People played hackey sack as they listened to people on the TamTams (drums).

Parc Mont-Royal, QC

“No, not ‘tom-toms,'” corrected my French teacher, who thought at first that (in my typical mangled French) I was referring to GPS devices. “Tam-tams!”

I first heard about the tam-tams from my friend Kathleen, who used to live in Montréal. I wasn’t exactly sure where one could find them in Parc Mont-Royal, but it wasn’t hard—one could hear them a kilometer away with dozens of people (both residents and visitors) banging on leather and wood drums and even the bottoms of overturned five-gallon plastic paint cans. Meanwhile, others played hackey sack or flapped their arms wildly in the air while hopping around on the ground like a spring in an improvised dance. I merely watched, thank you.

The tam-tams were not the only thing to enjoy at le Parc Mont-Royal. After hiking a couple miles to the terrace at le Chalet du Mont-Royal, one had an unencumbered view of the eastern half of Montreal—a virtual jungle of concrete and glass edifices with already bloomed trees interspersed between them. Just beyond is the St. Laurent River. One is reminded from up here that Montréal is actually a land-locked island.

After more hiking through the woods and enjoying more views from above (“ah, so there’s where the Olympic Stadium is!”), I went back to Le Plateau area east of Parc Mont-Royal in search of (1) Rue Bernard, in which (according to my Fodor’s guidebook) there is “simply no better street for people-watching” and (2) hippies.

I did find Rue Bernard, but it didn’t seem any more “chic and fashionable” or replete with “the bright and the beautiful” (again, words of Fodor’s) than any other street in Montréal. On the other hand, I did see a grand total of two hippies. Still, it’s a great area for dining and window-shopping.

Flower sale right outside the Mont-Royal metro station
Flower sale right outside the Mont-Royal metro station
The church across the Mont-Royal metro station.
The church across the Mont-Royal metro station.
The area east of Mont-Royal (Le Plateau) has lots of shops and restaurants.  Unfortunately I only saw a couple hippies on this day.
The area east of Mont-Royal (Le Plateau) has lots of shops and restaurants. Unfortunately I only saw a couple hippies on this day.
Statue d'Athena in Le Parc Mont-Royal.
Statue d'Athena in Le Parc Mont-Royal.
People played hackey sack as they listened to people on the TamTams (drums).
People played hackey sack as they listened to people on the TamTams (drums).
Flowers outside Le Chalet du Mont-Royal.
Flowers outside Le Chalet du Mont-Royal.
The view of Montreal to the east.
The view of Montreal to the east.
The view of Montreal to the southeast. Note that Montreal is an island.
The view of Montreal to the southeast. Note that Montreal is an island.
A recumbent bicycle at Le Chalet du Mont-Royal.
A recumbent bicycle at Le Chalet du Mont-Royal.
Inside Le Chalet du Mont-Royal were paintings depicting Canadian history.
Inside Le Chalet du Mont-Royal were paintings depicting Canadian history.
Le Stade Olympique (Olympic Stadium) used in the 1976 Montreal games for cycling track events.
Le Stade Olympique (Olympic Stadium) used in the 1976 Montreal games for cycling track events.
Walking down a trail on the east side of Parc Mont-Royal.
Walking down a trail on the east side of Parc Mont-Royal.
Dog on a bridge.
Dog on a bridge.
Don't ask me what was going on here.
Don't ask me what was going on here.
Vietnamese restaurant on Avenue du Parc.
Vietnamese restaurant on Avenue du Parc.
Here's where one can get a bong if he was so inclined.
Here's where one can get a bong if he was so inclined.
"Wow - $19.99"
"Wow - $19.99"
The view of Mont-Royal from Le Plateau.
The view of Mont-Royal from Le Plateau.