Something just bothered me about digging out beneath a religious relic, listed on the Canadian Registry of Historic places, and sucking the air and soil out of the Cathedral's underpinnings. The juxtaposition was off-putting. It's my problem, I know.
Realizing that Montreal is a miserable place to spend winter, anytime anyone can seek refuge for dining, shopping, or just not being in the snow is understandably really great. I get that. The up-side is, this "promenade" should (or does?) connect with the "Underground City" and some other extensions.
God help this poor, unfortunate Arizonan who inadvertently gets caught in this kind of winter weather. I do believe that is why I left the colder regions of the USA. Back to the topic ...
In 1987, the church sold their rights to the underground land and the church was hoisted up on stilts while the excavation took place. The entry to the underground advertises "the Linen Chest" and we entered, wondering why all these sensible-looking people were making their way down to a "Linen Chest." Curiosity kills cats and (unfortunately) entices tourists.
We did not explore thoroughly so cannot comment on the linkage to the Underground City. Our only adventure into the Underground (sounds a bit like an episode from Alice in Wonderland or Dante's Inferno) was from its entrypoint on Rue St. Catherine (near Rue Peel) where it was a construction madhouse, both outside on the street and inside as the interior is being renovated. Color me unimpressed.
The forward-thinking, pro-active approach to filling the needs of the miseraby cold is something that should be lauded. I really need to give it another chance.