun when I visited La Métropole du Québec: Montréal, its historic sites and monuments, the bars and clubs on Saint Catherine. I even took a side trip to see Quebec City and Le Château Frontenac. Great memories.

 

Personally, I found Canadians warm and nice people and the men: beautiful and sexy. I say there must be something in the water.[/color]

 

Steven--I was wondering how easily it is for you to understand Montreal French and vice-versa. Have you ever met a Quebecois where it was easier for you to both speak English?

 

As for the Montreal, I only traveled there once for a convention around 1998. I knew I was gay, but it was back while when I had decided I was never going to act on it--long before my first sexual experience--but possibly not before I found Hooboy's Reviews. As a result, I didn't go anywhere near the gay area. But I thought the city was beautiful. It seemed to me the most European-like city I had ever seen on the North American Continent.

 

Gman

[Decatur Guy]

I went there quite a few times in the 1990s -- usually with my family, so that severely limited the extracurriculars. However, I did manage to engage a menage a trois once that was kind of memorable. It was at a strange bathhouse that had odd decorations such as a corner with a Southwestern motif. But generally speaking, I struck out with those HOT Montreal men -- and this was way before my hiring days.

 

I'm a big fan of Ottawa and Q City too. I've never been to Toronto. I was looking at flights to there recently. Rather expensive.

[Steven_Draker]

Steven--I was wondering how easily it is for you to understand Montreal French and vice-versa. Have you ever met a Quebecois where it was easier for you to both speak English?

 

I believe I mentioned before in the Forum that Quebec French and 'Metropolitan' French have multiple signs of asymmetrical intelligibility (as apposed to mutual intelligibility)

 

"Quebec French speakers are more easily able to understand standard metropolitan French than vice versa"

 

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutual_intelligibility#Asymmetric_intelligibility

 

[video=youtube;tF46rEE5yZU]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tF46rEE5yZU

[+ newatthis]

...We did a walking guided tour, which was actually one of the best things about the trip...

One of the many things that keeps me going back to Montreal is the opportunity to walk in interesting and varied neighborhoods. A few years ago, when google maps freed me from reliance on the metro, I also discovered the busses, which go to and through areas that I might not have seen otherwise (and come back to for walks).

[Steven_Draker]

One of the many things that keeps me going back to Montreal is ... SEX

 

 

"Sex is the trademark of Montreal tourism," Louise Dionne, coordinator of the Action Committee against domestic and international human trafficking, was quoted to say.

 

"The logo of Tourism Montreal is the lips of a woman. Without wishing to be Machiavellian, I think that says a lot!"

 

http://lifesite-cache.s3.amazonaws.com/images/made/images/news/MontrealTourismLogo_250_150_55.jpg

 

Hachey noted that her investigation of sex tourism revealed Montreal being described as a good choice for any type of "adult experience" by U.S. travel agencies.

 

"Whatever type of adult experience you're looking for, you will likely find it in Montreal," reads the website of Global Express Tours, an agency in Massachusetts that buses tourists from Boston to Montreal.

 

Philibert said Montrealers must stop "burying their heads in the sand" and realize that their city is the "Mecca of the sex industry in North America. And corruption in Montreal is not just about sewers and sidewalks, but involves girls being sexually exploited by street gangs."

 

Philibert accused city authorities of largely ignoring the harsh reality that vulnerable adolescents are being exploited by criminal gangs.

 

"Corruption is not just in the world of finance. It is also in the sex trade," she said. "Whether it's politicians or businessmen, there are too many people who profit from this, that's for sure."

 

source: Montreal touted as the sex tourism capital of North America

[+ Topseed]

Allow a different view: It's a city that to me looks as if investment stopped 30 or 40 years ago; perhaps timed with the rise of separatism there, but it's tough to know. I understand all of its history, but it seemed to me a museum, and not a vibrant place at all.

[search0925]

I was in Montreal last weekend. First time back in a year. I found it lively as always. Love walking the streets of the city and especially walking the area around Place des Artes. A couple of the buildings surrounding the area were lit up in orange (I presume in preparation for Halloween). Love the creativeness of the city. Noticed that the height of most of the sidewalks along St Catherine had been scaled down to the same height of the streets giving a more pedestrian look and a more handicap friendly feeling. Of course there are still the street beggers and adicts along St Catherine but none were pushy with me.

Went to both Campus and Stock Friday and Saturday nights. I arrived Friday evening after traveling all day by bus ($125 roundtrip). The bus was not so bad and the driver made good time going and returning making the trips 30 to 45 minutes ahead of time. Still a bit tired by the time I got to Campus and Stock. No dances for me Friday night. Saturday I was lucky enough to have my first dance with Erik (it lasted for 5 songs). Erik is in preparation for a fitness competion next month. You can find a picture and clip of him at the Stock website. He is much more defined now than how he appears in the Stock clip. Very nice guy and gave a good private dance. I was tempted for a private away from the club but my hotel was not very close and he only does privates from Stock. If anyone has had a private with him please let me know if it was good. I think I might be headed back up there in a couple of weeks. This past weekend was Erik's first time there in about 4 months. I think he needs money for the competition (food and trainer, etc.). I did have a dance with 4 or 5 other guys. Marco, whom had just finished a body building competition a few weeks prior, was also very nice and gave a good private dance. Only had a problem with 2 of the dancers that were pushy, one of which tried to invite himself to a drink at my expense. Thank goodness Erik walked up just in time to rescue me. Can't remember the guy's name but I think I saw him pictured at the Stock website as well. He has been dancing there on and off for quite a few years. Did not have any dances at Campus either night. I would have had one but the dancers that I wanted a dance with were very busy. Sunday night at Stock I got my first dance of the night from Erik (his first dance of the night as well). Had a couple of more dances than the night before. Then he got very busy and I was getting tired anticipating the long bus trip the next day so I left after about 3 hours. I did have 3 dances with Marco again. Wish I was back up there this weekend but I have to get a root canal taken care of. Campus was pretty busy both Friday & Saturday. Stock was busy both nights as well but because it is bigger than Campus, it never seemed packed. It was also Black and Blue weekend but I am not into the big parties.

[Guest]

asymmetrical intelligibility[/url][/b] (as apposed to mutual intelligibility)

 

"Quebec French speakers are more easily able to understand standard metropolitan French than vice versa"

 

 

Probably the reason for the asymmetrical intelligibility is that there are far more movies/TV shows made in France than in Quebec. There are simply more French than Quebecois. When Quebec TV shows are shown in France, they need to put French subtitles for the French to understand them. The reverse is not true. I was just recently talking with a Moroccan-born American cab driver. He said that he has no trouble understanding Egyptian Arabic, but Egyptians cannot really understand him. He was probably correct in stating that this is because Moroccans are all exposed to Egyptian cinema. The difference between Quebec and metropolitan French speech is far greater than British between and American English. That being said, I may have more trouble understanding the English than they do understanding me (I've never had the experience of an English-speaker not understanding what I was saying). I have particular trouble with northern English.

In general, when learning a foreign language, I think it's wisest to learn the most commonly spoken version, as this will be the most widely understood (i.e. American English, French French, Latin-American Spanish, Egyptian Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, and, sorry Steven, Dutch Dutch rather than Flemish). I would venture to assume that the Belgians have less trouble understanding echt Nederlands than the Dutch do understanding Vlaamsk, although since the two places are right next to each other, I would assume they watch each others' TV shows....