In the 60s of the 20th century, the chansonnier Gilles Vigno sang: “Mon pays c’est l’hiver” (My country’s name is winter). Quebec residents have always known how to use all the opportunities that the harsh climate of this area provides. He contributed to the development of excellent winter sports, and residents staged noisy carnivals. But, probably, snow and slush interfere with going to the theater and shopping. The inhabitants of Montreal solved this problem by going down underground. The construction of a shopping center on Ville-Marie Square was completed in the 60s of the XX century. Now many passages protected from the weather, 29 kilometers long, are built throughout the city center. There are metro and train stations, shops and department stores (about 1700), theaters, hotels, offices and apartments. In winter, you can enjoy all the charms of city life without even going outside. And in the summer, when the weather is pretty damp in Montreal, you can also take refuge in the underground City, the rooms of which are equipped with an air conditioning system. Continue reading →