Quebec - Montreal

Ottawa to Montreal Travel Distance: 199 km
AirBnB accommodations: $281.86 for 3 nights (inclusive of taxes, fees and cleaning fees)

We left Ottawa mid morning and drove to Montreal. It is a pretty quick drive compared to what we have been doing up to now to get to eastern Canada. We arrived into Montreal by 12 pm and were able to check into our accommodations. We are staying in an AirBnB located on Montreal Island just south of Old Montreal. We are a quick 15 min bus/train ride into Old Town. We stopped by the local convenience

store to pick up a 3-day transit pass before we headed out anywhere. It is $19/3 days; if we ride the bus/train 6 times it more than pays for itself. Our goal is to park the car and ride transit everywhere we go. Montreal is a very compact city and has a great transit system.

Once we got settled in we took Roxy for a walk at the park just across the street. It is a large park where Roxy can run and play, most of all, chase squirrels - her favourite pass time.

Today was a rainy day and a bit cool, but we wanted to get out to see a few things now that we have our transit pass. So we hopped on the bus to the train station and headed over to the Schwartz's Deli for lunch. Schwartz's, also known as the Montreal Hebrew Delicatessen, is a delicatessen restaurant and take-out. It was established in 1928 by Reuben Schwartz, a Jewish immigrant from Romania. It is kosher style rather than kosher. Its long popularity has led to it being considered a cultural institution of Montreal.

Schwartz's signature dish is a smoked meat sandwich served on rye bread with yellow mustard. The meat is served by the fat content; lean, medium, medium-fat or fat. Medium and medium-fat are the most popular. Rick had the smoked meat sandwich and I had the turkey on rye. It was simply delicious. Definitely worth the trip.

Prices:
smoked meat sandwich $9.95

pickles $2.35
french fries $3.55
turkey sandwich $7.95.

Once we finished lunch we headed up to "Marche Jean Talon". Situated in the heart of Little Italy, Jean Talon Market is one of the oldest public markets in Montréal. Inaugurated in May 1933, it was first called the Marché du Nord, but in 1983, its name was changed in honour of Jean Talon, the first intendant of New France.

Jean Talon Market stands out with its many local fruit and vegetable growers, its diversity of small shopkeepers (butchers, bakers, fishmongers, grocers, etc.) and its restaurateurs. Whether you’re a locavore or on the hunt for gastronomic treasure, you’ll find high quality, seasonal and fresh produce every day from your growers and processors. Jean Talon Market is overflowing with local specialties, but also products from other places: there’s something for every occasion and every taste!

Since it was cool, rainy and nearly 4:30, many of the shops were closed or were closing up for the day (the market usually closes at 6 pm). So we did a quick spin around a couple of lanes and called it a day. We defiantly will be back another day, earlier and when it is warmer out. A great start to our time in Montreal.