Michey_b’s travelling around

So I have been to a hockey game and on a pub crawl through the lively student area so thought its high time i saw some more touristy sights here in Montreal.  Well i guess it would be rude to not.

Headed down to the metro station to Place D’Armes and wandered down the cobblestone street to Montreals Notre Dame Basilica – thinking to myself would it be on  a par with the one in Paris and oh boy was it ever.  Now im not a very religious person but having paid my $4 to go in i was blown away.  The altar glows eerily in colours of blues and purples and just oozes this spiritual pull that washes over you.   Few churches and cathedrals have had the same power one being St Peters in Vatican.  It helped coming at this time of year when crowds are minimal but i sat for awhile in awe.  My pictures just dont do it justice.   At the back is the Sacred Heart chapel which in a distinct contrast is yellows and golds and has a two year waiting list for weddings.  I can totally see why and felt respect for a place that holds power over the people of Montreal. 

Having had enough spiritual enlightenment i headed back out of the Basilica and down more cobbled streets towards the Hotel De Ville and to the Nelson monument in Place Jacques Cartier.  I can totally see this place rammed with tourists in the summer. 

Slightly bored with culture for the day i headed down to the riverfront which was rammed with workmen completing a refurb and people out for a stroll.  My first draft of this post was a lot more interesting it has to be said but the stupid computer decided to crash on me as i hit publish grrr and i cannot for the life of me remember what i wrote.

I headed (got to think of a new word) back to the downtown area and on to Rue St Cathrine which kind of reminds me of OXford Street aka a shoppers heaven.  It was here that i set myself the task of finding the Amex building to change my travellers cheques commission free, but have started to think there is a conspiracy at work here.  As in Halifax the Amex building was not where LP said it would be and asking around as in Halifax also people looked at me blankly saying that it had moved but no one seemed to know where.  Sigh.  So as if the rapid strengthening of the Canadian dollar against the Pound wasnt enough i had to pay commission as well.  More sighs.  I hope to god the American dollar doesn’t decide to go the say way.

Back at the hostel i contemplated why i just wasnt sure about this city.   There is just a certain je ne sais pas feeling that i have.  Old Montreal is cool, the Habs hockey team awesome and the bars awesome so why do i feel weird?  Who knows maybe because i absolutely loved Halifax that no where was going to seem as great. 

Having changed my train ticket for a more reasonable time – i mean who wants to get up for a 5am train anyway i settled in with a book and wondered what Quebec was going to be like……………….

So after a killer 20 hour train ride across eastern Canada which commenced at 12.30 AST on sun  – i finally arrived in Montreal at 8am on the monday morning – despite sitting in one place for too long, the Via Rail is a great way to travel, saw an amazing sunset, watched a movie and chatted with my new travel buddies Pattie, Helen and Jane.  It certainly helped having people to chat to – otherwise think i would have started talking to myself.

Wow so Montreal – what a city – after Halifax its huge and french and well very french.  My school french was not going to help me too much i dont think – but i seem to have a sign above my head which scream English person English person and consequently everyone speaks to me in English!

Managed to find the hostel with the least amount of effort which is always good but then had to wait around for couple of hours before i could check in – man i need sleep didnt at all travelling so plonked my arse down in reception and waited it out.

Found out that they still had tickets to hockey game tonight and decided that at $30 i really had no excuse.  This was going to be my first ever hockey game and i was very excited.  I chilled out in the afternoon and then headed down to the Bell Centre – home of the Montreal Canadiens – otherwise known as the Habs.  Luckily the Bell is just around the corner from the hostel but it wasn’t difficult to find – the streets were amass with the red jerseys of the Habs.  I could feel the atmosphere which i guess is very similar to a football match.

Headed down to my seat – well up really i was in the top section but still had a great view of the pitch or rink or well im not really sure what its called but you get my drift.  The crowd were excited and on form booing the Boston Bruins at every opportunity – sensing they arent liked up here!??!

The game was totally awesome – The Habs were well in control and thrashed the Bruins 6 – 1.  I get the idea that Christopher Huet is the fans favourite as his name was chanted a lot.  Might need to check the spelling of his name but im pretty sure that was right.  Man i love this game i think i could get totally addicted to it – gonna definately try to get to some more games.  Am gutted in some ways as The Habs are playing the Atlanta Thrashers next week and i wont be here – boo.

Had a fairly chilled day on tuesday and Elizabeth my dorm buddy and I decided that we were gonna go on the Montreal pub crawl and go for a couple of beers – yeah well since when have i just gone out for a couple – we started out at 8.30 and went to two bars first there was a distinct divide between the english speaking and the french speaking so myself, Elizabeth, Rodger and Ashley (Canadians), Mick ( Aussie) were on the english side.  Our guide was Julian – he was cool – i think its awesome here how they just switch flawlessly between English and French without seeming to blink. 

We ended up in a student club which was packed and on a tues night too – the music 80’s – urgh but actually it was pretty cool we had a boogie and then staggered back to the hostel around 3am so a good night out – cant do that too often though as my budget went out the window with jack and coke at $5 bucks a piece plus tip!