A cultural sojourn in Montreal via. Schwartz

Schwartz is so popular that even the wind whispers its name as you enter the city. If the online accolades aren’t enough to prompt a visit, then maybe the army of loyal fans queueing outside might convince you. It’s worth noting, that this is a city where the snow will quite literally bury you, and yet people will queue outside for hours for one of their sandwiches. Fortunately for impatient people like us, they have a take-out spot right next door to the restaurant. In less than five minutes we had scanned the menu, placed an order and taken our prize back to the car. My mouth was watering as my fingers scrambled to get through the paper. According to my internet sources, I was holding the Holy Grail of sandwiches, in reality I had just bought a stack of good meat; a ravenous appetite is no match for my discerning tastebuds, unfortunately. I’m going to blame my minor disappointment on B&K, a fantastic salt beef cafe in Edgware, London. If you’re after a cheap gastronomic extravaganza, head there; but be warned, their portions aren’t for the faint hearted.

Moving away from food and onto another favourite topic of mine: art. One of the most delightful things about this city is the harmony that exists between the street art of New Town and the refined galleries of Old Town, both of which have massive appeal. Graffiti artists reward those that climb Boulevard Saint Laurent with building-size murals on almost every block. An oversized and unfamiliar cartoon guards a carpark, whilst skulls and ghouls party further up in an ironic celebration of youthful rebellion. The area around Basilique Notre-Dame is vastly different, with its beautiful galleries and narrow streets. Jazz pours out of every shop, as the well-heeled glide from one expensive piece to another. I lived in this moment, imagining what it would feel like to be here, admiring these pieces in a pretty dress and high heels instead of my baggy trousers and fleece jumper. As necessary as these are, I can’t wait until I can pack them away. Strolling through the streets of Old Montreal was so wonderfully serene, that it put us in a trance which led us all the way to a quiet, little cafe where we squandered the next few hours.

Rue Saint-Paul Ouest

Boulevard Saint-Laurent

This is an awesome shop that we found randomly. To the unsuspecting eye it’s a derelict, dirty building, but to those that conspire to know the truth, it’s a secret treasure trove of second hand goodies. Upon entering we were greeted with complimentary hot apple cider and popcorn, to sustain us whilst we rummaged through three floors of vintage clothes, furniture and books. In addition to all that, a wonderful cafe served up a whole plethora of tasty treats from chai to dahl, everything you could want under one roof. Thankfully they had a ‘chill spot’ at the back, full of comfy chairs and books so those that needed a little recuperation could indeed find some.