(Dear English readers, please scroll down to find the ‘click’ for English translation )

当然来到蒙特利尔市，不能不谈它那耸立了几百年的古老法式建筑物。坦白说，我对建筑物不内行， 不敢在此班门弄斧。贴上多多照片就是 （如上，照片是在第一次游蒙特利尔时拍的，那时是夏天）。市中心有一条市中心的主街，Sherbrooke街, 很有趣。这条街很长。街的东部是法式建筑，西部是英式。驾着车在此街上东西跑，也看得出法式和英式建筑的不同。可惜没拍到英式建筑的照片以便比较。抱歉。

这里也有个小小的古城。城中有许多餐馆, 咖啡店, 酒吧等的。小巷中有艺术工作者卖他们的作品。我蛮喜欢的，很有欧洲风味，觉得很浪漫，很美。当然，我没去过欧洲，才大惊小怪。Ed去过欧洲，觉得这里不过如此。 我嘛，自己陶醉就是了。

蒙特利尔也是个节庆 (festival) 之城。听说，它常年办各类型的节庆。它的爵士音乐节是世界闻名的。Ed说，夏季时，几乎每个周末都会有东西看。我第一次去时，也刚好碰上蒙特利尔电影节。一屏大大的银幕摆在主要的大街上，整条街封锁了给电影节用，每个晚上都有好戏免费上映。

我和Ed在第一晚看了一部法国古典名片- Bird Cage。有英文字幕。第二晚去时，上映的是Mission Impossible。可是，我竟一点也看不懂！因为，他们竟配上法语，却没有英文字幕。我当然听不懂啦！别问我为什么他们这样做。可是，看到Tom Cruise讲法语也蛮搞笑的。

这回第二次游蒙特利尔，因为是冬天，倒好像没什么大型的节庆。即使有，我也没留意到，也没什么兴致。因为，天气真的很糟糕。整个晚上都在下雨，接着还下雪。不过，在雪中看蒙特利尔，再加上，街上的圣诞装饰，也真别有一番风味。白茫茫中，又有那五颜六色的霓虹光，很美(下图）。可是，我和我的朋友，却变了落汤鸡。

Coming from Ontario, it is not too difficult to notice the difference of architecture in Montreal. The buildings in Montreal are older and more French looking. I don’t know much on architecture, so I am not going to pretend here. I think, the above pictures I took during my first trip in summer could well say the differences.

Sherbrooke St in Montreal downtown is like a display of French and English architecture too. Sherbrooke St is a long street that runs from East to West of downtown. On its East, you can see more French architecture, and on its West, you can see more English settlement buildings. It is quite interesting. However, I did not take any photos to share here, sorry.

There is a small old town preserved in Montreal. There are many restaurants, cafe, bars etc in the old town. Walking into the small lanes, you will see many artists selling their works. I have not been to Europe yet, hence I truly fell in love with the old town. As for Ed, it was nothing special compare to what he experienced in Europe. So, I could only enjoy the romantic and beautiful feelings on my own.

Montreal also famous for its festivals. This city runs festivals all year round, especially the summer. Ed said, during summertime, there is always something going on on almost every weekend. Its International Jazz Festival is also world renowned.

When I was there for the first time, we bummed into the Montreal Film Festival. A big screen was set up outdoor in city center, and there were free movies every night. Ed and I watched Bird Cage, a French classic with English subtitles on the first night. We went back the second night because Mission Impossible was shown. The problem was, I could not understand the film at all ! This was ecause they dubbed the movie to French but without English subtitles. I did not understand why they did this. Nonetheless, it was hilarious to see Tom Cruise spoke in French !

During my recent trip, however, I did not notice any major festival, probably due to the arrival of winter. If there was one, I might not have too much interest too because the weather was really crappy. It rained and snowed all night. What came out good was, Montreal has become such a beautiful white city, especially with its decoration with colourful Christmas neon lights. Colourful lights shining in the snow white background, stunning ! However, my friend and I were quite soaked….