Page 251 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Canada
P. 251
Chinatown’s restaurants specialize in a range Restaurants specialize in a
of delicious cuisines, fragrantly filling the range of delicious cuisines,
air with the smell of hot barbecued pork fragrantly filling the air with
the smell of hot barbecued
and aromatic noodles. pork and aromatic noodles.
For those seeking respite
from the bustle of the streets,
there is a lovely little garden
12 "'= 13 \-= dedicated to the charismatic
Sir George-Etienne Chinatown Chinese leader Sun Yat-sen
Cartier National on rue Clarke.
Historic Site D1 q Champ-de-Mars,
Place-d’Armes
D2 ⌂ 458 Rue Notre
Dame E § (514) 283 2282 The name of this area has 14 '
£ Central Station @ 14, become a bit anachronistic, as Habitat 67
715, Terminus Voyager many of the restaurants and
shops in this 18-block district
q Champ-de-Mars # Mid- E3 ⌂ 2600 Av Pierre-
Jun–Sep: 10am–5pm are now owned by Vietnamese Dupuy ∑ habitat67.com
Wed–Sun; Oct–late-Dec: and Thai immigrants. Most
10am–5pm Fri–Sun (26– arrived in Mont real in the wake This concrete architectural
marvel, built on a land-filled
of 20th-century upheavals in
30 Dec: daily)
Southeast Asia. The Chinese, jetty just south of the Old Port
George-Etienne Cartier however, were here first. section of Montreal, was
(1814–73) was a Father of They began arriving in large designed by Israeli-Canadian
Confederation and one of numbers after 1880, along with architect Moshe Safdie in 1967.
the most important French- many European immigrants. As part of an Expo 67 pavilion,
Canadian politicians of his The Chinese community stuck it was originally intended to
day. This national historic site together in this corner of the deliver the benefits of sub-
comprises two adjoining city in an attempt to avoid urban homes, with gardens
graystone houses owned by discrimination from some of and private terraces, at an
the Cartiers on the eastern the town’s residents. As they affordable cost. The idealism
edge of the old town. One is grew more prosperous, many of this plan was unfortunately
dedicated to Cartier’s career, descendants of the first immi- lost, but the building remains
and here you can listen in grants moved to the wealthier a symbol of that concept.
either French or English to a areas of Montreal, leaving Today it is a desirable – though
good summary of the political Chinatown to the elderly and to expensive – apartment com-
founding of modern Canada. the newer arrivals. Thousands plex, and public guided tours
The second house focuses return during the weekends, of the building are available.
on the Cartiers’ domestic life however, filling the narrow
as a Victorian upper middle- streets with people shopping
class family. Visitors can roam for silk, souvenirs, and food.
the formal rooms and listen
to snatches of taped
conversation from
‘‘servants’’ talking
about their lives.
The unusual cubed structure
of Habitat 67, built along the
banks of Saint Lawrence River
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