By audrey
This past week, I took a solo trip to Montreal and Quebec City in Canada. It was about a 2 hour flight from DC, and studentuniverse had some great discounts so it was approximately 220 USD for a round trip. 
Having been to cities like Toronto and Vancouver, I initially thought Montreal and Quebec City would be similar - but boy, was I wrong. Unlike the cities I've been to previously, Montreal and Quebec City are the most bilingual cities in Canada - more than 70 per cent of its citizens speak English and French. In Montreal, casual conversations are often heard in French, but even more so in Quebec City. Both cities lie along the Saint Lawrence River, so I was treated to many panoramic views of the seaway and the river right in the heart of both cities.
For my first stop in Montreal, the highlight has got to be the biodome. Think of an indoor zoo with controlled conditions - that's the gist of the biodome. Wildlife roamed right before my eyes and I got to see animals like capybaras, sloths, penguins and salamanders. It was right next to the Olympic stadium, so I managed to kill 2 birds with 1 stone in a single day.
Montreal has the highest food per square metre of any city, second only to New York City. Poutine, arguably the national food of Canada, on the surface may just seem like fries with gravy and bacon bits sprinkled on top. Here, poutine is an industry, a franchise - flavours and toppings are unlimited; even the choice of fries can be chosen. Smoked meat, is another one of Canada's famous dish - it is a type of kosher-style deli meat product made by salting and curing beef brisket with spices. The brisket is allowed to absorb the flavours over a week, and is then hot smoked to cook through, and finally steamed to completion.
Old Cities
Both Montreal and Quebec City have old towns, namely Old Montreal and Old Quebec City. Respectively, these are the oldest living areas in both cities and are preserved till today. Stepping in felt like entering old-style Europe - colourful buildings and town squares with a centralised water fountain. Old Quebec City also houses several UNESCO heritage sites, such as Place Royale.
In both cities, the subway is very convenient - as someone who doesn't own a license, I was able to get around both cities really quickly. The bus is also a good substitute for the subway as it penetrates areas of the city that the subway does not serve - bus transfers are almost always complimentary within 2 hours so remember to retain your bus ticket!
