Best BAGEL In The World

When I was searching what is special about Montreal I came across the information there is ‘war’ between Montreal and New York where the best bagel comes from. One of the ‘best bagel’ shops - St. Viateur Bagel (http://www.stviateurbagel.com/) - is situated in 263 St-Viateur street in Montreal.

The Bagel Shop St. Viateur

Myer Lewkowicz established the company in 1957, Polish man who survived the WWII and was some time as well arrested in concentration camp in Buchenwald. He came in 1953 to Canada, started to work in bagel shop and later, in 1957, together with Hyman Seligman and with his wife by his side, set up his own bagel shop.

Sesame Bagel

Today is the shop on St-Viator street open 24/7. At any time you can buy delicious bagel directly from the oven. Buying whole dozen could be dangerous. It is difficult to stop eating as long as you have some in the paper bag. Enjoy!

Todays French word:

delicious - délicieux

Montreal - History & Bridges

Montreal is the city on an island. In the central part of the island is the hill, which gives the city the name - Mount Royal. Yes, we can have the discussion whether it is a hill or a mount. It is one of the oldest cities on North American continent. First Nations lived on the Montreal Island four thousand years ago.  They established city Hochelaga (beaver dam or beaver lake) on the foot of the hill two hundred years before French arrived.

Montreal today is modern Canadian city with French charm. The architecture helps a lot to create the atmosphere, but most important are the people - friendly, open and very kind (they talk to us, English speaking foreigners, with pleasure).  Everything here is very Canadian, even the hockey club of Montreal is called Montreal Canadians. Are all other Canadian hockey clubs not Canadian at all?

Montreal - old and in perfect symbiosis

Bridge ‘Pont Jacques Cartier’ - Jacques Cartier, French explorer, visited the island of Montreal in 1535. He discovered on the island village Hochelaga with population over thousand people. Many monuments and locations in Quebec bear his name.

Bridge - Pont Jacques Cartier

Bridge ‘Pont Champlain’ - Samuel de Champlain, is called ‘The Father of New France’. He founded Quebec city and his biggest contribution for Canada - creation of very accurate map of the coast. He served as Governor of New France and oversaw the growth of New France until his dead in 1635.

Bridge - Pont Champlain

Bridge ‘Pont Honoré Mercier’ -  Honoré Mercier, ninth premier of the Canadian province Quebec (from 1887 to 1891). Not only bridge, but also he South Shore suburb of Montreal, Hospital in Saint-Hyacinthe, high and elementary schools, and couple of streets are called by his name.

Bridge - Pont Honoré Mercier

As Mr.Mercier’s name is very popular I wondered who was the first premier of Quebec. His name is Pierre-Joseph-Olivier Chauveau. Until now I did not find anything named by his name. I keep searching. On contrary Jacques Viger, first mayor of Montreal, give his name at least to a Hospital. For today this is enough historical data.

Jacques Cartier                                    Samuel de Champlain                                Honoré Mercier 

Many times in my life I have heard ‘there is no real history in America’. Montreal convinced me it is not truth. America has its history. Not only the ‘European’, but as well the ‘before being discovered’ one. I will search for more and dedicate one of my future blogs to this topic.

Todays French word:

bridge - le pont

Fourth Day In The Class

Main purpose of my visit, next to spend some time with my friend GI, is learning French. I was eager to write about the experience right on first day. I have to admit I was not able to do it on Monday. I had very mixed feelings after day one. It was not better on Tuesday. Wednesday made me feel ‘what am I doing here?’. And today? I am ready to withstand till the end.

It is interesting that my willingness to finish the course rises with sunny day and is quite low on cloudy days. It is almost as cold as in Moscow. This morning -18^oC and SUNNY!!! 

Our teacher Thomas is French.

Thomas

This makes the learning bit difficult. I am starting to understand why people do not like to speak/learn French. I speak five languages but French (will be the sixth one if everything goes well) taught by a French man is disaster. All other teachers, and I experienced a lot of various systems, were strict with grammar and vocabulary and had understanding for accent. British and Americans are especially generous in that field. French? No way! I agree pronunciation is very important part of every language, but nobody shall exaggerate.

Being Czech native speaker, I am sure Czech language would be very successful in the contest ‘complexity of Czech pronunciation’. Here is best of Czech pronunciation introduced by an Englishman:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLfWPmhA-FU.

And this is example of French students speaking Czech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AojMIgZbFMc. 

So Mr. Teacher, what would you say now?

Todays French word

(for context this time with Czech translation):

strč prst skrz krk

Place your finger through the neck

placez votre doigt à travers le cou

Lunch After School

As I did in Vancouver, I made small research on good places to eat in Montreal. By heart I started today with the Schwartz’s (www.schwartzsdeli.com). Canada's most famous smoked meat since 1928. Their menu is very simple - smoked meat, turkey, chicken, sausages, pickles, coleslaw and few other extras. This made me very curious.

First of all I need to say I walked quite a bit, almost 30 minutes from the school. The location is much more simple shop than a restaurant. The interior reminded me of simple Czech canteen before 1989. With one huge difference - the shop was full.

Busy place. No wonder, everything produced here is delicious. 

I am lucky and have seat right away. The system is ‘grab your chair and be happy to have one’. Service is quick with very special manner:

“Are you first time her?“

“Yes”

“You must have sandwich, pickle and fries. OK?”

“OK”

“Drink? Coke, diet, seven-up ...”

“Do you have Fanta?”

“Yes, we have jfdkaljk Fanta”

“I take that”

Fanta? Soda Mousse?
Ingredients: E123, E170, E321, E213 and few drops of grape juice.

The dink arrived first. The ‘jfdkaljk’ is not typing mistake, this is what I understood. I should have asked. Fanta Soda Mousse is disgusting. I know it is not polite, but try before you criticize. 

After drink shock I have received the food. Smells tempting. Looks good.

This is what you get - pile of meat.

First bite goes to pickle. Crunchy. Salty. Cold. Excellent! Fries. Fresh. Hot. Crispy. Meat. The best comes as last. Beef. Tender. Juicy. Lightly salted. Finely sliced.

YES! I was a little skeptical, but must admit this is the best smoked meat I ever eaten. Considering the fact I am from Czech republic - the smoked meat country - this is an immense compliment. I do not complain anymore not to have a choice and know what I have next time - salami sandwich, coleslaw and peppers. Before I share my verdict I have one big Czech complaint - they do not serve bier here. Big, big mistake, for a Czech visitor it is a TRAGEDY. Beer will fit here perfect.

My rating - great place to have lunch, be careful with drink selection and I bet you will come back. I will.

Todays French word:

lunch - le déjeuner

First French Party

My Friend GI, together with her husband M, took me to a party on Saturday night. It was my first really French party. I do not count those on Tour de France. Those parties were too international (the entertainment) and too English (the language).

Leaving the home

The evening started very romantic with heavy snowfall. We drove to Montreal downtown. Return drive was much more exciting, but we will get to it later. 

The party was charitable dinner to support young rugby players. It is true the French know how to cook. The dish does not look like superb and delicious but it was. 

Duck, sausage, beans and vegetables. JUST DELICIOUS!!!

We bought some raffle tickets. There was just one - first prize - few hundreds Canadian dollars. Nobody from our group won, so I do not know how much exactly. Pity. I hoped to pay my French lessons from that money. Next time. I am happy I did something for talented Canadian rugby players. If the raffle would go for young Canadian hockey players, I would never support it. Guess why?

We had lots of fun on that evening - special thanks goes to F. French people are amazing. F reminded me of my colleague JLB.  

Our French friend F

Despite the fact everybody spoke only in French I was never bored.  Trying hard to catch at least some of the content. And I did! Listen is part of my study. This was very attractive ‘listening’ lesson.

GI, M and FJ

Way back home. As we came out from the restaurant, the streets we just white, everywhere piles of show. I am still getting used to drive the Canadian style. More about it in one of my next blogs. 

White beauty

We found our home. Good night. 

Todays French word:

listen - écouter