Montreal est Magnifique

So, on Friday morning, I headed to the airport to go from NYC to Montreal. (For some reason, the way I had booked the flights, I had a stopover in Philly...which took extra time, but whatever, I think it was cheaper.) When I got there around 5 pm it was SNOWING and I was incredibly excited. Of course, this meant it took extra time to get into Montreal, but it looked so beautiful I didn't really care. Also, I was amazed upon landing and realizing that this was literally the first time I have ever been to a country where there is another language spoken. And I guess Quebec is a good place to start because everything in French is also in English. It's so cool how basically everyone who works there (like at airports, restaurants, stores, etc.) has to be bilingual. And apparently they always speak in French first because English people don't get offended if you talk in French, but apparently French people get offended if you address them in English? Hahaha oh French people. I loved how all the menus and street signs and tourist descriptions were in French. I am way too embarrassed to speak it (it's been four years since I've had French class!), but I actually surprised myself with how much I understand through reading and listening to other people's conversations. So basically, I could just be a mute person who kind of understand what is going on.

Anyway, Larissa's apartment is RIGHT in the middle of the downtown area and her building basically looks like a hotel. (which is nothing less than I would expect from her, of course) She had this huge paper due at midnight (again, I felt so bad that I kept coming into people's lives when they had SO much work), but it was okay because her Russian boyfriend was there so I got to meet him and hang out with him for a few hours! He showed me around downtown a little (as in, for like 10 minutes because it was SO COLD I couldn't deal with it and we had to go and get coffee), and then when Larissa was done, she met up with us and I got to meet more of her Russian friends. I absolutely adore the life she has made for herself there, with all these people thoroughly involved with Middle Eastern and Russian studies. She and her boyfriend actually speak Russian at least 70 percent of the time, I would say. I am always in amazement at her fluency in like SEVEN different languages. We had an extremely funny time at her friends apartment talking till like three in the morning, and then of course Larissa and I had a ton to catch up on, so we were up ridiculously late.

So, that meant that we slept in KIND of a lot on Saturday morning, as in about 1 in the afternoon. I was a little upset because I really wanted to see the city, but it turns out it was so insanely cold that I really couldn't be out walking around for more than 10 or 15 minutes. I know, I am such a wimp when it comes to cold weather, but I seriously could not deal with it. And that's really too bad, because what I did see of the city, I absolutely loved. It is such an international place and seems so cultured and interesting, with tons of great stores and restaurants! We went to a bunch of designer places (it's what we do...haha), and she showed me the underground mall, which was INSANE (I would have gotten completely lost if it hadn't been for her), and we went in some beautiful jewelery stores. Then her boyfriend was nice enough to give us a long driving tour of parts of the city that were farther away. Obviously I love exploring cities on foot, but since that wasn't possible, this was clearly the next best option and it was SO sweet of him to drive us all around! I got to see the Plateau, which looked kind of like King Street in Sydney or even Old Town Alexandria here, and Old Montreal, which is full of these portly looking expensive restaurants, and this HUGE cathedral called St. Joseph's (it dominates part of the skyline). We drove across the bridge coming into Montreal and even though it was only about 5:00, it was basically completely dark, and the lights of the skyline were absolutely gorgeous. It got even better when we drove up the mountain in the middle of the city and got out of the car to see the city from above. Skylines at night are just so beautiful, especially at this time of year when there are many additional twinkling lights because of Christmas. Montreal has a huge spread and the entire city is just very elegant looking. (and they sure know how to decorate for the holidays, too!) We were able to spend a whole five minutes outside before dying of cold and getting back into the car...haha. Then we had this fantastic Russian dinner and I made MADELEINES afterwards because Larissa has a madeleine pan and I've never made them before. Yay for me obsessively baking in any kitchen I come across...haha. That night, I also got re-addicted to One Tree Hill, this old high school dramedy show that I started watching when I visited Riss in Scotland two years ago...oh no. I have a TV addiction problem.

Anyway, we woke up slightly early on Sunday morning (at like 11:30, wow), and went to these awesome little places just a short walk from her apartment. First, a little Persian Swiss bakery, then, a boulangerie (with the most incredible selection of breads and chocolates and cute baked things in general), and finally, Neuhaus chocolates, which was very exciting to me because my family is obsessed with them and I have never actually seen one of their stores before. (We just get boxes delivered for special occasions.) After that, she showed me part of the McGill campus and we met up with one of her friends for coffee. Even though I really don't drink coffee, I love the whole "getting coffee" mentality and Montreal definitely has that - it's just basically lingering with friends in a coffee shop for hours in the afternoon. So relaxing, and definitely a better alternative than strolling the streets when it is SUB ZERO weather. We looked around at stores a little more, and then I met up with Brendan for coffee (yes, I can do this several times a day, it's fun!), so it was great to catch up with him too. Then Larissa, The Russian (I am calling him that to make her happy), and I went out to dinner at the best sushi place in the city, which was AMAZING. Really expensive but so classy and totally worth it - I tried kobe beef for the first time and it was SO GOOD. After that, we went back to her apartment because I had some serious finishing of One Tree Hill Season 1 to do. To make a long story short, let's just say that like seven episodes and several hours of talking with Larissa later, we went to sleep. This was a really bad plan in retrospect but once I start watching, I can't stop, and then I can always talk for hours with Larissa, which is more fun than going to bed. :)

HOWEVER, the next day was the worst. Actually, it's kind of ludicrous, because EVERYTHING went wrong. Let me lay it out here:
7:45 - Sleep through alarm (probably because I went to bed like two hours before I had to wake up), am woken up Larissa. FRANTIC at the thought of missing my 9:30 flight, I am dressed and out the door in 5 minutes.
7:50 - We go outside to realize there is a FOOT of snow. We struggle through it until we reach a bigger road and hail down a taxi. The driver, EXTREMELY grumpily, agrees to take me to the airport.
7:50 - 8:15: Endure stopped traffic and driver's rants about how this is a waste of his time (French people can be NASTY!)
8:15: Dad calls - my flight is canceled.
8:30: Arrive at airport. Cab driver refuses to take my credit card even though he says he would and settles for 20 Canadian dollars and 25 American dollars instead. (Freak.)
9:00: After waiting in line for half an hour, get to check in counter and ask what they can do - they say I can go on a 2:20 flight. I am not satisfied and ask for other earlier options. They tell me to call customer service.
9:00 - 9:30: On phone (aka hold) with customer service. There are no other options.
9:30: Return to check in desk to get boarding pass. They are gone until 11:30.
9:30 - 11:30: Can not even get into airport. Wait. Read book.
11:30 - 12:00: Wait on line to get boarding pass for 2:20 flight. Realize I should have been at home in my house by now.
12:00 - 12:30: Wait to get through customs.
12:30 - 1:00: Line for security is long, too.
1:00: My gate is the farthest one away. Of course.
1:15: My flight is delayed until 3:15.
1:30: Depressed, I go to the bar and order a drink. It's my last brush with legality for a while, after all...haha. Everyone around me looks just as pissed off, which is somewhat comforting.
1:40: Back to feeling angry. Walk around trying to see if I could get on a flight leaving at 2:20 to go to National which is apparently NOT delayed. All airline staff have fled the scene and there is no one who can help me.
2:25: Flight to National leaves almost on time. I am still here.
2:30: Gate is changed for my flight - walk to a different location. See flight is now leaving at 4:00.
2:35: WANT TO GO BACK TO LARISSA'S.
3:00: Flight is delayed until 5:00.
3:00 - 4:30: Newspapers are done. Magazines are done. 400 page book is done. All music is listened to. All food at airport has been eaten. GO INSANE.
4:30: Board flight. Am so relieved to be on plane I fall asleep immediately.
6:00: Wake up to find out flight has JUST taken off.
7:00 - 7:20: Endure worst turbulence of my life as we CIRCLE AIMLESSLY around Dulles waiting to land.
8:00: Arrive home, EIGHT HOURS LATER THAN I SHOULD HAVE.

Yeah yeah, I'm over it now, but that was basically the most frustrating travel day of my life. I am definitely traveled out for right now and am really enjoying sitting around my house with no more important goals than updating this, watching TV, and cooking dinner for my family. :) But aside from that last day, Montreal was absolutely wonderful, and I hope to go back there when it is warmer so I can see even more of the city. THANK YOU Larissa for being a fantastic hostess and amazing person in general. :)

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