Disagree. Montreal is as if Paris and Brooklyn had a baby.

I no nowhere else on the North American continent that has as much nightlife (except Miami), as many restaurants (except NYC), as many universities (???) and young people (???) and just "stuff to do"

The city has a very lived-in feeling and great architecture. Completely the opposite of California.

I've wanted to visit Montreal my whole life but this comparison makes me want to avoid it!

It's a great city for tourists in summer.

But to live in Montreal is another ball game. Shops close at 9. On weekends by 5. Never ending construction. Old noisy apartments. Crazy drivers. Badly marked road signs.

The only good thing I have experienced so far is the metro system & the underground city.

I quite enjoyed it when I was there and I intend to visit again, but the comments above about it having the greatest nightlife of anywhere except Miami struck me as slightly mad. Maybe there's some secret stuff that I have not discovered yet...

You haven't missed anything. St Catherine's street is all the nightlife you get in Montreal. As a resident of Montreal in my opinion, a tourist will find the city good for a week or so partly because of its unique look n feel European style. After that the reality of Montreal's worn down infrastructure kicks in. I would say Montréal is just riding on its old glory days before Bill 101.

My wife is a Montreal native and we go there once a year to visit her mother. I love it there but it has it's downside like every other place. The roads are horrible and the traffic to get on and off the island is insane. Hopefully the new bridge will help. I think having a French speaking partner along with you makes the experience much better.