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!)

Hiding Your Emotions