Epilogue: Snowdon Deli; miscellaneous
We had an 11AM checkout at our Airbnb but a 5PM flight, so between that, deposting our bags at a nearby hotel for luggage storage, and taking the 747 shuttle to YUL, we set out for Snowdon early in the morning, before the intense heat and humidity I’d expected all trip finally arrived.
This was the furthest destination on our entire trip, made extra sleepy by our early morning trek. We were surprised that this was right on an elevated street, and beneath it was a highway (I think!). Reminded me of many a diner in NYC or even here in LA.
But Snowdon Deli a conventional greasy spoon is not – since we skipped Schwartz’s (NB: the bookseller at De Stiil Books enlightened us that Celine Dion owns it now?), we needed to meet our smoked meat quota; @shirakoslurper’s rec was instrumental here. For the uninitiated, this seems to be the lesser known traditional smoked meat spot in MTL.
Loved it. Empty dining room, but for a couple of early birds like ourselves, but significantly older. Look at that placemat!
I got the 2 eggs and meat special. Girlfriend: Three cheese blintz’s and an egg. “Just one egg?” the server asked. “Just one egg.”
I don’t know who made that bagel, but I really liked it. Maybe it was the nice baker rolling in the trays of other breads we met on our way out. Either way, I loved that I got to have smoked meat on the last morning of this MTL trip. Fantastic environs and an absolutely great time.
The rest of the day was ambling to bookstore to bookstore; a spontaneous trip back to Jean-Talon to procure some last minute gifts; and enduring a hellish ride to the airport on a bus whose fan and AC was busted. Ouch!
Can’t wait to return, MTL! Here are some incidental pics to end these reports.
Parc Emile-Berliner in St. Henri. Berliner invented the gramophone. Sadly, the museum dedicated to him was closed to visitors.
The Bibliotheque et Archives nationales de Quebec (BAnQ) near Berri-UQAM station. Wish we had a bit more time to walk the stacks.
Metro wall
Metro walkway
Metro escalator
Metro ceiling
Basement to the Hotel St. Denis where we stored our bags temporarily.