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| Bike racks are in handy locations throughout the city. |
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| Hannah and Mary, our group's Bixi experts, chose to spend the last night in Montreal out on the roads. |
Sunday, May 17, 2015
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Susan Lawlor & Dotty Hamilton
WELCOME
Welcome to the Urban Culture course at Avila University created by Susan Lawlor and Dotty Hamilton. We travel with our students to great cities to explore art museums, engage with the architecture, study the local film and music venues, and experience the ethnic enclaves as a way to learn about the culture of urban spaces and the interaction of art and environment. It's a fun, intense learning environment.
Dotty and Susan in Chicago
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Blog Archive
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2015
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May
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- Bixi Bikes
- Sunday night improv at the Theatre Saint Catherine
- Mile End Food Tour
- "Triplex Nervosa" at the Centaur Theatre
- Group dinner in Old Montreal
- Walking tour of Vieux Montreal (Old Montreal)
- Montreal after dark
- Korean food for dinner
- Marche Jean-Talon
- Musee d Art Contemporain
- Contemporary dance at Studio Hydro-Quebec
- Dinner in Chinatown
- Multicultural tour of Montreal
- Musée des Beaux Arts
- Preparing for Montreal - French Language Differences
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May
(15)
This picture is a perfect example of how the bixi bikes contributed to my experience in Montreal. I would venture to say that I wouldn't have seen half the stuff that I did if it weren't for getting on a bike and seeing where we ended up. Most of the time we didn't have an end in mind but instead just wanted to view the city from the natives' perspective because most people either walked or biked everywhere. There was one night in particular that we were all of a sudden standing right in front of Habitat 67, a fascinating architectural attraction, no idea how we got there but that was what I loved about it. A complete adventure!
ReplyDeleteContd. This was really challenging because you had to QUICKLY figure out how to maneuver in an Urban city on a bike. The directions, bike lanes, and landmarks was the biggest struggles. We learned to memorize the main streets and giant green glowing building that we knew would get us close to out hotel. The second most enriching activity was probably the food tour. I say this because it really encompasses how diverse Montreal really is. The tour guide said something about there not really being any discrimination here because from a young age, you grow up with just about every culture there is. That statement was very memorable to me. I think the food tour illustrated this because we were able to taste a little something from these different cultures, as well as the Korean and Lebanese food earlier in the week.
ReplyDeleteMary - sounds like you had a wonderful experience on the bike - you were much more adventurous than our last group to Montreal. And I always believe that food is such a wonderful lens to learn about cultures. Sorry I could not be there with you - but know Eric also loved the bikes!
ReplyDeleteI honestly have no idea how to find where I am suppose to blog so I am just going to comment here as my blog post.
ReplyDeleteThe bixi bikes were definitely my favorite part of this entire trip. It was a GREAT way to venture around the city and figure out where everything was. Half the time we were lost or asking a million people for directions, but it was such an awesome experience. These bikes were so useful after a few days of touring and very tired legs; there were just what I needed to still have then energy to tour, but give my feet a little rest.
The bike riding helped with getting to know the streets, it quickly helped me with my sense of direction, and at other times it got me out of places I didn't need to be.
One night in particular was the most adventurous on the bikes- the last night. Mary, Eric, and I took a very LONG bike ride along the coast and down into old Montreal. Before I knew it we were being escorted out of rail yard by a police. We were taken downtown to areas that weren't quite the safest. I almost hit a lady (who I sure was on drugs and schizophrenic at the least), I ran off the side walk, came in contact with a prostitute, and got stuck on my bike in the middle of an intersection. It was QUITE the road trip, and it was one of the best and worst bike riding nights I had.
My second favorite part of Montreal was getting a tour of old Montreal. The buildings were absolutely gorgeous, the tour guide always kept my attention, the tour wasn't solely a history lesson, but just enough to make me appreciate the town and stay engaged. The only reason it was my second favorite and not my first is because I wish we would have been introduced to Old Montreal in the beginning of the trip.
ReplyDeleteI loved that the tour guide related specific areas to specific events in history. We stood on battle grounds and stayed at castles that were homes to famous people. I felt like a true Native after biking through Old Montreal for a few days.
Overall, the trip was AWESOME. When it says a multicultural place, they weren't lying! I spoke more french (or just looked at people like I had no idea what they were saying) more in those 5 days than I think I ever will in my life. This trip has humbled me. I am more aware of other cultures, the way they do things, and how they live their every day lives. Other people's cultures aren't wrong, just different; and I am so thankful I was able to learn from such great people, and meet the new friends that I have in such a great city!