Montreal is almost like a mythical place that an outsider will find confusing and sometimes, daunting. Montreal is a place that only those who know the cultural intricacies, the special phrases, and secret handshakes will understand what everything is all about. However, this should not scare you off, just be open and you will see how warm and inviting this city can be.

Until that time comes, the following are the 21 things that you probably don’t understand about Montreal.

The street signs

The storefronts, billboards and parking signs in Montreal can be confusing. The street signs, for instance, are contradictory to the point that if you find an unoccupied parking sign on a busy street, the chances are you may be wrong.

Which street is the main?

Ask any Montrealer to direct you to the Main and you will be pointed to St-Lo Boulevard. Now you’ll be asking yourself, what’s St-Lo Boulevard?

Why the staircases are built on the outside

This is a common theme in Montreal neighborhoods where the outdoor front staircases are exposed to the elements. They look good but not ideal for a place that experiences harsh winters, such as Montreal.

What is the deuce a Youppi?

He is a mascot that currently represents the glorious Habs. Youppi is in the Baseball Hall of Fame and is the only mascot to ever get kicked out of a game.

What’s with the expensive Canadiens tickets?

This is straightforward. The Montreal Canadiens have the most Stanley Cup wins and are the second most successful team in all major sports. This is a no-brainer.

Crescent street is dull

This is not the place to be if you’re looking to enjoy the Montreal nightlife.

First Fridays, what are they?

This is a gathering that takes place every month where the city’s food trucks gather at the Big O to celebrate the culture and music.

Why do so many people have defined calf muscles?

Because Mont in Montreal means hill in French. The calf muscles are a result of climbing up and down the hill.

I Île Sainte-Hélène natural?

This is the island that you can see from the Port with the awesome roller coasters and a weird-looking casino. Let’s just say it used to be really small…

Tam Tams

Sundays at Tams, no need to say more.

Outdoor partying with temperatures at -30

This is the biggest winter outdoor party called Igloofest. No amount of snow can stop the show, get it?

We are different from the rest of Canada

We speak French, we embrace diversity and we have a distinctive worldly vibe.

Graffiti is art

Painted and tagged walls are not vandalism in Montreal, its graffiti.

Bonjour/Hi

Prepare to be greeted in two different languages at the same time in Montreal.

The Olympic Stadium

We understand that the Big O is a running joke and we would not be the same without it.

We have crappy infrastructure

To outsiders, we really have it going on by the number of festivals we hold and the high cultural rankings that we get but truth to be told, it’s a shit show and we don’t know how we do it. Unbelievable!

Why it sucks driving downtown

The one-way streets, the jaywalkers, bike lanes, construction, and road closures, make driving downtown a bad experience. You will understand why we invented the BiXi.

Why everyone loves listicles

Montrealers love information crammed together into a list.

What Cinq à Sept means

This is the highlight of the day for most Montreal locals. We’ve just taken the insufficient Happy Hour, and we’ve doubled it. Now, the happy hour goes from 5 to 7; and even this cut of time is just a loose suggestion.

Chow mein for $2

Those who have been wasted on the Main know what this really means. If you haven’t, take it as a good thing.

The complicated relationship between cyclists and motorists

Cycling is legit in Montreal and there is a fine and definite line drawn between the two road users. Maybe the two sides should change roles for a day to see if we can get along.