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!