Archive for the ‘old people’ tag
Big Hair, Little Jamaica
(2 votes, average: 3 out of 5)While in Montréal last weekend, I was able to find a local barbershop and pay a measly $7 for a haircut. Glad of the trim, I felt refreshed against the humid summer heat even though, I continued to be curious of how it may have turned out had I left it to grow out like an afro. My musings ended quickly when I passed a dark-skinned man with an afro, silhouetted against the rising backdrop of the Montréal Biosphere. I then realized I could never duplicate a mane like that one.
More recently, while out for a few after-work drinks on Friday, I found myself losing track of time and missing the last GO bus home. As people parted ways, I remained in the company of my friend Dinesh. He kindly offered his couch and we ended up taking a cab back to Rogers and Oakwood, better known to locals as Little Jamaica.
As most inner-city neighbourhoods, the streets appeared deserted and slightly eerie after midnight. With distant sirens reaching our ears, and occasional cabs zipping by as to quickly come in and out of the area, Dinesh assured me that I’d be fine if I stuck with him. Then he proceeded to recount the times when he’d been thrown through store windows during a street fight. Suddenly, the shadows in the alleys that appeared playful at first, now seemed to loom over us with hatchets and knives.
With only a few remaining bars still open, we went to his local pub to close out the night. At the bar, we were greeted with a broad spectrum of characters. The place was empty, save a few patrons. As you walked through the door, the dark green marble-topped bar ran alongside the left-hand side. The place itself was cozy and ran long and narrow. Halfway down as you walked through the pub, a more spacious area opened up with some nondescript plastic tables and chairs. At the back, two large black speakers sang out a melody of island tracks.
