I've got a pocket full of sunshine...

I have had a somewhat busy week and have been terrible and writing this up; which always leads me to forgetting the crucial things I have done, people I've met and places I've seen. As I write this I am the coach from Montreal to Quebec City so this seems the perfect time to sit and write about my time in Montreal. Now we all know I wasn't really that big a fan of this big sprawling, culturally confused and architecturally clashing city but it has definitely grown on me. I'm not saying I wish I had stayed there, 8 days is more than enough, I was discussing with another girl (who I am now traveling with) that by day 8 we had seemed to run out of things to do, we had visited most museums (some good, some, well, bad) art galleries, churches and other tourist spots in the city. By far my best experience of this city would be the gorgeous Vieux Montreal; worth every word that is written about it. Now it's mostly just a little square with restaurants, cafes and shops looking out onto to the water to the East and onto Nelson's column to the West (which pre-dates Trafalgar I am told) It is this quaint, unassuming square with its little Church tucked around the corner that I fell in love with. The cobbled streets and cafes on the pavement - so typically European. I think I may have spent too much time in Europe and am far too used to and expectant of these kind of surroundings.
Another place I have to mention is the Marche Jean Talon in Little Italy, a ride on the metro takes you into the most glorious explosions of colours, tastes and sounds. It reminded me of all those times I used to go to the market in Ecuador; everyone hustling and bustling about - the best fruits, vegetables and flowers all artfully arranged and samples always at the ready. We walked around for an hour or so just taking it all in, munching on fresh pineapple and watching everyone go about their business. We sat on the sidewalk and enjoyed a kebab while attempting to tan and failing to take sly photos of interesting passers by.
Montreal is also home to a Biodome which reminds me of Edinburgh Botanical Gardens (going through all the climates etc) but with animals, I have to say that the Biodome was one of my favourite attractions in Montreal. I feel this is mainly due to the penguins that occupied my time and attention for a good half hour.
The sun really does show another side of a city, it hides all the blemishes and highlights the beauty; you can never dislike a place in the sunshine. Having wondered around Montreal in the pouring rain and in the warm sunshine I can see how people can go for a visit and stay for awhile. And yet I am glad to be leaving; new city, new people and many more things to see!

Rain, Rain Go Away!

It was a non-stop rain day yesterday; luckily my jeans have dried out and are now ready for round two as yes, it is still raining. I'm actually starting to resent this rain, it makes everything so dreary and depressing. Walking around the city everything is grey, damp and the clouds add this sense of foreboding especially when you find yourself in a strange part of the city where the only sounds are sirens!
Fortunately I chose yesterday to go and have a little wander around the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts which not only had a China exhibition (with items from the famous Terracotta Army) but a Napoleon one as well. Now anyone who knows me knows by strange love of Napoleon, not of his campaigns but of him personally, so I found myself in my element as the exhibition was primarily his personal effects including, a rather creepy, death mask. Unfortunately it was not quite as large as any French collection but big enough to keep me occupied. It was then onto the Terracotta Army which I have always wanted to see, it was in the UK for a bit but I refused to pay the high price they were charging (12CAN$ seemed a good price) and so was quite delighted when I saw it had come to Montreal. It didn't take too long to get around and despite being somewhat busy was easy to take my time and study pieces and have a little watch of the videos etc It was impressive but I can imagine not nearly as impressive as seeing the whole thing laid before you as it was meant to be in China. There was something lacking about seeing the individual statues instead of the whole formation and made me want to go out and see the whole thing even more!
The Museum also holds a permanent collection of contemporary art - Monet, Degas, Renoir which I love and then the Picasso's and the Joan Miro's which I still do not understand! To me a painting has to evoke something and Picasso and Miro merely evoke irritation in that I fail to see skill or recognise talent - don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I could do better and I know that i sound like someone from the Stone Age with opinions on art but I am an impressionist fan, not a surrealist one. As for the statement "the world is blue like an orange" really? Really, we're going to go down that road? I feel some artists just do things to see how far the boundaries of art can be pushed; it is not for the love of the art but for the attention, the controversy and that to me is a waste of time, and with some people, talent. In the end though, it is all in the eye of the beholder and I am no more qualified to pass judgment than the next Joe on the street!
After my half day in the gallery I went for a little wander about the city, just to have to discover what is around where I am staying and quite a bit actually, few shops, cafe's, restaurants, bars so enough to keep me fairly occupied really. When I came back to the hostel a few new people were moving in so we got chatting and then decided to take another exploratory walk around, this time all the way down to the East of the city, almost to the sea but not quite. It was good to see other parts, to get a little bit lost and discover new places.

Ken what a'mean jellybean?!

I do not deal well with time zones. Not only do the confuse me and make me tired and even more irritable than useful but when they make you stay awake for almost 24 hours it makes me want to cry. I liked that I gained time back but my body has refused to play along and acknowledge we're now on Montreal time (which by the way is 5 hours behind the UK) So I got into Montreal at 8pm last night (Canada time) and got to the Hostel about 9, then I had a little organise and a chill in bed with my book and eventually fell asleep about 11pm. Which is what, 3am, UK time? I did have to deal with what had to be the nosiest girls ever though, it wasn't that they were talking - someone was setting her watch which involved a lot of beeping, someone else was playing with a map which was just irritating and then there were the two girls attempting to re-pack their cases and leave quietly, they weren't so quite. Fortunately they kept me awake that little bit longer thought which I thought would work but no, I woke up at 5am (Canada time) this morning, I attempted to get back to sleep but had to give up by half past and was wondering about downstairs at 5.45, read some of my book and then decided enough was enough and went to shower and dress and was back down again for 7am.
Montreal strikes me as a city that is very unsure of its identity; yes it is predominantly French (which I had not realised) yet the architecture is a miss-match of European, Colonial and even the occasional Edwardian/Georgian style house. There is also the horrific "modern" selection, a combination of 1960's concrete 'pre-fabs' and 1980's fashion - big, bold and totally over-rated. It seems to be such a lost city, the roads sides and city layout is reminiscent of sprawling US towns yet all the sign posts are in French and coming from the airport felt like driving through Marseilles when I fly to there; the signage, the feeling of being totally outside the city, the derelict buildings and concrete everywhere. Don't get me wrong it has some incredibly beautiful buildings, the Churches mainly but some exceptional houses up by Mount Royal. The Basilique Notre-Dame de Montreal has the most beautiful interior I have ever seen, quintessentially European yet the exterior does nothing to rival the Notre Dame in Paris. The Church on the Mount Royal (I didn't catch it's name) is quite glorious and I imagine in the sun it would be even better! Also we are no longer called 'British', we are now 'English' and 'Scottish' when speaking about British Rule; it amazed me how many 'Scotia' and 'Ecosse' banks/buildings I came across and then of course 'Queen Elizabeth' this and 'Queen Victoria' all wrapped up in this French speaking, American feeling city.
I did take time to visit the Notre Dame de Montreal and did not regret it, although I did resent the $5 entry fee (pay, to enter a Church?!) I did commit the ultimate sin and photographed the alter. I have never, ever photographed the inside on a Church and find those that do totally inappropriate but it was just so beautiful I couldn't resist. Then the part of me that grew up in a Christian home and attended Church felt so incredibly guilty (please bare in mind I have no strong feelings towards God, I am inclined to believe we are alone in the world) that I went and had a little sit down in the "prayer only" room, made my apologies and then paid $1 (actually I think it was $2, these coins are confusing) to St. Jude who for seem reason I remember being the patron saint of lost causes which I thought was somewhat appropriate.
I managed to stay nice and dry most of the day until the downpour started at 1pm and has yet to ease yet 4 hours later. I decided as it was raining to explore this 'underground city' I have heard so much about, thinking there would be a few shops at basement level my jaw nearly dropped as I realised the extent to which this 'shopping centre' spread underneath Montreal. Most likely I could spend the whole day there but would most definitely get lost; i was very proud that I managed to get myself back all in one piece! Now just for the rain to stop!

The Final Countdown

As I write this it is 31 hours until I board my plane; everyone keeps asking me if I'm excited but I think at this stage I am beyond excitement and just want to get going. The hassle over the past few weeks to get all the "little things" sorted has worn me out. I am currently on hold with Santander, the most irritating bank in the world, as they attempt to make a record of the fact I will no longer be in the country. At this point I feel I would rather pay the charges than have to have one more phone conversation with these people. I have just had to give the same information twice, tell the guy how to spell Canada and discovered that every three months I will have to phone them and tell them that yes, I am abroad, and yes I would like to extend this notice and I can apparently only ever have a note of three countries at once that I'm planning to visit. Well that should be fun as I travel around South America. Excellent... With Lloyds I rang up, told them I was away until 2013, told them where I was going and that was it, done and then he wished me a pleasant day and to have a lovely time. Now that is good banking. Plus I do love Lloyds for giving me a nice £3000 overdraft, the worlds friendliest, most helpful bank and then Santander... The differences are astounding! And I have also discoverd that to gain the "zero" benefits I have to have two DD from my account, ah yes, brilliant, not left that until the last second or anything have I?!
But that really brings me up to date with everything and all that is left to do is to have one final re-pack and check of the old back-pack, sort the papers I've just printed off and arrange the "day-bag". (and sort the DD!)
Today we are having lunch with the grandparents, visiting my childhood haunts and J.C says she has a surprise for me, which I am quite excited about, apparently a view not to be missed, she knows how I like the views!
I have been in contact with a couple whom I met a good few years ago (we're talking at least 6) in Morocco who live in Canada now - talk about the strangest of circumstances! They have been kind enough to give me pointers and offer me some company when I go a little stir-crazy and I am so grateful. It has been brilliant hearing from people and lovely that they are so welcoming and soooo helpful. A girl I met in Barcelona now lives in Hawaii and has offered to show me around and take a snorkelling trip with me when I eventually get out there, a woman who worked with my Dad and I haven't seen since I was two has given me her address and said to "pop round" while I'm in California, It is incredible the amount of people willing to help you out while you are away from home, despite not having been in touch for a long time. I think that's what's making me look forward to this trip, (obviously I am looking forward to it but this is like the icing on the cake) that all these people would make this effort for me, it's good to be loved :D
Right, enough procrastinating - organising time (or should I say re-organsing time!)