A written postcard from Montreal

This city is full of colour.

Graffiti and street art cover the walls of buildings and the side of alleyways, their colourful facade often concealing a deeper message that suggests the city's political and engaged heart. The colour continues through the giant pots of flowers and trees that line many of the streets, and the street lamps that are adorned with layers of posters advertising the latest events and shows. Bikes are parked up along the length of the street, their owners lounging on the tables outside the many cafes and bars that dominate the landscape, interspersed with small boutique shops offering their wares to the passers by. I turn into another road, where old houses are converted into shops and restaurants, stairs elevating and descending to your destination.

In the distance rises Mont Royal, a loyal landmark peering up from the city wherever I go, its green lush landscape providing an oasis in the urban landscape. Turning towards the river, the tall buildings of downtown dominate the distance, reminding me of the city that lies beyond this neighbourhood. The stop-start of the grid structure provides me with a few moments to breath in this space, the poutine restaurant and french style bakery, the boxes of fresh fruit outside the grocery store, the numerous cafes and bars tempting me in. Cyclists zip through the intersection in force, interspersed with rollerbladers; a valid form of transport in this place.

A few minutes walk down the street ahead reveals the multiculturalness that runs through the veins of the city, with the cuisines of 10 different cultures offered to me from all sides. Smells mingle - freshly ground coffee, smoked meat, vietnamese spice. Sounds are equally as varied, with voices flitting effortlessly between French and English as I walk. Beggars take their seats outside metro stations and liquor stores, keen to add their bilingual voices to the hubbub of city life. Music emanates from cafes and shops as I pass, with buskers occasionally adding their sound to the mix.

Turning into a residential street, bikes and pedestrians rule the road. Peace descends, feeling a long way from the bustling street of moments ago. Elegant balconies and well kept gardens add beauty to the landscape, breaking up the grey of the streets and pavement. Another turn takes me into an alleyway, a chance to enter the secret world that lies off the beaten track. Voices drift over the fences and from the balconies, suggestive of the social and outdoor culture that lies out of sight. I catch glimpses of quirky gardens, hidden art and interesting lives.

I return to the cooperative where I'm staying. Familiar faces of residents mix with the unfamiliar faces of new arrivals. Music plays through the speakers and from the piano as people move around, getting on with their days. Conversations slide easily from French to English and back, and laughter punctuates the air. Art, posters, photos and notes line the walls of the loft apartment; shelves overflow with books, continuing into piles on the floor. A blackboarded wall details the calendar of events, discussion points for the next meeting, and doodles in between. Food donated by nearby stores sits on the table, out of date fruit and veg free for the taking. Communal life inhabits every corner of the space and everything is shared. This space feels at home in Montreal - a natural extension of the streets beyond.

This city breathes the alternative. This city breathes culture. This city breathes colour.