City of Montrei
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| City nickname: "Jewel on the bay, First City, Capital on the Hill" | |||||
| [[Image:{{{image_map}}}|200px|Location of ÇUÁ DE MONTREI]] {{{map_caption}}} | |||||
| Country Region |
Montrei La Capitau | ||||
| Aucaud | |||||
| Area |
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| Population - Total (as of 2005) |
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| Time zone - summer (DST) |
Pacific standard time (UTC-) - (UTC-) | ||||
La Çuá de Montrei, or Montrei as it is known by locals was the first city in Montrei to be founded. The name is derived from the full title of the viceroy of New Castile, Gaspar de Zúñiga y Acevedo, Conde de Monterrey. The original name was Monterey, which was the Castilian name for the city. Montrei is located along the southern half of the Bay of Montrei.
It is the third largest city in Montrei, after San José and San Françisco in population, but is the second largest city in area. Of the three main cities, Montrei is considered to be the most diverse Due to its diverse nature, Montrei boasts many festivals, from culture, to arts, to music, it is said that the number of Montrei's festivals rivals that of Ville-Marie in New Francy. Of particular note is the Festivau de Jass, Montrei's Jass festival. A more offbeat festival is the annual Festivau d'Aucaxofas, the artichoke festival, where a Reina delas Aucaxofas is chosen (inspired by the first Reina, Norma Joana Mortañieç.
Montrei is also known for its wild Carnavau, the carnival held several days before lent. It is considered an "organized free for all" meaning that groups participate, but everyone is allowed to let their hair down and join in, if they desire. The carnaval starts at the Arenas district and ends in the main plaza.
While not exactly as liberal as San Françisco, Montrei (and the entire nation) is considered to be rather liberal in politics in certain areas, primarily sexuality and religion (Californios like to claim that all Montreianos are êrejes, heretics). Like San Françisco, there is a large community of homosexuals in Montrei. Due to the large Japanese presence, there are also several temples, but the biggest is the Djodo Xinxu Buddhist temple, modeled closely on the hoñwandji temple in Kyoto.
La Çuá de Montrei has a low crime rate due to its heavy police presence. It is considered a very safe city to live, and to visit (out of a population of 2,562,139 people there were only about 30 murders total in 2004). The historic Çentro Îstorico is said to be one of the cleanest, friendliest, and safest districts of any city in western North America.
History
Its founding is August 28 1620, on the feast day of San Agustín. The city was settled between the horseshoe shaped brackish tidal lagoon called "Eu Estairo", and several small creeks and springs which flowed from the hills to the south. It was established close to the Rumsen village of Atxasta. This was fortunate as the Rumsen were critical in helping the fledgling colony survive the winter.
The original intent of Montrei was as the first stop-off for the Manila Galleons which often had to sail above the 30 degrees north to find favorable winds. The Castilian crown designated the harbor of Monterey as the first stop on the coast of Alta California before sailing to San Diego for provisions, and finally to Acapulco. The town slowly grew to include the modern districts of Montrei, Eu Presio, Los Rouls, and Cañión deu Rei. The first settlers were primarily from the region of Iberia where Montreiano finds its roots. They were attracted due to relative freedom from Castilian control, and the rather idealistic promise of being able to create a better life, and determine their own destiny. Within 150 years, It became known for its prosperity and its relative lawlessness.
By 1770, when Fr. Junipero Serra came to Montrei to formally establish the mission, he redesignated the city parish as the mission, due to being located within the town, and too close to wordly vices, Serra had the mission moved over the hills to the Val de San Carlos where the mission stands to this day. The original parish church was again redesignated and converted back to the town parish. The mission has now been designated a basillica, and the parish church of Montrei is now a Cathedral.
During that time, Montrei was declared the capital of Alta California, and Castile required that all ships stop at Montrei if they wished to trade in Alta California. Montrei was the only port in Alta California north of Los Angeles where sailors could acquire provisions, as it had the only suitable harbor at the time. This caused an influx of settlers from different parts of the world to settle in Montrei. The city slowly gained a cosmopolitan flavor. As the city grew, Rich landowners who did not live on their ranches instead chose to live in the town rather than on their land. Most of the large mansions and houses date from the late 17th century to the early 18th century.
When revolution began to stir in Alta California, the citizens of the city of Montrei originally sided with their fellow Californios in 1838. The rebel leadership in Alta California was ultimately from Los Angeles and San Diego, and Montreianos began to see that the promises of land reform was not to be fulfilled and began to stir for their independence in 1849. Fighting lasted until 1854 when Alta California finally signed the Tratao de San Carlos at the San Carlos Mission, ending the hostilities between Montrei and Alta California.
With independence, the first constitutional congress met in the administrative buildings surrounding the Plaça Maior, next to the cathedral. This building was converted into the national museum when government buildings were moved in the early part of the 20th century to the Arenas district of Montrei due to a lack of space for the growing capital. The national museum contains the original copy of the constitution of Montrei.
By the mid 20th century, Montrei began an extensive annexation campaign in order to increase growth of the city. The aucaud (mayor) at the time, Ramón Venanço Piairas instituted the campaign, often through devious means to acquire the many small towns near the capital. Most of the various districts of the city of Montrei are named after these former towns, such as Las Dunas, Arenas, Cañión deu Rey, San Carlos, Las Arvoueas, Corrau de Tiarra, Blanco, and Arroio deu Toro. Piairas also began to sell Montrei to international companies to draw them in. Particularly appealing were the relatively cheap plots of land in the Arenas district, which is where the business district of Montrei is located. Peiras' plan worked and corporations began to flood into Montrei, offering plenty of jobs, and drawing people in from the rural areas of Montrei, as well as foreign workers. Due to Piairas' work, Montrei is known as a corporate tax haven and center of international banking. After Piairas left the office of aucaud, pressure from political groups were successful in convincing the city council to instutute a general plan, and prevent urban sprawl that ocurred under Piairas' tenure as aucaud.
One of the projects that Piairas is recognized for and is considered incredibly popular for Montrei was the creation of a rail and subway system for Montrei. The project began construction in 1967. The route originally started near the Plaça Maior, headed north to the Dunas district, then east to the las Cañias district, and followed Val deu Toro to Cañión deu Rei, and finally through the Arenas district back to the transit center at the Plaça Maior. This system is considered the best in all of the nation of Montrei.
In 1985, the city of Montrei began to reinvent itself as a tourist destination. A major advertising campaign, this time (and rather ironically) by Peiras' grandson, Joaquín Viñia deu Val helped to remake Montrei into an exotic destination, a cosmopolitan city which offered all of the culture and beauty of the cities of Europe, but with a Montreiano flavor. The numbers of tourists in the city jumped from 3 million to 6 million tourists the following year alone.
For the 300th anniversary of the founding of Montrei in 1920, a fountain was installed in a park on the peninsula surrounded by Eu Estairo. There is a plan to move the fountain and create one of the largest fountains in the world for the 400th anniversary of the city's founding. The original fountain is to be moved to the Plaça Maior.
Government
The had of government in Montrei is the aucaud, the mayor who oversees the delegaos (delegates). Each delegate is in charge of a distrito (district). Within each district, subdelegaos manage the veçinaos (neighborhoods). Each of these three groups form the city council which has the duty of creating city laws, regulations, policies and discussing civic matters.
The functions of the city (water, power, trash collection, etc.) are controlled by special committees which oversee each of the functions of the city. They are called "departamentos çivicos" (Civic departments), and they report directly to the aucaud.
The aucaud is allowed a four year term. Delegaos and subdelegaos are permitted two year terms before they must run for election. There is a limit to three terms (meaning, a delegao or subdelegao may only serve for a total of six years).
Districts
Montrei is divided into the following districts
- Montrei - the original settlement, this is the cultural and historic center of Montrei.
- Arvouea deu Mar (Sea Grove) - This is where the wealthy own homes. Montreiano celebrties own homes here and many fine examples of traditional Montreiano architecture are found.
- San Carlos (Saint Charles) - Originally the mission town, as Montrei annexed the village, it became an artists colony, and many well known artists like Peiro Candelairo lived here. This district is well known for being rather bohemian.
- Pasàira (Stepping Stone) - Site of a new suburban development, this district is known for its rural character and country charm.
- Val deu Toro (Bull Valley) - Another suburban district, with the same rural character and country charm as Pasàira
- Çerros deu Xaparro (Chaparral Hills) - A more upscale residential district, this is mostly middle class residential.
- Rouleau (Oak Grove) - A mixed commercial and residential district. This is also where the gay neighborhood is located (close to the border with Distrito Montrei). It is considered to be the most trendy district.
- Las Arenas (The Sands) - The commercial and business district. Most upscale shopping, financial, and corporations are located here. There is also an expansive boardwalk and amusement park here. If you´re looking for sky scrapers and concrete, this is your place.
- Las Cañias (The Reeds) - Montrei´s industrial area and low income housing areas. Considered the poorest, and the most dangerous area (relatively speaking, of course). This area has been experiencing some gentrification in recent years.
- Santa Marina (Saint Marina) - Named after the parish church there, this district has what is considered to be one of the most beautiful traditional churches.
- Viuia Merçès (Mercedes Chalet) - Said to be the site of the Rumsen village of Uatxarón. Primarily residential.
Culture
Montrei's culture is considered cosmopolitan, but essentially Montreiano. There are many art galleries, especially in the Rouleau district, as well as in Las Arenas and parts of Montrei proper. The Montrei district is the traditional cultural center, with the most churches per block. It is said that you can't toss a dead gull without hitting one (last count there were 10 Catholic churches within the Montrei district). There's a vibrant surf culture along the beaches of the entire coastline of the city.
Food
One may find most of the cuisines which are popular around the world. Montrei, with its heavy Japanese influence finds many Japanese dishes to be popular. It is thought that influence from the Japanese caused rice to be the important starch rather than potatoes or corn. Japanese restaurants may be found in most of the districts of Montrei. Particularly popular are Ramenerías, the noodle shops, which are quite popular. French food has come into vogue, as has the cuisine of the Two Sicilies, due to Sicilian fishermen who helped revive the Montreiano fishing industry, which had been floundering until the early 20th century. Strangely, Mejican food is not quite as popular, although it seems to be becoming more popular as more Mejicans move to Montrei.
Traditional food is similar to that of Spain. Dishes tend to be simple, rather than complex, and cheeses are used in moderation. Montreianos tend to eat more beef and seafood than they do pork or chicken. A short list of traditional foods are:
- Empanàs Montreianas - dough wrapped around a filling of onion, mushrooms, olives, spinach, artichoke hearts, queso Montreiano, and finely sliced seasoned grilled beef.
- Empanàs Comuns - These are empanadas where the fillings may vary, from sweet fruit or pumpkin fillings, to various savory fillings.
- Carn Asà - Grilled beef, pounded until tender, and marinated in olive oil, garlic, and fresh thyme.
- Cordairo Lançeao - lamb kebabs marinated in garlic, served with a spicy tomato and basil sauce.
- Arroç Caudo - rice boiled in chicken broth with chicken, ginger, garlic and lemon (probably from Las Filipinas)
- Pan Dùç con Mançanas - sweet bread filled with a sweetened apple filling.
- Leç Flan - caramel custard flavored with orange peel and ginger
- Torta de Txocolat - A sweet pastry filled with a rich, dark chocolate filling, flavored with a hint of anise and orange.
