Long weekend in French - Montreal, July 30- August 2

It's a ritual: once a year (at least), we must drive about 6 hours east of Toronto to one of the greatest cities in Canada: Montreal!

I've lost track how many times I have visited this wonderful place, so I guess I am not a tourist anymore.

But this time we focused our trip on friends and favourite places.

This time our friend Marcelo came with us. (he would not miss an opportunity to be with us :) !!!) He is posing in front of our very good friends Gabi and Doris' house, in.....

Mike and his two Gabis.

Saturday we decide to do something that every tourist must do: eat at Schwartz's, the best smoked meat in Montreal, and maybe in the world!

From 11am until 2am, there is always a line up in front of the tiny restaurant.
But is worth the wait!

FROM WIKIPEDIA:

Schwartz's Hebrew Delicatessen, established in 1928 by Reuben Schwartz, a Jewish immigrant from Romania, is a landmark at 3895 Saint-Laurent Boulevard. It is the most famous smoked meat restaurant in Montreal, and kosher style rather than strictly kosher. Schwartz's often has a line extending out of the store, whether it is the middle of the day or late at night. The company also sells smoked meat by mail order.

Several restaurateurs have offered to build Schwartz's as franchise operations in cities across North America. The owners have always refused.

The Montreal Gazette has voted Schwartz's to have the best smoked meat in town.

Other notable smoked meat restaurants in Montreal include Ben's Delicatessen & Restaurant (closed down in late 2006), Smoked Meat Pete's, Dunn's, Snowdon Deli, Reuben's and The Main (located across the street from Schwartz's). The Main used to be located next to Schwartz's, benefitting from the proximity. When it moved across the street in the 1970s to a larger location, its traffic dropped off.

In the fall of 2008, Schwartz's opened an additional take-out location next door.

Even the waiter was a character!

The menu on the wall.

But most of the people just order the basic: smoked meat sandwich and a pickle!

It was mike's first time at the Schwartz's.

He approved!

Me too!

But something to eat every couple of years...

This is one of Montreal's most successful projects: the Bixi.

You basically rent bikes from stations like this one all over the city and pay only $5 a day.

But you need to check the bike at a station every half an hour, I guess to make sure people don't hold to it for too long. Anyway, we saw lots of people happily using this system.
It reminded me of the one in Copenhagen, when I visited it 13 years ago. But there the bikes were unlocked by a coin and you got the coin back after returning them.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Bixi (or BIXI in some marketing pieces) is a public bicycle sharing system launched in May 2009 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

In Montreal, the system provided 3,000 bicycles and 300 stations located around Montreal's central core by June 2009, expanding to 5,000 bicycles and 400 stations later that summer. Bixi marked its one-millionth ride on October 26, 2009.

A complete station is made up of a pay station, bikes, and bike docks (where the bikes are housed), which are fitted into modular technical platforms that are powered by solar panels. These technical platforms are the base and electronic ports for pay stations and bike docks. Bike stations can be created, expanded, configured and removed in about half an hour, monitored by a real-time management system. Excavation or preparatory work is not required, enabling the installation of a bike station as an adjunct to on-street parking.

Although I have been many times in Montreal, there are always new places to visit, like the Jean Talon-Market. I guess I don't need to say too much: it's a market!

I just LOVE the colours of fruits and vegetables on display!

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Jean-Talon Market (French: Marché Jean-Talon) is a farmer's market in Montreal. Located in the Little Italy district, the market is bordered by Jean-Talon Street to the north, Mozart Ave. to the south, Casgrain Ave. to the west and Henri-Julien Ave. to the east. It contains two city-maintained streets both called Place du Marché du Nord. The market is located between the Jean-Talon and De Castelnau metro stations.

The market was opened to the public in 1933 while Camillien Houde was the city mayor. Before that, the space the market now occupies was a lacrosse field for the "Shamrock Lacrosse Grounds" club.

The market's single building (the chalet) quickly become the focal point for development of the area around it. From the opening until 1961, the chalet was used as a terminal for buses heading to the neighbouring city of Laval. Between 1961 and 1970 a municipal library and a social services centre replaced the bus station. Since then, the space was occupied by administrative offices.

Major renovations were undertaken in 2004 to handle the crowds that populate the market during the summer months. An underground parking lot was constructed, and an above ground structure was built over the underground parking area, to host 20 specialty boutiques.

Another Montreal thing to do: to sit on a patio and have coffee of tea.

Life is good!

Mike being artistic!

FRIENDS!!!

Next stop: the supermarket to stuck up on booze!

I learned last time I was in Montreal that alcohol is cheaper in Quebec.

Mike, I think we will be OK for the week!

Having a lovely breakfast on Sunday at Gabi and Doris' backyard.

Beautiful and comfortable place!

Crossing the Jacques Cartier Bridge for the first time and getting lost a couple of times.

Meeting friend and producer Hector and his friends at a barbecue at the Park de la Cite-du-Havre. We didn't have too much time, but it was nice to see him and enjoy a bit of this wonderful spot in Montreal.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: Cité du Havre is a neighbourhood in the borough of Ville-Marie of the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It is located on a narrow peninsula, opposite the Old Port of Montreal and Montreal Harbour.

The Cité du Havre is connected to Saint Helen's Island by the Concordia Bridge across the Saint Lawrence River.

The neighborhood is most known for its architectural landmark, Habitat 67. It also features a park, the Parc de la Cité-du-Havre, which was a filming location for the 2001 film, The Score.

Marcelo enjoying the sunny day!

What is he thinking about?

Quebec style BBQ!

We rushed to see our long time Friends: Ceasar, Sophie, Akira and Isabela. They moved (from Toronto) to St. Lazare - about one hour away from Montreal - a few years ago, and we miss them them terribly. It's incredible to see how well the kids are doing, especially Akira, who I've know since she was 5 years old! Beautiful girl!

Sophie prepared a delicious dinner for us!

Here is the whole gang!

Good times!

Isabela is the cutest little girl!

Last image of us, having dinner, taken by 4 year old Isabela.

Not bad, eh?

Hours after that, we got on the road back to Toronto, already planning our next trip to Montreal!