Category: Cultural

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Stay in Montreal Canada Hotels to Imbibe the Live and Historic Culture of the City

Montreal is heart of the French Canada. Its flair and sophistication is something that is missing in most of the mega cities in Canada and even in North America. It is second largest city in the Canada is home to many tourist attractions. Its cultural and historic landmarks are source of attraction to tourists. Even some hotels in Montreal Canada have heritage status. It will be worth while to pay a visit to these hotels even if you do not stay in them.

Downtown Montreal is an example of live history. Old Montreal part of the city has been preserved in its historic flavor. Oldest buildings here date back to beginning of the seventeenth century. This area is quite vibrant and hotels and shopping centers in the area offer great tourist attraction to its visitors.

Hotels in Montreal Canada

Area wise hotels in Montreal may be divided into following major regions:

o Cote des Neiges District

o Dorval

o Downtown Area

o Golden Square mile

o Latin Quarter

o Laval

o Longueuil

o Old Montreal

o Olympic Stadium

o Others

Old Montreal is known for its boutique hotels. Some of the popular hotels in the old Montreal are Auberge du Vieux – Port, Hotel place d’armes and hotel St. Paul. Of these first one occupies a heritage building and offer excellent riverfront view from its roof top terrace.

Last Minute Travel can help you find accommodation in any region of the city of the Montreal. They also offer services doe flights and car rentals. Whether it is last minute package search or package in advance you will find services at last minute travel really useful.

Things to do in Montreal

First and major attraction of Montreal is old Montreal. Besides enjoying the culture and history of this place city has lot to offer to it visitors. You may do any of the followings:

Visit to Mont Royal

Mount Royal has never ending fascination for tourists as well as the dwellers of the city of the Montreal. A trek or hike to the mountain is popular among the tourists.

Shopping at Saint-Denis Street

If you like to shop in the historic city visit the shopping district of St. Denis St. and St. Laurent Boulevard. Vibe of the area is eclectic and restaurant, boutiques and shops are treasure trove to any shopping fan.

Point-a-Calliere Museum

This archeological museum provides a visual treat to the history of the Montreal.

Guided tour at the museum is worth taking, one should not miss it. It is free with admission. What is special about the museum is that it conserves in situ remains and it has a river view restaurant in the building.

Montreal Bio dome

Home to four different ecosystems this zoo is must visit for students and families besides eco friendly enthusiasts.

Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art

With more than 7000 works of art of more than 1500 artists it is one of the grand galleries in the Canada. The Gallery offers free admission and guided tours on Wednesday evenings.

All this is not an end to the activities one can get involved in the Montreal city. Thriving city life with rich culture and living history offers diverse activities and treats to its tourists. To enjoy all these activities one needs good accommodation. Hotels in Montreal Canada offer excellent value for money and services of last minute travel will prove invaluable in search of these hotels.

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Cultural Rights – Neglected Rights

I attended a lecture today in Galway by Mairead Ni Chriochain on the subject of cultural rights. Why are cultural rights not seen as important?

Traditionally, civil and political rights have been seen as being more significant than economic cultural and social rights. Perhaps one might argue that there needs to be a stable political system before economic, cultural and social rights are valued and appreciated. It does not do to put the cart before the horse.

Some people see cultural rights as a luxury. Is everyone entitled to cultural rights? and if so are they entitled to express them both individually and collectively? In the past, there may have been a fear of state fragmentation in respect of the exercise of collective rights – in other words if the people rise up they may revolt! There have also been problems with the definition of cultural rights – what rights are included?

Cultural relativism refers to the principle that an individual human’s beliefs and activities should be understood by others in terms of that individual’s own culture. Another explanation is that right and wrong are culture specific and what is considered moral in one society may be considered immoral in another and since no universal standard of morality exists no-one has the right to judge another society’s customs. Some people take issue with this because it may mean “anything goes”… cultural relativism means temporarily suspending one’s own moral judgment e.g. in relation to cannibalism and some practices such as female genital mutilation and witchcraft. Most people would judge these practices to be harmful.

The UN has recently addressed the issue of cultural rights by introducing the following:-

1) UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 1997

2) Comment 21 which includes “the right of everyone to participate in cultural life, sport and games, language, oral and written literaturem music and song etc.” (November 2009)

3) The appointment of an independent expert in the field of human rights (November 2009)

The UN has recognised the rights of indigenous people to have a relationship with their ancestral lands, both individually and collectively, this would apply to tribes like Native Americans, Maoris, Aborigines and all peoples who have a long tie /history with the land. The UN has recognised the need to protect minority cultures and has created a violation of international law where a State party fails to act to protect those rights. Indigenous people have the right to self determination and they have individual and collective rights to their ancestral lands and that implies the right to redress if these rights are violated.