Tour of Montreal on double decker bus today so shots of some of the many things we saw. We didn't get off the bus to spend any time at any of the spots. Some interesting stuff. Jack and I were here when I interviewed for job at Potsdam NY. Didn't like it then and still not crazy about it. It just seems shabby and run down to me despite all of the new stuff (comparatively speaking) with the World's Fair in 67 and Olympics in 76. Old Montreal is nothing like Quebec City either. I'm sure we are missing something. The key may be the small neighborhoods off the tourist track. Canada was $1 billion in debt from the olympics because it was before commercial subsidies and royalties from tv coverage. Just finished paying it off with cigarette taxes for the last 30 years. Of course, they didn't stop the taxes.
Picture of city with train that runs through the buildings in downtown, USA pavilion from World's Fair which is now some sort of museum, and St. Joseph's Bascilica which I remember from being here when I was a young girl. Lots of churches and monasteries etc that have been converted to condos etc just like Quebec. They call the loss of interest in religion the silent revolution. Also a picture of picketing workers in the cemetary who have been on strike for months. See the high grass around the tombstones and I guess no funerals either. By the way there are 1 million people buried here - I am pretty sure I heard that right. Also, they were filming a movie in one section. We saw trailers and actually shoting for at least two movies being made right now. One with Brad Pitt.
At the end of the tour we asked for a good place for the Montreal smoked meat sandwich we have been hearing so much about and it turns out Dunn's was across the street which someone else had recommended. Well, it is brisket but it isn't exactly corned beef. They put spices and lots of pepper on it and it is roasted not boiled. Kind of half way between corned beef and pastrami. Good but not as good as the chopped chicken livers which were the best we ever ate. There is a long history of a Jewish community here but we didn't see any temples or anything. Again maybe another section of town. There was an article in the paper about a Hasidic group that bought a resort in a nearby town that had been on the market for years to make it a religious retreat. The locals were saying that it did nothing for the economy because they are such a closed community so they expected no business as a result. All of the towns along the way here are St. this and St. that. Just small farming towns with big churches essentially.
I then left Jack to digest lunch while I walked a block to guess what? No, St. Catherine's St. which is the main shopping street in Montreal with 400 stores. Reminded me of downtown Chicago but the buildings aren't as high. Geared to the younger set but found a few things at the local department store. Also went down into their underground city which is like Toronto's - a huge maze of tunnels that connects all major points with shops, eateries, etc. Began to rain of course.
Did I mention the traffic? Horrible going into and leaving the city. We will be glad to be on our way out of town tomorrow. Ottawa here we come.
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