A bunch of cars going round in circles... or so they say...

Yup, that's right... my first blog if this trip is about the Grand Prix. Did anyone really expect anything else? I mean I've planned this trip to coincide with the race...

So anyways, for anyone wanting to read about how much I love Montreal... well they'll have to wait until the next instalment.

I've spent the last 3 days sitting on the most uncomfortable sheet of metal surrounded by beer-swigging, vocal canadians... and it's been awesome. Ok at times I've wished that my bum was bigger or more padded as those grand-stands were horrendous. But it's been worth every bum-numbing minute of it.

It rained on Friday, which was just pants. It meant that by 10:30, most people were well into their first six-pack of beer. I on the other had had eaten half a jumbo pack of Morrisons Fruit Pastilles (not a patch on the real thing). To make matters worse, Fernando Alonso (my driver) was having a day to forget. Then just as the session drew to a close and the sun started to come out, Jenson Button's Barmy Army (all 2 of them) introduced themselves and their bed sheet of a flag to our grandstand... apparently once most people have got enough beer inside them, English football chants are quite appealing...

Saturday was the complete opposite to Friday. It was beautifully sunny (enough so for me to whack on the factor 30). The sun meant people were drinking less and everyone was was happy. Even the Barmy Army were at their tuneful best, despite their guy being 19th (out of 20).

However, Sunday was what it was all about. It was even more hot than Saturday (I think it got as high as 34, and was very humid) which doesn't make for comfortable-ness when you're packed like sardines into the grandstand. And little old me was stuck between to giant male specimens, so every time they stood up, I had to stand up to not feel too much like a dwarf! I'm not going to bore everyone with the results and a lap-by-lap commentary. Those who watched the race will be able to guess my joy and glee (yes, I just said glee) when Loser Hamilton ballsed up big-style in the pits (hello? Red light means stop?!) Then my race took a big down-turn when Fernando spun out of a podium place... But it was still brilliant. And I was so glad both for Kubica and DC.
The best bit about the day tho, was the track invasion afterwards. I was walking on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. A circuit that I've loved for as long as possible. I got to see the hallowed Salut Gilles on the start-finish line. I got to see the pits. It was a life-long ambition accomplished.

And the good thing about it all, is there is no antic-climatic feeling of "what to do now?" I've got one full day left in Montreal and I intend to become a super -tourist (sun-burn and aching feet aside - yes, I got burnt on Sunday...)

What I have loved about Montreal tho, is the whole town lives the Grand Prix. The whole weekend is a massive tourist attraction. Major streets are closed off to showcase Super Cars that you can touch and sit in as well as fotograph, or just to have scantily clad women wondering around enticing people to look at some Honda Civic. Even the window displays of the shops in the Downtown area have a competition for the best dressed with a F1 theme.... I've seen clothes shops with signed Michael Schumacher helmets... Show shops with model Ferraris dangling on wire.

This is a town that loves F1 and all the spectacle that goes with it. And that is why I came here... and will one day return... to see another race!!

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