Well I am back in Canada - can you believe they could not get my brand new passport to "work". Their system would not accept it - finally they had to enter everything the long way. Other than that the trip back went smoothly. Oh well back in the True North Strong and Free anyway. French style that is.
The dorm is fine - I have a one bedroom apartment which is nice but no air conditioning so hoping for cool weather. It has cooled off so all the windows are open. I like the location. I stayed here in June 1993 with my niece who lived here while she was attending McGill. To be honest I can't remember too much about the trip - think my brain was fried as we had just done a whirlwind of Macca concerts and Montreal was my last stop on the way home. All I remember is the Atwater market, going to Le Monde an amusement park and Chan, my niece's pet rat. Oh what a sweetie he was. I remember buying some dolly mixture candy and did not like it so put it on the coffee table. Chan kept coming and grabbing one and looking around like he could not believe his luck and someone was going to grab it from him - then dashing off to hide them in his stash behind a chair. Also him running around in the stacks of beer bottles. :) At first his long tail made me a bit squeamish when he ran over me but I got used to it. I love rodents.
Anyway I digress as usual...I was able to get a weekend pass on the metro for $16 - the gal at the ticket booth was sweet and told me to get that and it's been well used already. I stashed my stuff here then jumped the metro to St. Catherine and Metcalfe - got some odd directions but figured it out myself. Went to Dunns for a smoked meat sandwich - a specific request from my cousin Joanne. There you go Joanne! What can I say I will go the extra mile for my family. It was a real sacrifice. :) I am supposed to have a piece of cheesecake there too but sorry Joanne could not do both at the same time - I am greedy but not that greedy it turns out - but I will try to get back there.
Popped into HMV and I was a naughty girl...I will say no more...it's not like there isn't an HMV in Regina....sigh....
Picked up a small guide book on Montreal in Chapters as I realize I don't have a map and could not find any tourist info open. I like to read detail of the places I am seeing anyway so this will be good to keep.
Back on the metro and walked over to the Atwater market (a 5 minute walk from here) that was closing up but I did get a container of cut up papaya - will have some when I get back to the room. Can you believe I walked into bakeries and chocolate shops and walked out again with nothing? I must be getting sick!
No internet in the room but there is a computer lab (generous word...two computers that are ancient) on the floor below me.
I am excited to start exploring Montreal tomorrow. I had hoped to start at the market with a coffee and croissant but it doesn't open until 8:30 - much too late for me!!! I hope to do a 10km walk in Old Montreal. And go from there...rain is forecast for the weekend so we shall see how that goes. It is supposed to be cool so that's good.
There does not seem to be many people about so it is very quiet. I hope it's not too lonely but I won't be here too much anyway. Anyway my own bathroom and it is bigger and newer than mine at home so it's all good. Just have to go up and make my bed - they charged me ten dollars for the sheets. That is a first but oh well. For $55 a night I won't complain. (too much)
Anyway guess I should go up to my room and start unpacking and read the Montreal Gazette (to see what's on this weekend), drink water and eat my papaya!!!
The dorm is fine - I have a one bedroom apartment which is nice but no air conditioning so hoping for cool weather. It has cooled off so all the windows are open. I like the location. I stayed here in June 1993 with my niece who lived here while she was attending McGill. To be honest I can't remember too much about the trip - think my brain was fried as we had just done a whirlwind of Macca concerts and Montreal was my last stop on the way home. All I remember is the Atwater market, going to Le Monde an amusement park and Chan, my niece's pet rat. Oh what a sweetie he was. I remember buying some dolly mixture candy and did not like it so put it on the coffee table. Chan kept coming and grabbing one and looking around like he could not believe his luck and someone was going to grab it from him - then dashing off to hide them in his stash behind a chair. Also him running around in the stacks of beer bottles. :) At first his long tail made me a bit squeamish when he ran over me but I got used to it. I love rodents.
Anyway I digress as usual...I was able to get a weekend pass on the metro for $16 - the gal at the ticket booth was sweet and told me to get that and it's been well used already. I stashed my stuff here then jumped the metro to St. Catherine and Metcalfe - got some odd directions but figured it out myself. Went to Dunns for a smoked meat sandwich - a specific request from my cousin Joanne. There you go Joanne! What can I say I will go the extra mile for my family. It was a real sacrifice. :) I am supposed to have a piece of cheesecake there too but sorry Joanne could not do both at the same time - I am greedy but not that greedy it turns out - but I will try to get back there.
Popped into HMV and I was a naughty girl...I will say no more...it's not like there isn't an HMV in Regina....sigh....
Picked up a small guide book on Montreal in Chapters as I realize I don't have a map and could not find any tourist info open. I like to read detail of the places I am seeing anyway so this will be good to keep.
Back on the metro and walked over to the Atwater market (a 5 minute walk from here) that was closing up but I did get a container of cut up papaya - will have some when I get back to the room. Can you believe I walked into bakeries and chocolate shops and walked out again with nothing? I must be getting sick!
No internet in the room but there is a computer lab (generous word...two computers that are ancient) on the floor below me.
I am excited to start exploring Montreal tomorrow. I had hoped to start at the market with a coffee and croissant but it doesn't open until 8:30 - much too late for me!!! I hope to do a 10km walk in Old Montreal. And go from there...rain is forecast for the weekend so we shall see how that goes. It is supposed to be cool so that's good.
There does not seem to be many people about so it is very quiet. I hope it's not too lonely but I won't be here too much anyway. Anyway my own bathroom and it is bigger and newer than mine at home so it's all good. Just have to go up and make my bed - they charged me ten dollars for the sheets. That is a first but oh well. For $55 a night I won't complain. (too much)
Anyway guess I should go up to my room and start unpacking and read the Montreal Gazette (to see what's on this weekend), drink water and eat my papaya!!!
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