Lately, Austin's been into things that are from the 'olden days', things like old radios and turntables, old coffee grinders, old anything! This all stemmed from an afternoon spent at my uncle's house when Austin asked about the table under the phone and my uncle proceeded to show him that and other things that he dug out of nooks and crannies in his home. It was a great afternoon of wonder and inquisitiveness for Austin and it also sparked a desire in him to classify things in his everyday life as either modern or from the olden days.
So when a few weekends ago we saw that there was an 18th Century Market being held in the Old Montreal part of town, with artisans showing off their wares and produce, we headed over to see and we weren't disappointed. There were people dressed in period costume, and people selling regional produce, including a pine tree beer which was very interesting and probably not something we'll go back for too soon!
It was very nice walking around at a leisurely pace, stopping here and there to watch people making different things from the 'olden days'. Austin was particularly intrigued with the lady weaving the chair seat. We stood for nearly half an hour near the chair lady and she'd still only woven the first third of the seat. Whenever someone asked her how long it took her to make a chair, she'd answer 'depends how much I'm chatting with the other women'! But I'm guessing that it would take her at least a couple of hours to finish a chair, and that's just the seat. Festivals like these are good reminders of what things used to be like and how much time everything used to take.
Other artisans we saw were the weaving ladies, very delicate and detailed work; the silver spoon man, melting silver in his oven and pouring it into the mould then separating the two pieces and producing a spoon (reminded me of my dad melting lead when I was a child, to make sinkers for his fishing expeditions!); and the potter was pretty cool with his foot pedal turntable. Musicians wandered around the stalls playing traditional Quebécois music and acting out mini scenes with other people dressed up who were obviously in on the act! We tried some freshly squeezed raspberry juice and watched the children's game of collecting the corn ears in a basket on their backs. Austin would have had a go except that it was really hot and he couldn't wait in the line long enough!
All in all, this was a wonderful insight into 18th Century Montreal and its life.
All in all, this was a wonderful insight into 18th Century Montreal and its life.