Going Local Travel

Last Friday afternoon, I went up the tower at Montreal’s Olympic stadium.  It is the tallest leaning tower in the world and, on a clear day, provides views that stretch up to 80km. While I was there a man with an electronic clipboard collared me for a questionnaire. “What did I think of the information [...]

On Sunday I was planning a day trip to Ottawa to see a friend. The bus was going to cost me around 60 plus dollars (around £40). Or I could lift share. Remembering that PickupPal are Canada-based, I decided this was a good place give it a try. On a very short timeframe, I set [...]

Local blogs are the best insight into local life. The best in-situ bloggers know which places are over-hyped or past their peak. They look beyond the cliches and they are ahead of the guidebooks. This post is a work in process. I’ll add any new ones I find as I go along. Please do make [...]

London gets its own bike scheme today. Finally. Hurrah. It’s modelled on the Bixi here in Montreal, and for that reason I wrote a comparative piece for the Guardian today: In Montreal’s tracks. There’s a lot of cynicism floating around right now, but I have no doubt they will catch on. Londoners are, by nature, [...]

So here I am at summer school in Montreal. I’m into my third week of French refresher classes at UQAM (L’Université du Québec à Montréal). Keeping up the location independent way of life, I have signed up for the intensive morning course, which leaves me with the afternoons/evenings to earn a living and pay the [...]

To my great excitement my Bixi key arrived in the post last week. Bixi is the name of the public bike system here in Montreal. (Bike + taxi = Bixi.) Having paid $28, I can now grab a Bixi from any of the main pick-up points over town and ride for 30 minutes without charge. [...]

So, I’ve made decision. I’m off to Montreal to swap the Argentinian winter for the Canadian summer. I’ll be there for two months from the end of June to the end of August. If you’ve been to Montreal, you’ll understand. But I’m finding those that haven’t look at little baffled by the choice. How can [...]