THERE ARE TOO MANY wonderful things about our Montreal life to list but I love shopping for fresh fruit and vegetables in our neighborhood La Fruiterie du Plateau, or at Atwater Market or Jean-Talon Market (don't miss the Tourism Montreal video) in Little Italy. Other favorite things are dim sum in Chinatown at Kam Fung, lunch at L'Express, dinner at a Portuguese or Greek restaurant, St. Louis Square with its truly beautiful French-style fountain and flowers and dinner on the lively Prince Arthur Street. Don't miss this great Mile-End video, shot in another very popular neighborhood.

ON A TYPICAL MORNING I go out early to buy a newspaper and fresh bread then go home to fix breakfast with blueberries or other local produce (Ontario peaches are especially delicious). Or we just walk one block south to our neighborhood cafe, Le Passé Composé, for a beautiful and excellent breakfast. On special occasions we might eat breakfast at Cafe Cherrier.

THE REMAINDER of our days are spent exploring different parts of the city, eating lunch on a blanket in the grass at the park, having afternoon coffee and pastry at one of the wonderful coffeehouses nearby, riding Bixis to Old Montreal and along the Lachine Canal, walking to the top of Mount Royal, and ending up at Canada"s finest university, McGill, finding the Give Peace a Chance public art piece on the way down. In the evening, back to Parc Lafontaine to take in a free production at Theatre Verdure, an open-air performance theater. Don't miss this Montreal Tourism video about other leisure activities and the appeal of the city.

IF YOU LOVE CYCLING Montreal has 300+ miles of dedicated bike paths and has been rated the best city in North America for cycling and a bike tour is a great way to see the city. In August 2007 Quebec inaugurated the amazing Route Verte, a vast network of bicycle paths that extends 3000+ miles through the province, passing through 300+ municipalities, a cyclist's dream. If not owning a car appeals to you from a global warming perspective, you'll love this: 97% of Montreal's electricity is generated by Hydro-Quebec, which produces power from dammed water and turbines, not coal or natural gas.

THERE ARE MANY WONDERFUL PLACES TO STAY, especially on the Plateau and in Old Montreal. PLATEAU LODGING: A la Bonne Heure, Anne ma souer Anne, Auberge de la Fontaine, Aux Portes de la Nuit (fantastic location), Bienvenue B&B, Boulanger Bassin B&B, Casa Bianca, Chez Fanny, Hotel Kutuma, Le Gite, Le Plumard, Pierre & Dominique, to name a few,  OLD MONTREAL LODGING:  Auberge Bonaparte, Auberge du Vieux-Port, Auberge Les Passant du Sans Soucy (a B&B) Hostellerie Pierre du Calvet, Hotel Gault, Hotel Nelligan, Hotel Place 'd Armes, Hotel St.James, Hotel St. Paul, L Hotel, Le Petit Hotel, Le Saint Sulpice, W Hotel, plus others.