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From the docks.
The imposing Chateaux Frontenac as seen from the vieux ports. After 60 out of 72 hours in either an airport or on an aeroplane, I landed in Montreal, Quebec exhausted, sick and glad to be back on Canadian soil. Of course, coming into Canada is never simple for me. Every time I have entered this country through an airport I have been searched. This time was no different, and while everyone else passes through the final check unscathed, I now just go straight for the side door where the room lined with one-way mirrors and filled with searching counters exists. Surprisingly the people who actually do the searching are always so much more friendly than those at the counter who you first talk to (for most people it is the only people you talk to). And as always, they find nothing and the only thing that I lose out on is usually an hour of my time.
It seems odd to me that now that I am finally back, more so than I was abroad, I notice the differences between Canada and the rest of the world. For example, just leaving an airport in Canada is quite different from most of other places. There are no touts to confront
Guilt Trip
Perhaps the best ad I've ever seen. 'He's already given' so buck up is the essence of this one. you and scam you out of your money, or hotel operators offering free rides into the city as long as you 'look at' their place. Instead there is a much more calm and nice method: an information desk where the girl does not receive commission. I asked the lady what the different options of getting to a metro station were and she quickly gave me the full array of options available to me. I opted for the express bus, which although was a bit expensive, got me quickly to the center of downtown and a metro station. Despite some rather awkward instructions I was able to find my way to Marrisa's 'apartment' in downtown Montreal. I say 'apartment' because unlike Vancouver where apartments exist in rather large complexes, Montreal has very few high rises compared to Vancouver and most apartments are in hundred year old 3 storey duplexes that have been turned into 6 apartments. That combined with many of the other old buildings and old architecture left over from the early days of Canada, and the churches that look more like they should be in France than Canada, give Montreal an awesome atmosphere.
After having one of those
Hockey!!!
The night of the last game we won... things people call a shower and taking a good three hour nap Marissa and Colleen came home to collect Breanna (their friend from T.) and I and head to the Nucks game before checking out the much famed Montreal night life. I was absolutely elated to finally be able to watch a Canucks game, especially a playoff one. Helped by a stag party the bar was nearly packed with Nuck fans cheering on their team. The beers flowed easily and I experienced perhaps the most stressful 3 hours of my entire trip. The high and lows of watching playoff hockey are simply uncomparablem and it was heart-wrenching to see them lose on Thursday night. The people of Montreal have been super supportive, and the security man at the bar even ran down the street to bring us back and give us free consiliatory beers.
Aside from enjoying the night-life of Montreal, which is lives up to all the hype, and trying to figure out why I am light-headed all the time, I also managed to get up to Quebec city one weekend with my friend Marissa. Although I have already been to Quebec, it was some time ago and
Nuck Fans
Marissa, Breanna, Ian a lot of it was not like how I remembered: there was no staying at the Chateaux-Frontenac with free minutes of porn movies (how they let us stay there I have no idea), the arcade on the main street was no longer there, and neither was the porn shop around the corner that so many of us on our grade 7 trip got kicked out of. No, this time there was none of that, I am more able to enjoy the sites, and we had the liberty to go where we wanted when we wanted. Encompassed in walls, with 100-200 year old European looking buildings, there is little else filled with as much history or similar in appearance to vieux Quebec city. Walls, cannons, and statues galore of important Canadians make the city a good place to visit for men. And for the women there are tons of cute shops and little restaurants. For both sexes is the ability to buy good wines (and other liquors) and cheese everywhere and anywhere like the rest of the world. Which leaves me questioning our archaic, paranoid? practice in British Columbia.
Not surprisingly there is a heavy tourist infrastructure set-up that unlike
Road trip...
Weird to be driving again. elsewhere is honest, helpful and friendly. Given my built-up skepticism from traveling, it must have been quite annoying for Marissa for me to always have to confirm something with another source. For example, when we tried to get into the Citadel, a lovely Quebec girl (the girls in Quebec are very good looking) approached us and explained that since it is an active military base we need to take a guided-tour, which not surprisingly costs $10 per person. RRrrrriiiiigggghhhhhhhhtttt! Heard that one before. I went to the tourist information center who confirmed her nonsense but decided against going anyway given the cost.
So far Montreal and Quebec have lived up to all the expectations I had before coming here. However, while I had heard good things about Montreal and Quebec, I did expect to meet more of the separatists and see more Canadian flag burning. Instead, the people have been super friendly, and Montreal and Quebec city seem to be far more patriotic than the people from Vancouver. I find myself easily attracted to the prospect of living here and am glad that I recommended it as a place to visit to other travelers whom I met on the
Defense
Either these canons, or canons like these saved Canada a couple times from those pesky neighbours in the south. road. It is definately worth a visit sooner rather than later.
Other things that I have been getting used to are regular toilets, regular showers with hot water, a wide range of food options and tipping. Given the high number of bistros, cafes and little restaurants in both Montreal and Quebec it is no wonder that we have gone out quite a bit. And with any service, North Americans, and mainly North Americans tip. So while I have been suggesting leaving 5-10% as quite a generous tip, in more cases than not, it ends up being a 15% tip, and once even 20%. Crazy world we live in. That and all the freakin taxes. O Canada, I love ya!
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Gerry Lush
non-member comment
Welcome home!
Hey, Ryan, glad you made it back after more than 19 months away. Quite the adventure, and quite the adventurer! We'll look forward to your "official" return to Lotusland on the west coast soon. - Gerry