Montreal and Onwards

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Montreal was a cool but a bit strange as everyone speaks French (as they do throughout province of Quebec) as a first language and all the signs are in French but it looks like any other Canadian city.

A group of girls from the UK that we had met in Ottawa were staying in the same hostel as us in Montreal so we all went for a night out in the famous party city (or so it is called). Was a good night in Montréal which started a period of random events including meeting a guy wandering around with a potato masher in the early hours of the morning, nice guy tho and showed us to a 24 hour coffee shop and a couple of Canadian sailors who were doing Russian dancing for us.

Next day we joined up with Janie, Sally, Sarah and Haley to look around Montreal, did a walking tour (nice job with the tour guiding Janie- thanks) of the old districts, and checked out the Chinese quarter and the Latin Quarter, including ice cream and pub stops. In evening walked up to the lookout area on a hill in the park to get great views of the sunset and Montreal by night, definitely worth the walk, hope the girls appreciated being dragged up there.

Also went to see and NHL hockey game between Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins, great experience with good atmosphere (hairs on neck standing up at start when players all emerged to a big light show). Unfortunately the Canadiens couldn’t score very well so got stuffed 4 or 5 - 2.

Also went to the Circuit de Gilles Villenuve, the track used for the Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix, which as an F1 fan was really cool. Track is open to public to drive around slowly or rollerblade or walk. Owen and I walked the whole track and climbed all around the pits - pit walls, garages, podiums etc, so 2 cool sporting experiences in 2 days, fond memories of Montreal.

Next stop was Quebec City, as Janie had to fly home from Montreal, the girls had space in their hire car and offered us a lift, made a very nice change from the greyhound bus, and they didn’t get lost now with the superior welsh navigation skills (only joking girls).

We stayed the old walled city which has all the defences to keep out the English /French / Americans depending on which part of history you are looking at! It is a very European city in the old part and could easily be a small town in France. Did the obligatory tourist stuff and a small walking tour again, we were getting good at these tours! Also had a bit of a competition to photograph weird people as we seemed to be noticing quite a few of them. Think that the welsh boys were probably the better at this in the long run, although the girls got the jump on us early on…. (What do you reckon Sal, Sarah and Haley?)

Had to part company with the girls here as we needed to get on an overnight bus to New York City, sad to be leaving as had had a really cool time with Janie, Sal, Sarah and Haley (thanks for making my Canada trip even better), but hopefully see them again.

Overnight bus rides are not fun, but at least didn’t have to pay for a hostel I suppose. Anyway arrived a little jaded in NYC the next morning. But that will have to wait till next time.

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Photos

Boys at the hockey
Proper Canadian night at the hockey

Circuit de Gilles Villenueve
Great day out for an F1 fan like me!!

Hockey night
Trying my hand at sports photography!!

lunching with the girls
doing lunch in Montreal

most photographed hotel in world
In Quebec city, apparently it's true.. didn't stay here tho.

Comments

[Sally]

tours
Glad you recognised our superior tour guiding skills. Anyone that reads the bits about our weirdo watch I think are going to be classing us int that category!