1. Hearing French Everywhere
I suppose this is one of the most obvious signs you’re back in the city. Speak it or not, French is the first thing that you will see and hear the moment you arrive in Montreal. Everything from street signs to flyers will mainly be in French. It’s quite easy to go around town without speaking a word of it, but you start picking it up in no time.
2. Poutine
Sure, every girl and boy in Montreal keeps their physique in check, but when it comes to poutine you can rarely find someone that will say no. Whether you go to La Banquise or you grab a bite from Frite Alors after a fun night on Saint Laurent, poutine will be everywhere and anywhere the moment you’re back.
3.Tam-Tams
Now, you can find poutine in other cities too but Tam-Tams is a unique experience that you’ll only find in Montreal. Banging on drums and dancing might not quite be your cup of tea but you’ll hear the drums from almost everywhere in the McGill ghetto on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
4. Cafes
Starbucks isn’t the only place you can get your morning coffee in Montreal. One of the places where Montreal’s French heritage is most evident is in its cafes. So you’ll probably be hitting Santropol for a quick bite or to Café Replica for some Turkish coffee when you’re back in the city. They’re also lifesavers if studying in the library isn’t your thing or if libraries are filled up, as they mostly are.
5. Mont Royal
Mont Royal is one of those places that tells you you’re in Montreal. Toronto has the CN Tower and Montreal has the Mont Royal. Minutes and a steep hike away from campus you can find the beautiful forest and enjoy the views from the viewing terrace. Even though it’s mostly visited by tourists that flood the city during the warmer months and not so much by locals, its presence reminds you that you’re in Montreal.
7. Old Montreal
Like Mont Royal, Old Montreal or Old Port is one of those places that is flooded with tourists anytime you go there. Therefore, it’s not visited by people living in Montreal as much as it should be. But when you are there not only does it remind you how of great Montreal is, but it also takes you to a different time. If historic buildings and cobblestone roads are your thing, you’ll be roaming all over Old Montreal right when you get back.
8. Cold (freeze your pants off cold) weather
The weather is one thing Montrealers cannot stop talking about. Canada is a cold place in general but Montreal is a VERY cold place. You won’t be feeling it the moment you get back in the fall, but as time passes and December hits, you’ll be thanking yourself for signing up for that course that has recorded lectures.
9. The Underground City
Will cold weather stop us from shopping? For most of us the answer is probably no. Especially in Montreal, since the city offers us a huge underground city, which you will be visiting sooner or later. Spanning from one side of downtown to the other and boasting everything from restaurants, clothing stores, and movie theaters, the underground city will definitely make you feel like you’re back in Montreal once again.
10. Festivals
Montreal is known as the Festival City and it certainly lives up to the name. Some of the biggest festivals occur in the summer but the city isn’t silent during the semester. With Montreal en Lumière being one of the biggest ones, there is always something fun to do when you’re back.
Images obtained from: go.westjet.com/flights-from-maui-to-montreal and www.s-trip.com/busaway/montreal-summer/