First ‘full’ day in Montreal. Waking up in the morning, I had the breakfast provided by my hostel, and proceeded to the rooftop to get some air (and also do some blogging). It turned out to be a fairly nice place to sit and relax for a while. There are tables and chairs, a nice view of the surroundings, and they even grow their own tomatoes!

After spending some time enjoying the atmosphere, I decided it was time to head out. I had heard there was a river nearby, so I began heading in that direction. Much like yesterday’s walk, there was no shortage of interesting looking places. I even walked through a small China town, identified by a giant gate on either side of the perimeter.

Proceeding further, I noticed a small, old fashioned looking street with lots of shops and restaurants. It turned out to be St. Paul street, which is very old, and famous in the area. I took some time to walk down the cobblestone roads, venturing into some of the gift shops, admiring the rustic architecture around me.

It was around noon at this time, which meant time for lunch. Looking around, there were many different establishments that could have well gotten the job done, but the one that caught my attention was the ‘Pub St. Paul’. Off the bat the outside aesthetics demonstrated a sort of ‘rock & roll’ feel, and the menu offered different types of poutine inspired by various rock artists. As I drew closer, the sound of a mellow guitar could be heard coming out the speakers, which drew me in as I walked up the stairs and through the entrance doors.

The atmosphere provided an old pub feel, with wooden aesthetics and beer signs adorning the walls. As mentioned earlier, an offering of different types of poutine inspired by different rock artists were served. Names like ‘Jimi Hendrix’ and ‘Slash’ were among the names, but I decided to go with the ‘David Bowie’, which consisted of a normal poutine, in addition to steak, bacon, pepperoni, and sausage. Upon receiving the order, I was shocked and pleased at the generous amount of meats that was bestowed upon the plate. The meat, cheese, gravy, and fries all paired well together, and the portion size was quite large. I will say this: They didn’t hold back!

After finishing my meal, I exited the pub and continued onward towards the river. Walking to the water, there was lots of entertainment to be had. Street vendors and performers could be seen on either side, a Ferris wheel operated in the distance, and the sound of people screaming as they zip lined above the crowds sounded every few minutes.

When I reached the river, I walked along the banks for a while, admiring the sight, enjoying the breeze, watching as the people gathered into boats to take a small tour.

As I walked further along, I could see a large clock tower in the distance. Nearing closer, I could see that the tower could be entered from a door on the side. I entered the tower and was presented with the challenge of mounting 192 steps to reach the top (the steps were numbered). I began climbing, red steel frames and rustic machinery surrounding me as I made my way higher. This place has definitely seen better days, but its old feel gives it an amount of character which makes it charming.

I eventually made it to the clock face part of the tower, so I stopped for a bit to look around and catch my breath. It was an interesting sight, seeming almost like the place the climax of a movie would be filmed. Upon the faces were writings left by others who had made their way through the tower. Many were from lovers marking their ascent together, while others had written comments expressing how tired they were after making the climb.

There were just a few more flights of stairs to climb to reach the top, so I continued onward. Upon reaching the last step, I was greeted with a sign letting me know that I was 167.6 feet (51.1 meters) above seal level. Gazing outside the windows of the tower, I could see the river once again below me, as well as the city buildings in the distance. The view was my reward for making it to the top, and I enjoyed it until I had my fill.

Walking back, I happened upon a street performer who appeared to be juggling a lit torch, machete, and a stick with a saw blade on one end, all while standing atop a ladder.

A few more paces behind him was a man performing beautiful classical pieces from his cello. I often admire street musicians, as they add a bit of atmosphere and mood to the outside world. What would otherwise be a place filled with the sound of bustling and chatter from the crowd, now has an air of mood, audible stimulation to pair with the other senses. I tipped the man, grateful for what he added to the surroundings, and began my return towards the hostel. Time to recharge for another outing!