Frommer's Montreal & Quebec City 2008
Chapter One
The Best of Montreal &
Quebec City
Just 10 years ago, something of a bleak mood prevailed in Quebec province. It was
driven by lingering recession and uncertainty over the future; it seemed possible that
the province would choose to fling itself into independence from the rest of Canada.
Lately, though, something else is going on. Ripples of optimism have become
waves. The Canadian dollar, as every traveler will discover, has strengthened against its
U.S. counterpart. In Montreal, a billion-dollar building boom has been filling up
vacant lots all over downtown. Montreal has become a modern city in every regard,
with skyscrapers in unexpected shapes and bright, noncorporate colors; a historic district
that has been beautifully preserved; and a large area of artists' lofts, boutiques,
cafes, and miles of restaurants. Quebec City, more traditional and more French, is
replacing its former conservatism with an ever-expanding aura of sophistication.
American and European travelers will likely find Mont ... read full excerpt from Frommer's Montreal & Quebec City 2008 ebook
