The first part of our Montreal getaway may have had its share of minor annoyances but it was all forgotten that Sunday when, magically, things went our way.
We checked out of the bedbugs hotel (yay!) hopefully leaving the insects behind (RIP dead bug on white sheets… I still have your picture!). The plan was to explore McGill University and its famous campus but we got sidetracked.
We parked close to Sherbrooke Street and noticed we were right by the Musée des Beaux-Arts. “Maybe it’s free on Sunday,” I mused.
Amazingly, it was. Thank you travel gods!
As the daughter of two perpetually broke but intellectual artists, I spent a lot of time in museums when I was a kid. It was a no-brainer: entrance was free on the first Sunday of the month so we had to go. My parents loved it—me, not so much. French museums can be stuffy and aren’t very kid friendly. I spent entire afternoons begging to go home, running away from my parents and then crying because I had lost them (apparently, I also thought that every man with long hair and a moustache, like my dad, was in fact my dad—my parents still love to tell how I would cling to random dudes and ask, “papa?”).
I didn’t want Mark to be traumatized by art so we started with the kid-friendly section. There were several supervised arts and crafts sessions in progress, which was pretty neat—I spent twenty minutes trying to make a paper fan with Mark (really, that lil rebel just wanted to eat the glue).
We checked out the contemporary art section (I love Picasso, Matisse and Gauguin) and the exhibition on Napoleon.
After that artsy morning, we headed to the Marché Jean Talon where we had great Mexican food—real Mexican food, not some Tex-Mex crap smothered in yellow cheese. My plato del día with beans, guacamole, rice, tortillas and pollo took me right back to Mexico. “Más Salsa Por Favor!”
We walked around in the market, feeding Mark cut fruits—amazingly he liked everything, strawberries, kiwi, pineapple, plum… he doesn’t get that from me, I’m not a huge fan of fruits!
Our trip ended on a good note and we drove back to Ottawa pretty relaxed.
Gotta love this Indian summer!
it’s always nice to see my own city through the lenses of an outsider. 🙂
What are your favourite spots in Montreal?
I once went to this museum in Mtl, there was an exhibit of Jean Cocteau. / Growing up, I was also dragged to a lot of museums in Ottawa. I wouldn’t hang out in museums now, but I’m glad that my father introduced me to “culture”. lol / I don’t know if this Mexican restaurant near Jean-Talon is the one who sells churos with dulce de leche in it. I’ve been craving those for a while and promised myself to get some when I will set foot in Canada this winter.
Yes, that’s the one! El Rey Del Taco I think it’s called. They have alfajores as well… if you don’t know what it is, don’t try. It’s so addictive! Picture a kind of Orea-like cookie but bigger with dulce de leche filling.
Great, I’m drooling now.
I don’t last very long when I visit French museums – they are not interactive enough for me.
Thanks for the tip for El Rey del Taco. I’ll have to check that out next time I’m around Marché Jean Talon. I really like that market and even my husband said that the bread in the bakery looked pretty good (but expensive). I just like going there for the atmosphere and all the cheap fruit and vegetables.
Funny, I find the fruits and veggies pretty expensive at Jean Talon! Maybe it’s just me. And yes, these bakeries are delicious… it’s always our last stop because Little Italy is close to the freeway back to Ottawa 😉
Ah, Indian summers. I think it’s just a North American phenomenon, as things are already cool here in Europe. We’re already all bundled up. 🙂
Anyway, I haven’t been going to museums lately, as I’ve always been outside. But now that the weather is getting colder, then it’s time to explore the indoors and go to museums again!
We are lucky this year… very lucky!
Hello Zhu,
The market is absolutely tempting.
Just came to check on you. Mark is getting cuter and cuter.
Have a great weekend.
Thank you for checking on us!
Aww sounds like a nice and relaxing Sunday !! I love museums and street markets like that.
You should visit Montreal!
Jean Talon / Petite Italie was my former neighboroud and I miss it so much… It’s so great to be living there. So much good latino food… *sigh*
Even in Ottawa, good latino food is hard to find!
Sounds like a wonderful day. Ha I can just see little you clinging to random men, thinking they are your father. So cute.
Yeah, it’s a fun anecdote 😉