Montreal vs Manitoba

There are very clear differences between the City of Montreal and the Province of Manitoba. On  our recent trip to Montreal, my son remarked of the differences from home.

His top 5 teenage observations: 

1. In Montreal, they have cool transportation. Subways, trains, tunnels, all underground, efficient and cool. Manitoba...not so much.

2. Everyone in Montreal is bilingual. You don't have to speak French to get around as a tourist. In Manitoba, we have French in schools but it's rare to encounter anyone in public who is fluent in both. A tourist who only understood/spoke French in Manitoba wouldn't have an easy or as pleasant an experience.

3. Clothing and styles are different. In Manitoba women shuffle around in UGGs everywhere. In Montreal we didn't see anyone in UGGs, everyone wears fancy boots and shoes. Men everywhere wear scarves. Women are wearing patterned nylons (like fishnets, colours, and bold patterns), and tights.

4. It is less expensive to see a Montreal Canadiens game than a Jets' game. But each audience is equal in passion for their team. A lot of people in Montreal were late in getting to the game. (Lots of seats empty at the Anthems.) Whereas Jets' fans tend to be very early and wouldn't dare miss shouting "TRUE NORTH" during the Canadian Anthem.

5. Montreal has a lot of smokers. Outside every office building, restaurant and hotel there were smokers on the sidewalk. You often smelled smoke in the air. In Manitoba, it seems really quite rare to see a crowd of smokers.

$3.25 a ride ticket. This rapid transit was efficient & easy to use.

Metro map showcases the detailed transportation system. 

Underground plaza and shopping centres. You go UP to street level.