Montreal

I started today by going to get Fairmont Bagels. Really really good and cheap. Lonely Planet tourbooks are great and one of my fellow couchsurfers Lisa (Marylin had multiple surfers, 4 of us total on Sunday night) has one. I had an avocado still so I invented Avocado Breakfast Spread, which is avocado with milk and sugar. I think melted cream cheese could do a better job, but it was really good. Try it! put a heaped teaspoon and a tablespoon of milk (or try the cream cheese) in an avocado half and then mash it all up. Later I walked through town and I toured the Notre Dame Basilique which is unique for a million reasons but significantly because its stained glass is all depictions of the founding of Montreal. About 50 times as opulent as the one in Guadalajara and with a deep blue and gold theme going on. Linoleum floors to top it off. Also, got to the river about a day after the Irish Navy's flagship vessel, the 'Eithne 'pulled in and they were giving free tours of the ship. It was decidedly unimpressive, nothing like the movies. Then walked back through Chinatown, bought a deliciously perfectly ripe mango for 99cents, packed Gretchen and rode up to Mont Royal, a park that covers the top of the mountain overlooking the city. Hiked up to the summit and it was breathtaking. Like if the Sears Tower was free and its top floor a forest. Anyway, every night I'm so tired I sleep like a baby. I've been spending an average of $40 a day, usually half of that goes to buying communal food or paying for something for my host(ess), or on a travel day, gas. Gas is about 1.03 per liter here, which makes it sound really cheap, but I notice filling my bike costs the same as it would in the US, so it's probably about the same. I am looking forward to stopping somewhere and doing nothing but sort through the things I've collected and photographed and learned so far... I can't believe I've only been gone a week. I spent the night at the debut performance of a French artist studying in Canada with a fellowship that pays her a salary and provided an entire house right downtown to develop this modern dance performance. SHe's got a real presence. I also learned how to play a Vietnamese juice harp, which is a sliver of thin metal cut to have that twang thing. Much more difficult, but it had a hightly decorated little tube it fit into and could be tied to have a loop to carry or hang it by.
My host, Baptou, is a French guy who's been here since January. He works at Montreal's largest bakery and keeps all his friends (including me) eating the finest bread in town. Sweet deal. He's also studying massage, running free laughter workshops , and playing drums at this Sunday thing called 'Tam Tam Jam' Parc Mont-Royal, a block from my host's house. All kinds of people are there to watch or play or dance, I was dancing next to a *really* old woman with finger cymbals and a gold suit.
Tomorrow I'm leaving for Quebec City where I'll be staying with a PhD Chemistry student!
Everyone at SteriPro, I have enlightened many many people I meet and talk to about the existence and purpose of Sterigenics. Obviously most are impressed by the spices or tattoo ink, but it's a good thing nonetheless! I have nothing but good things to say about you guys and our work.

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