Hey everyone, how’s your quarantine going? Within the matter of a week, my life and the life of many changed drastically. The novel coronavirus pandemic has called for drastic actions including self-isolation and social distancing, working from home (if you’re lucky enough, like me, to still have a job), and an ever evolving news cycle. As I’m sure many can attest the same, it’s been a tough transition. The constant change – in the number of cases that constantly rises, in how we interact with others, what’s allowed and what’s frowned upon, the economy and the effect on employment – has my anxiety levels at all time highs. It’s coupled with a general “meh” feeling, which includes being bummed out about cancelled trips, no longer having my weekly hot yoga classes, and cabin fever. So, yes, it’s been tough. The goals we all set for 2020 may be side tracked while we all work on doing what’s needed for the greater good.
This isn’t how I normally start my blog posts – I like to dive right into the topic at hand. But I will leave this intro with this quote:
We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
Joseph Campbell
I found this quote when I created my vision board for 2019, and found myself coming back to it so many times during times of uncertainty and difficulty. We all plan for the future but when things do not pan out, take solace in that what is waiting ahead for us may be bigger and better than we ever dreamed.
And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Last month, I took a mini solo trip up north to Montreal. Many thought I was absolutely out of my mind to visit a city (and country) I have never been to, alone, during the coldest time of the year. During a time that felt like ages ago, I was determined to discover a new place, and as a single female approaching 30, I sure was not going to spend it alone in my apartment during Valentine’s Day weekend. So I hopped on a Greyhound and made the trek to the land of maple syrup.
Montreal in February is snowy, freezing, and yet still has so much to offer. Here’s a quick guide for a few of the notable places and things to consider when traveling to Montreal
Getting Around
As a native New Yorker who – gasp – doesn’t drive, I always take into consideration how I will be getting around when traveling. Luckily, Montreal offers a robust and affordable public transit system that’s easy to ride. Much like NYC and Paris, the Montreal Metro is the preferred method to get around the Canadian city. For my weekend trip, I purchased a 30 CAD weekend pass which covered my commute from Friday to Sunday. I also used the CityMapper app to guide me throughout my commute.
Vintage Shopping
The vintage shopping in Montreal was ON POINT. Again, I was only there for a short time, but I did make sure to visit two notable shops in Montreal. Upon a return visit in the future, I hope to discover even more!
Annex Vintage: This small shop has a lot of offer from vintage clothing, to candles, jewelry, and other home knick-knacks. Here I found an amazing pair of vintage Lee’s bootcut jeans that I have already worn countless times.
Eva B’s: Essentially a vintage shopping institution in Montreal, Eva B’s is where you go for an extensive selection of affordable clothing, shoes, and even food. I was welcomed with a warm cider, much needed after the frigid 10 minute walk from the Metro station. I spent a long time here digging through the racks, and leaving with a pair of Stuart Weitzman heels for 10 CAD, a vintage men’s blazer that I wore belted, a fantastic suede jacket that I will now wear on short walks, another pair of shoes, and lastly a woven clutch. Altogether, this was less than 100 CAD – a HUGE bargain!
Notable Sites
Imagine Van Gogh: The immersive experience was one of the BEST I visited. I love Van Gogh’s art. This experience animated his art on large projecting screens with added music that really helped you “feel” the art. A temporary exhibit, I couldn’t have imagined not checking this one out!
Musée d’art contemporain: This place was a TRIP. Firstly, I love how cart has moved into the future – digitized, curated video footage, taking interesting perspectives at the mundane and at what’s culturally relevant. Sometimes disturbing, many times cool, I truly enjoyed this modern art museum.
Musée des Beaux-Arts: A Montreal staple, this is a must visit for anyone going to Montreal. I particularly enjoyed the Egyptian Mummies exhibition, which gave a detailed perspective on the possible lives of several mummies and the mummification process over time. It was really cool and interesting to see how memorializing death has changed with time and the influence of culture.
And finally… HAVE POUTINE. I visited the city’s staple, La Banquise, for the amazing medley of fries, gravy, cheese curds, and toppings to the extent of your heart’s desire.
I realize this post may seem untimely, but I hope this brings you some respite from what seems to be keeping our minds preoccupied lately. Here’s to sticking it out, and still keeping your travel dreams alive. Hang in there… We’re all in this together.
Finally…
Help me support small, local businesses! While I will usually link my items using the neat tools of RewardStyle, now more than ever I want to support the shops that I so dearly love in NYC. They all had the dream of being their own boss and sharing their love of vintage clothing. So while I will still link a few mass retail at the end of this post in consideration of varied sizing, here are a few places where you can find items to recreate the look:
- Statement black blouse via the Etsy shop by IG account @smallneeds
- Leather pants, available on Chess and the Sphinx for just $60
- Vintage baguette bag found at Thrilling
- Lace up boots found at Mirth Vintage
Photography by @marinegibert_photographer