Monday, June 27, 2005
So my travel tales commence once more. At Montreal for Usability Professionals Association. Crazy time getting here--deplaning that was supposed to be for 5 minutes ended up to a six hour flight delay and cancelled flight leading to rebooking. Talked a lot on cell phone catching up with people. Even rebooked flight on cell phone as everyone else stood in line forever. And even when on new flight, plane turned around because some Montreal people had left their dog behind and since it was the last flight to Montreal and the airport had no provisions for caring for a dog, it turned around for them to put it in the cargo bay. Luggage checked at gate turned out not to be in place where expected and noone to help out so got lost in airport and had to go through customs twice. By the time I got out it was 1:30 and since the hostel closed at 2, I was panicked. Luckily the taxi was not that bad and took dollars (airport change places were of course closed). Hostel turned out to be very close to downtown, but was on 5th floor, too many stairs. Friendly girls though only talked a while in morning.
Sunday wandering lead to street festival just down the street. Chinese lion dancers, vendors of clothes and jewelry from Tibet to Mexico, belly dancers with little girls in front of stage trying to imitate them, vallenato and cumbia band, Russian women with traditional outfits, charging people for their photos and dressing up in the outfit. Even a guy dressed up which was funny.
Guesthouse off the tourist track, slightly grungy neighborhood and looks like the gay neighborhood as well. Girlfriend who let me in, when mentioned too many starirs said That is why Americans are fat. Guy who runs place (really his flat with extra rooms)pretty friendly, asking questions and driving me and 2 other girls from Netherlands to Park Mont Royal. Sunday afternoon tamtam drummers with tons of people dancing, laying out in park and such. Went with guy and gf to McD, talked about how only thing on news in US was Michael Jackson and Aruba girl. In McD, girl whose skirt was up and other girl rushed to brush it down as she looked back with horrified expression. Left early to hike Mont Royal. Had walked up mountain before to cross, but this year detour meant that I walked a lot more and didnèt get to cross, but saw lake and cemetary (was about to give up on that but saw gate less than 100 m away). Did not see any famous people, though guess most of them would be names I did not recognize anyway. Ran into couple of people and asked them where to find things which ended up being longer conversation. Suggested Montreal figures, some hockey player who I had never heard of so of course they asked where I was from and said North Carolina--we have basketball there not hockey. They did not know each other, but were talking because they were at the grave of some girl who was stabbed 51 times and raped (as man went out of way to explain) and they both knew the father. Saw raccoon in tree which climbed higher as soon as I got my camera outRush to get back, many families surrounding lake, esp Indian, Hasidic boys. Didnt think I was going to make it, passed by countless bikes, women in flip-flops pushing stroller, which expressed that I could use at that point, finally walked down to area of tamtams again and found the guy even though the other girls had already left. Well over 10 K I think so my legs felt like they were going to fall off.
Monday not bad. Early morning meeting, but they let me lie down on couch, which made me feel better. Wandered to Chinatown, but strain on legs still tired from day before. Slightly hidden meeting place, even organizer was confused. Talked with Aaron Marcus who had some very good advice and listened so have to start thinking about my career again. Oracle interview went ok, though not sure. Afterwards went back to hostel since I had found a passport in my purse from some French chick and called, finding out it belonged to some girl at hostel. She was there and thanked me. So strange finding it and wondering if she was panicked--guy at gh had joked could sell it for a bundle on black market. So wandered by Notre Dame and historic Montreal on way back to other metro. Tried to explore neighborhood as well, but took wrong turn so got further from restaurants I wanted to go to. Got Thai which turned out really bland. Oh well. Enough for leftovers tomorrow, at least some protein.
Sunday wandering lead to street festival just down the street. Chinese lion dancers, vendors of clothes and jewelry from Tibet to Mexico, belly dancers with little girls in front of stage trying to imitate them, vallenato and cumbia band, Russian women with traditional outfits, charging people for their photos and dressing up in the outfit. Even a guy dressed up which was funny.
Guesthouse off the tourist track, slightly grungy neighborhood and looks like the gay neighborhood as well. Girlfriend who let me in, when mentioned too many starirs said That is why Americans are fat. Guy who runs place (really his flat with extra rooms)pretty friendly, asking questions and driving me and 2 other girls from Netherlands to Park Mont Royal. Sunday afternoon tamtam drummers with tons of people dancing, laying out in park and such. Went with guy and gf to McD, talked about how only thing on news in US was Michael Jackson and Aruba girl. In McD, girl whose skirt was up and other girl rushed to brush it down as she looked back with horrified expression. Left early to hike Mont Royal. Had walked up mountain before to cross, but this year detour meant that I walked a lot more and didnèt get to cross, but saw lake and cemetary (was about to give up on that but saw gate less than 100 m away). Did not see any famous people, though guess most of them would be names I did not recognize anyway. Ran into couple of people and asked them where to find things which ended up being longer conversation. Suggested Montreal figures, some hockey player who I had never heard of so of course they asked where I was from and said North Carolina--we have basketball there not hockey. They did not know each other, but were talking because they were at the grave of some girl who was stabbed 51 times and raped (as man went out of way to explain) and they both knew the father. Saw raccoon in tree which climbed higher as soon as I got my camera outRush to get back, many families surrounding lake, esp Indian, Hasidic boys. Didnt think I was going to make it, passed by countless bikes, women in flip-flops pushing stroller, which expressed that I could use at that point, finally walked down to area of tamtams again and found the guy even though the other girls had already left. Well over 10 K I think so my legs felt like they were going to fall off.
Monday not bad. Early morning meeting, but they let me lie down on couch, which made me feel better. Wandered to Chinatown, but strain on legs still tired from day before. Slightly hidden meeting place, even organizer was confused. Talked with Aaron Marcus who had some very good advice and listened so have to start thinking about my career again. Oracle interview went ok, though not sure. Afterwards went back to hostel since I had found a passport in my purse from some French chick and called, finding out it belonged to some girl at hostel. She was there and thanked me. So strange finding it and wondering if she was panicked--guy at gh had joked could sell it for a bundle on black market. So wandered by Notre Dame and historic Montreal on way back to other metro. Tried to explore neighborhood as well, but took wrong turn so got further from restaurants I wanted to go to. Got Thai which turned out really bland. Oh well. Enough for leftovers tomorrow, at least some protein.
Comments:
Post a Comment
