Saturday 25th February 2017 - Jean Talon Marche et Savourez MTL

Oui! Jean Talon Marche.

Apologies for not having accents on letters. Very difficult typing in French on an English keyboard.

As part of the Montreal En Lumiere Gastronomie program, tasting stalls were set up on the 2nd floor mezzanine level of the Jean Talon Marche. These tastings were free and samples of products were given out. Products such as Rise kombucha, Molasses cookies, Urban honey from hives all around Montreal, organic maple syrup in fancy tins, garlic, wild mushrooms,  seeds and a variety of legumes (made into the tastiest vegetarian salad I have ever had) - were all on offer. Some were available for purchase at the markets others were not.

There were also free cooking demonstrations in the room next door to the tasting stalls and also a competition to win a food hamper.

The event attracted quite a number of people and the atmosphere was buzzing.

Photo attached of Jean Talon Marche below as viewed from level 2 mezzanine

Photos attached of the tasting stalls on level 2 mezzanine of the Jean Talon Marche

Next stop - to find a Fromagerie - yes I love my cheese even being lactose intolerant! I purchased 3 types of low lactose cheeses from a fromagerie at Jean Talon Marche - it was good that the store offered free try before you buy sampling. I purchased a low lactose gruyere, low lactose cummin seed cheese and some low lactose gouda.

 

I wish I could eat cheese curd but it has one of the highest levels of lactose as it is fresh cheese. The more a cheese is aged or matured the less lactose it contains hence hard cheeses only - no brie or other soft mouldy or stinky cheeses for me.

Onto the fruit and vegetable section of the marche - since I did not know where the nearest supermarche was from the HI Montreal , I had to do all my grocery shopping today at or near the Jean Talon Marche therefore I grabbed some bananas,cucumber, shallots, onion corriande ( this is what Montrealers call corriander and not cilantro),
coloured carrots, garlic etc. It was not a complete shop of fruit and vegetables that I needed but a start until I could find a supermarche close to the Montreal HI. One stall had plenty of fruit and vegetable samples to taste so I tasted quite a few fruits and vegetables -  pear, pineapple, cucumber, tomato etc

All the fruit and vegetables looked fresh but when I took them back and placed them straight into a refridgerator it was a different story - within a day or 2 they started to rot which does not happen back home in Sydney.

Final stop at the marche was to find sources of protein of some sort ie poultry, meat or seafood - there was a awful lot of beef and pork products around but I wanted some lamb as I am not keen on both sources of protein. To get this I had to go to the rather expensive gourmet  butcher outside of the Jean Talon Marche. This butcher had an awful lot of expensive handmade sausages mainly pork and beef varieties again - no duck, chicken or lamb sausages. Here I purchased a rather expensive piece of lamb neck which was for slow cooking only.

After I had had enough time at the markets I decided to try and find a local supermarche - there was a Metro supermarche very close to the Jean Talon Metro (subway station).

Here I picked up some grapefruit juice, eggs salmon, water, cape gooseberries,advocado and a few other things.  I did not purchase any oil, butter, brown bread etc as I had these already or the HI Montreal provided them at breakfast - boiled eggs were provided too but I don't enjoy eating Canada's bleached white eggs they look and taste like fake Chinese eggs when boiled - far too firm to be a real egg therefore I purchased half a dozen brown eggs which I preferred scrambled rather then boiled. Orange juice was also provided by the HI Montreal for breakfast but I like juice with my dinner therefore purchased a large tetra pack of Tropicana grapefruit juice which advises on its packaging is not from concentrate like so many other juice brands are in general - eg Minute Maid - always wondered why it was called that!?

Time to head back to the HI Montreal located close to the downtown area with my heavy load of groceries - it started to pour with rain and I got very lost yet again. I got on the subway at Bonaventure Station but apparently the closest station was around the corner from HI Montreal therefore alighted there but did not know which direction to walk as soon as I reached the entrance/exit of the subway station onto street level - subways are deep underground. I had to ask so many locals how to access the closest subway station and which train in which direction I had to catch to get to Jean Talon Marche. I walked through several creepy tunnels in the incorrect directions , was incorrectly advised by someone of the direction of the train on the orange line I was suppose to catch towards Jean Talon Marche and purchased a day ticket instead of individual train tickets which wouldn't even tap to get me through the gates on several occasions.

Soaking wet by the time I got back to the hostel. I dumped my groceries in the kitchen refridgerator only to find HI staff had to move everyones food into 1 refridgerator as the other had broken down completely!

A hot cup of Australian tea and a few blackforest tim tams was what I needed.

End of my 2nd day but 1st full day in Montreal . So tired wet and cold.

Friday 24th February 2017 - VIA Toronto Union Station to Montreal Central Station

Another 5 hours on the train but this time I am travelling from Toronto Union Station to Montreal Central Station (Gare Centrale) business class with all my luggage I simply cannot travel economy ie 1 large bag upto 23 kg or 2 smaller bags and 1 personal item all of which are unchecked. Business class allows for 2 x 23 kg bags. I had 3 bags which came over with me all the way from Sydney and I couldn't exactly dump 2 of them.

The first incident is a power outage somewhere outside of Toronto - all trains in and out of Toronto are at a stand still as all signals were out. Total confusion at the station. Nobody knew how long the trains were delayed for - it could be half an hour or  1 day.

This is why I like to arrive early at airports and train stations. Travelling business class has its advantages - checked luggage . I check my large black suit case in to start - asked if I was getting off at Dorval or Montreal Central - not Dorval I am going all the way to downtown Montreal Gare Centrale. Had to make this clear as there was a passenger who arrived to collect his bags at Montreal Central only to find they had left the train at Dorval Station and because it was close to closing time ie 6.30 pm there was nothing he could do about it tonight. He was given a slip to asked to come back the next day or ring customer relations. Luckily my suitcase made it safely to Montreal Gare Centrale to collect at the baggage stand.

Another perk travelling business class is access to the business class lounge although with all the construction going on at Toronto Union Station it is a little inconvenient to get from to the departing platform. I purchased a VIA rail pin as a souvenier and collected a French magazine with Michael Buble on the cover to read. I was told that an announcement would be made when the train was ready to board but there was no announcement so a few other business class passengers travelling on train 064 to Montreal and I  started to head to platform 19 which was quite a walk away. We stopped off to find out more information about the delay but no one
could tell us anything and they gave us a customer relations slip with a contact number on it and advised me to go back to the business lounge and wait for further announcements.

I decided not to return as the others had not, instead headed towards platform 19. By the time I arrive there there was a very long queue of economy passengers waiting patiently to board the train.

The train was only delayed about 30 minutes maybe an hour at the most. As business class passengers we had priority boarding which is just as well as carriage 1 was a very long walk along the only partially covered platform after taking the escalator to the platform where the train was awaiting.

After passing each carriage of the train each with its own train/passenger attendant (similar to flight attendants) , it is time to climb up a set of steps onto carriage 1 on the train with your unchecked suitcases. So glad I didn't have to take my main suitcase which I had checked in on board - I was wondering how I was going to get that on board the train - all 23 kg of it! Still wondering why (after my first 2 train trips from Toronto to Ottawa) trains are not parallel and level to platforms. How do you get prams and wheelchairs or even walkers onto these trains? You would not want to have an injury preventing you from climbing up onto the train carriages - they are all the same regardless of whether you are travelling business, first or economy class.

Once on the train safely, I place my 2 small carry on bags onto the luggage racks located near the entrance to each carriage.
I then find and take my seat which was a Window one instead of an asile one in Business class. Next I look for the power point which is located under each Business class seat instead of a double power point located next to the window for each Economy class seat - a little incovenient if you have an asile seat in Economy.

I had plenty of room in my business class seat to stretch out as there was nobody sitting next to me for the entire 5 hour journey between Toronto and Montreal. This was great as I needed sleep and time to catch up on my blogs. I had my French magazine I took from the VIA Business class lounge with Michael Buble on the cover to read as well.

A meal service announcement is made so I inquired whether my special meal request was processed. Unfortunately it was not given the possible reason  due to the delayed service. Not really a valid excuse as I made my special meal request with my online booking weeks even months ago. I asked which meal selection was the most non lactose and was advised probably the salmon therefore I selected this meal when it was offered. Luckily this would have been my first choice of a meal if special meal requests were not offerred. This was the only cold meal option available but turned out to be very tasty. I selected the olive bread to accompany my meal and an orange juice instead of white or red wine. My orange juice was forgotten about until I reminded the attendant about it after I finished my meal. The smores biscuit which I believe was vegan was amazing and went well with a cup of tea. Then there was the little rasberry chocolate bar offered after the meal - a very nice touch. Must travel business class more often! (but not with seats next to emergency exits which also require additional safety responsibilities - which I volunteered with when I was in an Economy class aisle, seat between Toronto and Ottawa).

As the train travelled along the scenic 5 hour trip from Toronto to Montreal it became colder and the sight of more and more snow passed by. The cows in the paddocks didn't seem to mind the cold - well upto a certain point then there were no livestock or animals in sight.

Arrived at Gare Centrale Montreal an hour or so only behind schedule late afternoon/early evening, I was surprised at the platform upon arrival - although the station was deep below ground level, the narrow platform was level to all the train's business and economy class carriage entrances/exits! Then it was up the escalators or lift (yes a lift!) again to the main concourse of Gare Centrale - now to find the baggage counter (just in time as it was closing at 6.30 pm) to claim my suitcase. Got it!

I had no idea where I was so I just found the exit and taxi stand and waited for the next taxi. The attendant was so nice but unfortunately the taxi driver was so rude! He wasn't keen to take me to the hostel which was about 15 minutes away ie around the corner - hello! it is freezing cold new arrival to Montreal - loads of luggage - a bit of respect would have been nice - I gave the taxi driver a tip but should have given him nothing!

Arrived at the hostel on Rue Mckay  and checked in - no lift - room on 2nd floor - after settling in (well not quite)  I give my friend a call and we organise to meet at 7 pm and walk around the city " to get me orientated" . I wasn't keen as it was cold and I was tired after travelling the whole day but agreed to meet her at 7 pm. "No rest for the wicked" as they say.

She gave me a copy of the official tourist guide book and En Lumiere program book. Nuit Blanche had not been released yet in hard copy but I can pick one up later.

My friend walked me around the city and we stopped to look at a few of the Iluminart artworks which just started last night on 23rd Feb 17.

Back to the hostel around 9 or 9.30 pm although this is considered early in Montreal. My friend may not have been ready for bed yet but I was. I needed to plan for tomorrow and sleep.

End of night 1 in Montreal. So far so good.

My Business Class Meal Selection - Salmon with olive Bread

Inside the VIA Business Class Lounge at Toronto Union Station

Thursday 23rd February 2017 - St Lawrence Markets and Ferry to Toronto Islands

After a very long day  yesterday travelling to Niagara Falls followed by the Art Gallery and then having to do a rather large stack of dirty laundry from my muddy Ottawa adventures finally getting to sleep with half of my washed laundry still wet at around 1.30 am, I treated myself to a sleep in and pancakes.

I could not work out why my pancakes kept sticking to the frypan - the pan was hot and there was plenty of oil in it so I settled for scrambled pieces of pancake with leftover berry jam a banana and some vanilla sugar.

To add to my disastrous breakfast - my CAN$5 bottle of non alcoholic grape juice I purchased from Niagara Wine Education Centre just would not open . I tried everything - asking a guy twice to help me open it and it just wouldn't, running the cap and bottle top under hot water which also had no effect and finally removing the entire cap's seal and plastic labelling entirely around the bottle before running the bottle top and cap under hot water again. Finally using a kitchen towel and using brute force, the bottle top finally unscrewed. It must have taken me an hour in total to open this single bottle of grape juice - no wonder it cost CAN$5!! Tasted very much like Grapetise from the local supermarket to me!

Next stop packing so I didnt have to do  it tomorrow and then off to find the nearest supermarket which happened to be very close on Front St to my first destination - St Lawerance Markets.

Had a quick look around thr markets but did not buy anything.  Then walked and found a rather large Loblaws and stopped off to have a look at the Joe Fresh store. Still wondering for the second time why Miranda Kerr is modelling for Joe Fresh a cheap line of clothing for women men and kids sold around Canada at chain store supermarkets as well as their own chain store boutiques.

Onto Wards Ferry Wharf.  The only ferry service operating during the Winter to the Toronto Islands which are car free islands  and where quite a few people live.

It was so hot today  I could have been back in Sydney - I had to stuff my puffer jacket into my back pack and tie my hoodie around my waist. I could have taken off another layer. Sunglasses were a must.

I took the 3.30 pm ferry from Wards Island Ferry terminal at Waterfront on the Toronto side and it was a quick ride to Wards Island - when I mean ferry it was more of a barge actually.  I always thought a ferry was a sea vessel that carried vehicles and passengers with passenger seating on board and a barge carried passengers and vehicles with no passenger seating on board. This was a walk on walk off type of sea vessel which carried vehicles as well but did have some covered passenger seating but most passengers preferred to stand as it was a fantastic photo opportunity with the view of Toronto city and CNN tower in the background.

A quick walk around the Island beach side and riverside. Saw some different coloured squirrels close up. Took some photos and headed back to Toronto on the 5 pm ferry. Straight back to Toronto HI. The Islands are a great city getaway so close yet it feels so far away. Next time I go I will have to get up earlier and spend an entire day exploring the islands.

End of day 3 in Toronto.

Last minute shop at Eaton Centre to UNI LQ. The store was tiny - the first one in Toronto to open whereas in Sydney there are many. Prices were the same as Sydney however add tax and it is actually more expensive then in Sydney.

Wanted to go to Chinatown in Toronto but no time and too far away to get there ie past the Art Gallery.

Packing and preparing to leave for Montréal tomorrow late morning on the VIA rail business class.

Oops forgot photos! Maybe later.

Wednesday 22nd February 2017 - Niagara Falls & AGO Toronto

It was a very long 12 hours + day today beginning at 8.45 am with a prebooked day tour to Niagara Falls returning to Toronto by 6 pm followed by Art Gallery free entry night from 6 pm - 9 pm. Then laundry wash and dry  10 pm - 1 am.

My German roomate the previous night warned me to beware of the tour guide that talked too much his name was......

So many photos to select and upload.

The day tour started off with a stop to Souvenir City - tacky tacky tacky  - basically this was a 15 min toilet stop before Niagara Falls and maybe a quick drink snack or gift stop and first prefalls photo opportunity of the "gorge" and river below and the tee pee or barrel over Niagara Falls photo - maybe a little unnecessary.

Next stop America Falls Canada Falls and of course Niagara Falls. Our tour guide advised us of our options - a $5 ride up on the sky railway with really good views of the falls although it looks like the views aren't that spectacular and the other option of the Journey Behind the Scenes  a series of underground tunnels under the falls.

The bus was a full bus today apparently for quite some time and I sat with a fellow Toronto HI hosteller. We did the Journey Behind the Scenes and it was freezing down in the tunnels under the falls!

We then took a walk all along the street and tooks hundreds of photos of the falls. Wow what a sight - the sun even came out. All up we only had 2 hours at the falls which was not enough time to see or do everything. We avoided the tacky shopping and entertainment area of Niagara Falls but when it came to lunch there was not enough time therefore we opted for Tim Hortons in the last half hour of our time at Niagara Falls but it was taking an awful long time for the queue to move. I opted for the quick option of a cheese croissant whereas the German couple on the same day tour from the same hostel opted for a chicken sandwich which would take longer to prepare. We were fast running out of time to get back to the bus by 2.59 pm (I think it was) as it was a tight itinerary and the bus does not wait for late comers we were all warned and we would have to taxi it back from Niagara to Toronto if we missed the bus. We had 5 minutes to get back to the bus pick up point and we arrived just before the bus arrived - there's that "German Efficiency" again!!!

Next stop was Niagara on the Lake - the prettiest town in the Niagara region. Here we only had about 30 - 40 minutes. You really need a few days to take in all this town has to offer. It was recommended that we take a brisk walk down to the "lakeside"
After a toliet stop we took a walk down to the "lakeside" and along the main street of the town before heading back to the bus which returned and parked outside the theatre of the town.

Our final stop before returning to Toronto and included in our Niagara Falls day trip was a quick wine tasting stop at Niagara Wine Education Centre.

This was not a vinyard tour just a tasting of white, red and ice wine .

I wasn't keen on the white or red wines preferring the non alcoholic grape juice offered to kids, under aged young adults and non drinkers on the day tour. The icewine as usual was delicious. I don't think you can produce a bad red or white icewine due to the sugar content. It can only be called icewine if the grapes are picked off the vine at -8 degrees. If they are not at this temperature the wine produced is considered late harvest and not icewine. It takes approximately 4 bunches of hand picked frozen grapes to produce one drop of nectar to produce icewine hence the hefty price tag per bottle. We then had an opportunity to purchase the wines we had just tasted. I ended up purchasing a bottle of chilled non alcoholic grape juice which cost me CAN$5.

Back on the bus again to head back to Toronto. We were all tired by now. There were several drop off points around downtown Toronto therefore I asked the tour guide if he was stopping anywhere near the art gallery as my fellow hosteller and I were going straight to the Art Gallery as it was Wednesday night free entry from 6 pm to 9 pm.

We decided to get off at the main drop off point in downtown Toronto Yonge & Dundas and walked to the Art Gallery (AGO) (about a 30 minute walk from the HI Toronto) . It was going to be a long night.
It was great timing as we had around 3 hours or so to look around the Art Gallery. Why can't I remember much about what I saw at the art gallery except for exhibition of  the boats made out of thongs that kids played with in the ocean. Must be too tired.
We stayed at the Art Gallery until almost 9 pm closing time, had a look at the art galley shop before walking back to the hostel.

By the time I got back I had a quick snack met my new roommates, planning of tomorrow's activities as I had a full day in Toronto and did my laundry. I needed my laundry to dry before I packed and knew it would take 2 days for all my woollen clothes to dry. There was quite a lot of clothing that could not be placed in the dryer as well so these needed time to air dry.

Finally asleep by 1.30 am in the morning.

End of night 2 day 1 in Toronto.

Tomorrow a sleep in pancakes and St Lawerance Markets,  a visit to the closest supermarket (Metro) on Front Street and ferry to Toronto Islands.

Photos from tacky Souvenir City

Photos of the 3 falls at Niagara Falls and our talkative tour guide

Photos of Journey Behind the Falls from the tunnels under the falls

Photos of the town of Niagara on the Lake
Still to be uploaded

Photos of Red, White and Ice Wine tastings @ Winery School in Niagara region
Still to be uploaded

Apologies no photos of Niagara on The Park The Wine Education Centrre or AGO in Toronto survived.  2 cheeky photos were posted on facebook I believe - one of icewine sampling and the other of me trying to climb over the wall at Niagara Falls.