"Our host probably doubled our useful time spent in Montreal by giving explicit directions to get to the sorts of things we wanted to do, even though our intentions were rather vague. One example: "Where do you want to eat?" "I don't know, maybe like a bistro?" "A traditional French bistro? Here is the address, here it is on the map - go straight to the bar, don't stand in the doorway looking like tourists. Get the house wine if you want - it's the only place in town where the house wine is excellent." Numerous options for the sorts of things we wanted to do were noted on a large map, and we were able to go straight to the door, as quickly as if we were natives. The place was either painstakingly restored or had never seen any wear and tear since it was built, God knows when, and it was exceptionally well decorated and filled with objets d'art. To top it off, it's like 50 to 100 meters from the metro and right down by the old town. Merci beaucoup, J & M"