Montreal

Montréal é a segunda maior cidade do Canadá, a maior cidade é Quebec, e a maior cidade francófona após Paris.

Na confluência das culturas das comunidades Britânica, Americana, e Francófonas, o Montreal é o centro cultural, acadêmico e de atividade social. Anfitriã do Jogos Olímpicos de 1976 e a lendária Feira Mundial de 1976 - Expo 67 , e lar de dezenas de culturas festivais artísticos todos os anos. Montreal oferece uma multitude de locais de eventos apropriados e recursos para Wikimania, e também uma atmosfera ativa para saudar os participantes.

Montreal (French: Montréal) (pronunciado [mɔ̃ʁeˈal] em Francês, /ˌmʌntriˈɑːl/ em Inglês) é a segunda maior cidade em Canadá e a maior cidade na província do Québac. Montreal foi incorporada como cidade em 1832 e, em 1860, tornou-se a maior cidade América do Norte Britânica e um centro econômico e cultural sem disputa do Canadá.

Uma vista da baixa da cidade de Montreal vista a partir de Mont-Royal

O Estádio Olímpico (Montreal), lugar principal dos Jogos Olímpicos de 1976

Chega-se com facilidade em Montreal partindo dos maiores destinos: à volta de 200 voos Norte Americanos e voos internacionais, aterram em Montréal-Trudeau International Airport todos os dias, chegando de mais de 70 cidades Canadianas e cidades internacionais. A baixa da cidade, compacta, limpa e segura, é o trajeto mais curto partindo do aeroporto.

Montréal, no cruzamento de culturas anglófonas e francófonas, está idealmente situado para realizar procedimentos em francês e inglês. Os habitantes de Montreal são predominantemente bilíngues (francês e inglês), especialmente no setor de serviços, e os recursos para realizar toda a conferência em ambas as línguas estão prontamente disponíveis. Na Grande Montreal, com uma população de 3,6 milhões, 53% dos habitantes são bilíngues e 20% usam uma terceira língua, além de francês e inglês.

Clima

Os verões de Montreal são quentes e às vezes úmidos, com altas temperaturas médias 24 - 26°C (75 - 79°F) e baixas de 13 - 15°C (55 - 60°F).

Segurança Pessoal

Montreal compartilha as baixas taxas de criminalidade violenta do Canadá, tornando-se relativamente seguro.

O número de emergência de Montreal é 911. Ligue para este número em emergências para entrar em contato com a polícia, atendimento médico ou fogo.

Money and tipping

Most places in Montreal only accept the Canadian dollar ($), which is divided into 100 cents. Value of the Canadian dollar can vary from 70-110 US cents. Some tourist locations will accept US dollars.

Sales tax of 14.975% is added to most items, except packaged food. Price tags usually only show the before-tax price.

Tipping at a rate of 15% is expected in restaurants.

ATMs attached to major banks accept debit cards connected to the Plus or Cirrus network. Independent ATMs might not accept foreign debit cards.

Entretenimento

O Casino de Montreal

Montréal has a Six Flags amusement park situated on Île Sainte-Hélène called La Ronde, the second-largest amusement park in Canada. It is accessible via car or public transportation (bus routes 167 or 169, or yellow line by metro). On the same island there is a water park, and a casino, if you'd like to try your luck. Montréal also has a well-developed tourist industry and multicultural population, if you'd like to walk, see the sights, or eat!

Montréal has a diverse entertainment scene. There are large venues such as Centre Bell or at the Olympic Stadium. Home to a vibrant night scene, Montréal is always alive at all times of day. The Olympic Stadium for the 1976 Olympics is still open to the public. People can ride on the gondola to go up the inclined tower and admire the view (not free).

Montréal is the host of the Festival De Jazz (Jazz Festival), Francofolies (French song festival), Juste Pour Rire (Just For Laughs) and a large number of happenings all year round; including the International des Feux Loto-Québec, the largest fireworks competition of the world taking place while Wikimania would be held.

The International des Feux Loto-Québec lights the city evenings during summer, with countries vying to win the competition with explosive enthusiasm. The International des Feux Loto-Québec lights the city evenings during summer, with countries vying to win the competition with explosive enthusiasm.   Île Sainte-Hélène is home to a large wooded area, historical fortifications (pictured), an amusement park and a water park. Île Sainte-Hélène is home to a large wooded area, historical fortifications (pictured), an amusement park and a water park.   Summer sees the streets of downtown Montréal fill with festivals and celebrations, such as the Just for Laughs humor festival. Summer sees the streets of downtown Montréal fill with festivals and celebrations, such as the Just for Laughs humor festival.   The nights are alive in Montréal; whether you're looking to catch a good meal or a good show, Old Montréal and the Quartier Latin will fill your needs. The nights are alive in Montréal; whether you're looking to catch a good meal or a good show, Old Montréal and the Quartier Latin will fill your needs.

Museums

Montréal is home to many world-class museums such as the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts which hosts a large collection of precious works of art and a large Napoleonic collection that was given by Ben Weider. It's also the home of the Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal which hosts contemporary art exhibitions. For the science lovers, there's the Montreal Science Centre which is home to many science themed exhibitions and an Imax theatre. The Montreal Biosphère is home to a museum that is dedicated to water and the environment. In the Olympic complex, the former velodrome at the Olympic Stadium. The Montreal Biodome is home to many animals from all around the world. It's also home to a permanent collection of the Montreal Jazz Festival's collection of arts at the Galerie Lounge TD in the Maison du Jazz Rio Tinto Alcan. In 2010, The Galerie Lounge TD features the works of world-renowned Montreal native Leonard Cohen's art collection.

The Montréal Botanical gardens host a permanent Insectarium where you can see the creepy-crawlies up close and personal. The Montréal Botanical gardens host a permanent Insectarium where you can see the creepy-crawlies up close and personal.   The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts hosts a number of permanent and travelling collections of note, and has free admission at all times. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts hosts a number of permanent and travelling collections of note, and has free admission at all times.   The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal holds a large collection of modern and classical art for the connoisseur. The Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal holds a large collection of modern and classical art for the connoisseur.   Notre-Dame de Montréal Basilica displays its colorful and dramatic Gothic architecture to visitors. Notre-Dame de Montréal Basilica displays its colorful and dramatic Gothic architecture to visitors.

Happenings

Summer in Montréal is home to many famous festivals certain to attract your attention, as well as a multitude of smaller activities and expositions.

Every summer, the core of downtown plays host to the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal when more than two million people join for more than 650 concerts played over eleven days and nights, including 370 concerts staged outdoors and free of charge.

The Just for Laughs festival, the world's largest and most prestigious comedy event, presents gala performances, theatre, club shows and outdoor free performances. With comedians, street performers and performances in French and English through most of the month of July.

Explosive Saturday nights are guaranteed throughout summer as the Montréal International Fireworks Competition lights up the skies with pyrotechnicians from all over the world countries display their daring talent to compete in the most prestigious event of its kind.

Food

Montréal is home to some world-famous restaurants. Schwartz's is famous for its smoked meat. Poutine is also offered pretty much everywhere with different flavors. One thing that makes Montreal unique with New York City is the Montreal-style bagel. Wilensky's is also a must stop for their famous sandwiches. Montréal is home to many types of restaurants. Their concepts are often varied and unique. Some of them offer local cuisine or regional plates with a modern twist. World cuisine is found almost everywhere.

SIM Card and Mobile Data Plans for Visitors

You can find a number of service providers for mobile and data services at Montreal, each with different terms. All service providers require that you to have an unlocked phone to accommodate their SIM cards,

FIDO offers three prepaid packages:

• 55 CAD (+ TAX) monthly plan: includes 750 MB data. 500 minutes calling inside Canada during the day (unlimited between 5 pm and 7 am), and unlimited texting.
• 60 CAD (+ TAX) monthly plan: includes 1 GB data, unlimited calling inside Canada. and unlimited texting.
• 70 CAD (+TAX) monthly plan: includes 2 GB data (2 cents per megabytes beyond 2GB), unlimited calling inside Canada. and unlimited texting.

You can buy a Fido plan from Fido store in Montreal.

Telus requires that you buy a SIM card for 15 CAD (+TAX) and then top up the card with one of three data options:

• 10 CAD (+ TAX) for 150 MB of data
• 25 CAD (+ TAX) for 500 MB of data
• 30 CAD (+ TAX) for 1 GB of data

You can buy a Telus SIM card from any Telus, Best Buy, or Walmart stores in Montreal.

Virgin Mobile requires that you buy a SIM card for 10 CAD (+TAX) and then top up the card with one of the three data options:

• 10 CAD (+ TAX) for 100 MB of data (overages in data usage will be charged at 15¢/MB. Not available on Blackberry)
• 25 CAD (+ TAX) for 500 MB of data (overages in data usage will be charged at 5¢/MB)  
• 35 CAD (+ TAX) for 1 GB of data (overages in data usage will be charged at 5¢/MB)

You can buy a Virgin Mobile SIM card from any Virgin Mobile kiosk or Sears stores in Montreal.

Links

• The English Wikivoyage guide to Montreal, and the specific guide for the downtown district around the venue
• Le guide de voyage de Montréal sur Wikivoyage en français