Notre Dame's interior
	photo by Henrylito Tacio

Another must-see: the Olympic Stadium. A funicular-type elevator brings visitors to the top-three observation floors, where they have a superb view of Montréal and its surroundings. Guided tours of the Olympic Stadium are available. The sports center holds six pools for aquatic sports as well as a multi-sport facility.

Then, there's the Biodome, an oasis in the heart of Montréal and recreates
some of the most beautiful ecosystems of the Americas. Inside this environmental museum you can view rocky landscapes, tumbling waterfalls and majestic trees including birds, mammals and fish that fly, climb and swim through their natural habitats. Showcased are the polar world, the tropical and the Laurentian forests as well as the Saint-Laurentian marine environment. Located in the former cycling stadium at the Olympic Park, the Biodome houses 4,000 animals and 5,000 plants under one roof. Enjoy underwater views of riverscapes or see penguins in their natural habitat. This is a wonderful experience for the entire family.

The mysteries of space are revealed at the Montreal Planetarium, a museum on Saint-Jacques Street which explains the forces that have fashioned the Universe. With the help of a huge Zeiss projector, images of the planet-studded heavens surrounds viewers, as commentators such as astrophysicist Hubert Reeves, interpret such complex topics as black holes and what causes collisions in space.

In addition, Montreal boasts some excellent museums. The Centre Canadien
d'Architecture has one of the continent's most impressive specialist collections, the Musée d'Art Contemporain is Canada's only museum devoted entirely to contemporary art, and the Musée des Beaux Arts is the oldest fine-arts museum in the country. Equally fine are the museums devoted to Montréal and Canadian history; of these, the Musée McCord has a mint collection of native artefacts, while the Musée d'Archéologie et d'Histoire de Montréal delivers a state-of-the-art presentation of archeological findings at the site of Montréal's founding in 1642.

On our last night at the city, I was wondering if I could eat rice (yes, I am a Filipino!). So I suggested to Adlai Amor (a former colleague with the Press Foundation of Asia who now works with the Washington-based World Resources Institute) if we could find a Chinese restaurant. A Canadian journalist suggested Chinatown, seven-block area just north of Old Montreal. "That's near the hotel where we are staying," I told the informant.

Just in case you will be going there, here's how. Walk south along Jeanne Mance from Rene Levesque. When you reach De la Gauchetiere, you'll be in the heart of Chinatown's restaurant and boutique district. It's a pleasant pedestrian street where cars are not permitted. Continue east until you reach Boulevard St. Laurent. Look north and south for the two huge red and gold arches which span the street and symbolize this area. Walk north along St. Laurent past numerous Chinese grocery stores.

How to get there: Prior to September 1997, Dorval Airport handled all domestic and North American flights whereas Mirabel Airport handled all other international flights. Since then, cargo and charter flights were moved to Mirabel, with Dorval picking up the extra traffic. In the end, this new arrangement is now more convenient for travelers, especially for those who transfer to connecting flights in Montreal.

A taxi is the best way to travel between the airports and downtown. If you arrive in Montreal with only US dollars, be aware that drivers rarely have US dollars to give as change. They will accept yours, but your change will be in Canadian dollars.

Once in town, a very thorough and efficient Metro system, helpful officials and citizens and few (if any) confusing customs and traditions make it an easy city to navigate. If you're staying in the central city, there's really no need to rent a car. Just about everything can be reached easily by walking or taking a taxi, the Metro or bus, and you won't have to worry about parking.

Henrylito Tacio is an award-winning science journalist who also writes for Reader's Digest