Michael Powell's Blog, page 44
June 14, 2016
The Old Port of Montreal
In 1976, the same year as the Summer Olympics, Montreal moved its port a few kilometers downstream, opening up a significant section of prime riverside land in the historic center. The Old Port was redeveloped in the 1990s and has since become one of Montreal’s favorite hangout zones, with parks, museums, activities, cafes and even a beach.
Over six million people visit the Old Port of Montreal every year. It didn’t surprise me to learn that, because during the day we spent walking around, I...
June 13, 2016
A Day in Mile End
Situated around Boulevard Saint Laurent immediately south of Little Italy, Mile End has become synonymous with Montreal’s indie music scene. And bagels. And hipsters. We spent a sunny day exploring the streets of one of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods.
No miles actually end in Mile End; the name is thought to have been inspired by London’s Mile End neighborhood, in the same way Montreal’s Quartier Latin is a nod to Paris. For much of its history, Mile End was an independent town known a...
June 12, 2016
The St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival
An uncensored celebration of independent theater at its most creative, the St-Ambroise Fringe Festival entertains Montreal with over 800 performances spread across twenty days. We were in town during the festival’s 26th year of existence, and couldn’t resist taking in a show… the only problem was deciding which to see.
Fringe Festivals came into being in Edinburgh during the 1940s, when independent theater companies began performing without sanction on the “fringe” of the city’s popular Inte...
Final Images from Quebec City
Intro and History | Fortifications and Citadel | Two Views of Quebec | The Château Frontenac
Old Quebec | The Montmorency Falls | The Plains of Abraham | Two Great QC Hotels
Jürgen and I hardly rested during our three days in Quebec City. The weather was great, which allowed us to spend a lot of time outside, walking around the city taking snapshots. With the Château Frontenac reigning over the Old Town like a real-life Disney castle and the twisti...
June 11, 2016
Hotels in Quebec City: Le St. Pierre Auberge and the Hôtel 71
Intro and History | Fortifications and Citadel | Two Views of Quebec | The Château Frontenac
Old Quebec | The Montmorency Falls | The Plains of Abraham | Final Images
The most famous hotel in Quebec City might be the Château Frontenac, but that doesn’t necessarily make it the best. During our trip, we were invited to stay in a pair of hotels in the Lower Town. The St. Pierre Auberge and the modern Hôtel 71 are found adjacent to each other on Rue St...
June 10, 2016
The Plains of Abraham
Intro and History | Fortifications and Citadel | Two Views of Quebec | The Château Frontenac
Old Quebec | The Montmorency Falls | Two Great QC Hotels | Final Images
In 1759, on a field outside the walled city of Quebec, the future of Canada was decided. At the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, the forces of England decisively defeated those of France, and Quebec City fell under the British crown. Today, the battlefield has become an urban park, wher...
The Montmorency Falls
Intro and History | Fortifications and Citadel | Two Views of Quebec | The Château Frontenac
Old Quebec | The Plains of Abraham | Two Great QC Hotels | Final Images
Located just north of Quebec City, the Chute-Montmorency provides a perfect half-day excursion in nature. This waterfall has a height of 83 meters, taller than Niagara, and by following a trail which includes a suspension bridge and a gondola, you’re able to admire it from every conceiv...
June 9, 2016
Postcards from Old Quebec
Intro and History | Fortifications and Citadel | Two Views of Quebec | The Château Frontenac
The Montmorency Falls | The Plains of Abraham | Two Great QC Hotels | Final Images
Protected by its original fortifications, Old Quebec has survived the centuries in a state of picture-perfect preservation. In 1985, UNESCO declared the entire historic district to be a World Heritage Site. This section of town is the main reason Quebec is able to lure so man...
June 8, 2016
Quebec City’s Château Frontenac
Intro and History | Fortifications and Citadel | Two Views of Quebec | Old Quebec
The Montmorency Falls | The Plains of Abraham | Two Great QC Hotels | Final Images
Built in 1893 by the Canadian Pacific railway company, the Château Frontenac dominates the skyline of Quebec City. A towering structure with over 600 rooms and an unforgettable profile that reigns over the walls of the Old Town, this is thought to be the world’s most photographed hotel....
June 2, 2016
Two Views of Quebec City
Intro and History | Fortifications and Citadel | The Château Frontenac | Old Quebec
The Montmorency Falls | The Plains of Abraham | Two Great QC Hotels | Final Images
It doesn’t matter which angle you’re admiring it from, Quebec City is stunning. We had a chance to see two of the best views of the city: from the water, during a short ferry trip across the St. Lawrence River, and from the sky, in the 31st-floor observatory of the city’s tallest buil...
