Montreal is justly loved by its residents. However, no one will deny that even this lovely city has its flaws that are hard to ignore. Fortunately, there are not so many of them.
You Practice your French … to Be Answered in English
If you are trying to improve your French, the most discouraging thing is when a French-speaking person asks you to stop and just starts speaking English. At the same time, he says, “Please stop, your French is terrible, don’t embarrass yourself.”
Subway is Often Under Repair
The Montreal metro is a terrific system, that’s for sure. But you wouldn’t be amazed when it stops working on Monday morning for no apparent reason, and you are late for work. God knows what causes all these random closures. But it drives up the wall even the most cold-blooded people.
Montreal is Perpetually under Construction
Perhaps this is more of a summer issue. But you can meet occasional construction gangs all year round. How many times did a bus suddenly change its route due to some kind of construction obstacle that accidentally jumped out last night? You cannot turn the street corner without encountering road closures, bypass roads, traffic jams, and the terrible noise of cars that has become the unofficial soundtrack of the city. According to the most optimistic forecasts, construction in Montreal will be completed only by 2040!
Slowly Walking People in the Downtown
Slow pedestrians are especially annoying when you are in a crowd in the city centre. Nothing is more frustrating than being late for a bus, a movie, or a meeting with a friend because you are stuck in a slow stream of ten blocks length. Taking your time and being leisurely is not cool, so just accelerate and everyone will be happy.
Snow Removal
In general, the snow removal work done by city services is pretty solid, at least on the main streets. But if you live in small blocks or alleyways, you are less fortunate.
SAQs Close Early on Weekends
Working hours at most SAQ (Société des alcools du Québec — Quebec Alcohol Society) stores on Fridays are great: they are open until 9 pm. But on Saturday and Sunday, they close much earlier. Judge for yourself: are you always planning on Friday night how much alcohol will be drunk before the end of the week? Even if you do, the drinks are likely to run out overnight. And who leaves the house after a Friday hangover before 6 pm? It’s good that there are several SAQ Express stores in the city that are open late.
Hipsters Make You Feel Uncool
Montreal is the Canadian version of Portland, Oregon. There are too many hipsters in some parts of Montreal, such as the Mile End. They look stylish and bring to the appearance of the city a unique flavour, except when they mock you. Sorry, we don’t know what kind of music or new series you’re talking about, just don’t make us feel backward and uncivilized due to the fact that we are not in touch with trends.
Too Much Poutine (No, the Other One)
Poutine is a national Quebec fast-food dish consisting of french fries sprinkled with pickled cheese and watered with a slightly sweetened side dish. Poutine is delicious! We know it, the city knows it, damn it, Canada knows it, can we finally calm down? Poutine was and will always be a fast food dish, high in calories and inexpensive, so why include it in the menu of almost every restaurant in Montreal? Poutine will never be a gourmet dish and should not be.
Too Many Students
The student population of Montreal is a blessing and a curse at the same time. On the one hand, students keep the city young, full of energy, they fill bars and clubs. On the other hand, there is Frosh. Frosh is great if you are part of it, but if you are an ordinary citizen of the city, Frosh for you is a week at the end of summer when a bunch of stupid freshmen fill the streets and annoy you. Not to mention the fact that with the onset of September, every bus and subway car is filled with a crowd of students. At least you can take a break from them from May to July.
Annoying Tourists
Summer in Montreal is a time of fun, sun, and drink. The only drawback is a ton of tourists who gather at every festival and event. And although they make a profit for the city, they are terribly annoying, filling all the favourite places of the locals and, as a rule, they behave like assholes (at least, American tourists). In addition, tourists are constantly lost in the city and they bother the locals. Do those people have smartphones?