Yesterday I had the privilege to be invited to accompany some Instagram users from Australia who were visiting Quebec at the invitation of Canadian Tourism Commission, Tourisme Québec and Tourisme Montréal on what was called the #quebec1x1 tour.

Since everyone attending were Instagramers, I felt I should at last sign up for an account, so if you are an Iger and would like to follow me, you can find me at mtlinpictures.

We met up at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel on boulevard René-Lévesque and were given access to the roof where we got some great shots of downtown. Here are a couple I snapped…

 

 

 

 

 

Since the Winter Olympics are kicking off today in Sochi, it seemed appropriate to at least post a shot of the Montreal Olympic Stadium – be it from afar.

 

 

On our way down to the lobby we got to peek inside the fabled room 1742 where for a week in May 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono held their famed “Bed-in” to protest against the Vietnam War. During their stay at the Queen Elizabeth they recorded ‘Give Peace a Chance’ song in one of the 4 rooms (1738, 1740, 1742 and 1744) they had occupied. 2014 marks the 45th anniversary and the hotel will be organizing some events to mark the occasion I believe.

 

Upon returning to the hotel lobby each of the local photographers paired up with a visitor and each headed out to try and capture different parts of the city. My buddy Paul hailed all the way from Tasmania and having heard about his local shooting options (beach, mountain, rain forest) I sure would like the chance to visit one day.

We headed down to Palais des Congrès. Paul told me he liked shooting colours, so the multi-coloured glass wall was an ideal location.

 

 

Unfortunately the sun’s angle was not at its best to show the rainbow reflections on the floor inside 🙁

We took a quick look at the RÉSO and it was handy that we were next to my favourite section that runs beneath the International Quarter and led us to our next destination – The World Trade Center of Montreal.

 

 

 

It was then onto Old Montreal with a brief stop at Place d’Armes and Notre Dame Basilica.

 

While waiting for the sunset, we took a casual walk along the Promenade du Vieux Port toward the grain silo #5 and Habitat 67.

 

To catch the sunset, we headed over to beside the ice rink at the Bonsecours Basin. A few skaters were braving the cold and the sunset didn’t disappoint, although my capturing of it were not the best sunset shots I have ever taken 🙁

 

 

 

It was a great afternoon and if you are interested in checking out some great images taken by each of the other photographers, here are their Instagram links – and don’t forget….I’m also there now 😉

#Quebec1x1 participating photographers

Visiting Igers

• Paul Douglas
• Pauly Vella
• Emily Schreck
• Lauren Bath 

Local Igers

• André Quenneville
• Eric Gagnon
• Mathieu Jarry
• ME !!

You can also check out the special website that was set up for the #Quebec1x1 press tour on the Canada Keep Exploring website that includes shots taken in Québec City, Charlevoix, Yukon and Alberta as well as Montréal

I’ll have the rest of the pics from my walk on Monday that I shot over on Outremont Summit tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time.

– Martin

Montréal in Pictures

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