Bonjour, Montreal!
The Journey
Long day ahead which started at 5.30am. Had only 1 1/2 hrs to catch the connecting flight at HK but things work so efficiently there that I had no problems getting my passes for the next two legs of my journey. But then the panic started.
Supposed to have more than enough time at Vancouver before the next flight, but then the plane was delayed at HK for more than 1 hr. At Vr, I had to go through Customs and collect luggage. And the baggage belt was broken! Took another hr before I got my suitcase and dashed off to the check-in counter. Already had a boarding pass issued at HK but this officer said my suitcase wasn’t tagged for Montreal so I had to join the snaking queue which was moving at a snail’s pace! Seriously thought I was going to miss my flight, cos I had like 1/2 hr and abt 20 pple in front of me. Luckily I asked another officer and he said that I could just get my luggage tagged without the queue! Gosh, annoyed with the woman who nearly made me miss my flight for nothing! I rushed to the domestic terminal and was one of the last to board. Finally arrived safely at Montreal Airport at 10pm, whew!
I guess it's quite normal in the US and Canada for people to miss their domestic connecting flights cos people seemed pretty happy to just board the next available plane.
A short note about airline food. It was my first time on Air Canada. AC’s food was not bad for the HK-Vr leg -there were nice dishes and ice-cream -but the domestic leg...it was some pasta salad thing and more pasta stuff with some weird gravy. I’m just not a cheese-creamy-pasta type of person...
Jet-lag
Averaged maybe 2-4 hrs sleep a day (one night it was practically zero!) except once when I decided that enough was enough, and took a cold tablet (drowsy kind) and for once I had a good sleep. Things got better on the last two days, but then I was going away again!
The Conference
The conference was pretty good, lots of papers and workshops. A pity that I was too tired to follow some of the stuff during the first few days. I also met many people, new and old. I’m not very good at making small talk but things turned out ok...
The City
It's a nice place and although I won't walk in downtown at 2am (quote Goomo), I think it's pretty safe for a major North American city. There are lots of nice buildings and architecture (churches, museums etc) and even along Saint-Catherine Street (a shopping street a bit like our Orchard Road), I was a bit surprised to see such a beautiful church suddenly. And of course Old Montreal was a nice place to spend the afternoon.
Food and French
Basically ate a lot of sandwiches/bread/fast food. The food was ok but I missed my rice!! Lunch-time was not long enough for us venture too far unless on free days, so I had few Chinese meals.
The default language is French and in some shops the menu is all in French! Most people can speak English but some were not very fluent. Anyway, I learnt a few words so I know 'jambon' (ham), 'poulet' (chicken) and 'poisson' (fish) are safe choices, while anything with 'fromage' (cheese) I try to avoid at all costs! I found out how to say Fillet-O-Fish and apple juice in French and was tempted to try, but in the end I stuck to safe old English in case the other person thinks I really know French and rattle off long sentences after which I can only reply 'Je ne comprends pas' (I don't understand)! I think that the French language sounds beautiful and would like to learn to speak it properly.
Pics
I took a lot more scenery shots using my film camera, leaving the digital one for 'people shots' and a few scenery ones (for easy uploading). Even though digital is more convenient and can identify very bad takes immediately, I think film is better for scenery. It's troublesome to carry both around, but anyway I wanted to use up my remaining film.
A building at McGill University
Nice flower...
Nice architecture in Montreal city-centre
Building along Sherbrooke Street
More nice architecture along Sherbrooke Street
Some back-street nearing Old Montreal
Flowers near the Notre-Dame Basilica and Place d'Armes, Old Montreal
Horse Carriages in Old Montreal
City Hall, Old Montreal
Bonsecours Market, Old Montreal
Full view of Place d'Armes with the horse carriages waiting for customers
Montreal Chinatown
Scene in Montreal Chinatown
Another magnificent cathedral...
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts along Sherbrooke Street
Canadian Maple Syrup courtesy of the conference organisers!
Coming up next, adventures in HK...
Long day ahead which started at 5.30am. Had only 1 1/2 hrs to catch the connecting flight at HK but things work so efficiently there that I had no problems getting my passes for the next two legs of my journey. But then the panic started.
Supposed to have more than enough time at Vancouver before the next flight, but then the plane was delayed at HK for more than 1 hr. At Vr, I had to go through Customs and collect luggage. And the baggage belt was broken! Took another hr before I got my suitcase and dashed off to the check-in counter. Already had a boarding pass issued at HK but this officer said my suitcase wasn’t tagged for Montreal so I had to join the snaking queue which was moving at a snail’s pace! Seriously thought I was going to miss my flight, cos I had like 1/2 hr and abt 20 pple in front of me. Luckily I asked another officer and he said that I could just get my luggage tagged without the queue! Gosh, annoyed with the woman who nearly made me miss my flight for nothing! I rushed to the domestic terminal and was one of the last to board. Finally arrived safely at Montreal Airport at 10pm, whew!
I guess it's quite normal in the US and Canada for people to miss their domestic connecting flights cos people seemed pretty happy to just board the next available plane.
A short note about airline food. It was my first time on Air Canada. AC’s food was not bad for the HK-Vr leg -there were nice dishes and ice-cream -but the domestic leg...it was some pasta salad thing and more pasta stuff with some weird gravy. I’m just not a cheese-creamy-pasta type of person...
Jet-lag
Averaged maybe 2-4 hrs sleep a day (one night it was practically zero!) except once when I decided that enough was enough, and took a cold tablet (drowsy kind) and for once I had a good sleep. Things got better on the last two days, but then I was going away again!
The Conference
The conference was pretty good, lots of papers and workshops. A pity that I was too tired to follow some of the stuff during the first few days. I also met many people, new and old. I’m not very good at making small talk but things turned out ok...
The City
It's a nice place and although I won't walk in downtown at 2am (quote Goomo), I think it's pretty safe for a major North American city. There are lots of nice buildings and architecture (churches, museums etc) and even along Saint-Catherine Street (a shopping street a bit like our Orchard Road), I was a bit surprised to see such a beautiful church suddenly. And of course Old Montreal was a nice place to spend the afternoon.
Food and French
Basically ate a lot of sandwiches/bread/fast food. The food was ok but I missed my rice!! Lunch-time was not long enough for us venture too far unless on free days, so I had few Chinese meals.
The default language is French and in some shops the menu is all in French! Most people can speak English but some were not very fluent. Anyway, I learnt a few words so I know 'jambon' (ham), 'poulet' (chicken) and 'poisson' (fish) are safe choices, while anything with 'fromage' (cheese) I try to avoid at all costs! I found out how to say Fillet-O-Fish and apple juice in French and was tempted to try, but in the end I stuck to safe old English in case the other person thinks I really know French and rattle off long sentences after which I can only reply 'Je ne comprends pas' (I don't understand)! I think that the French language sounds beautiful and would like to learn to speak it properly.
Pics
I took a lot more scenery shots using my film camera, leaving the digital one for 'people shots' and a few scenery ones (for easy uploading). Even though digital is more convenient and can identify very bad takes immediately, I think film is better for scenery. It's troublesome to carry both around, but anyway I wanted to use up my remaining film.
A building at McGill University
Nice flower...
Nice architecture in Montreal city-centre
Building along Sherbrooke Street
More nice architecture along Sherbrooke Street
Some back-street nearing Old Montreal
Flowers near the Notre-Dame Basilica and Place d'Armes, Old Montreal
Horse Carriages in Old Montreal
City Hall, Old Montreal
Bonsecours Market, Old Montreal
Full view of Place d'Armes with the horse carriages waiting for customers
Montreal Chinatown
Scene in Montreal Chinatown
Another magnificent cathedral...
Montreal Museum of Fine Arts along Sherbrooke Street
Canadian Maple Syrup courtesy of the conference organisers!
Coming up next, adventures in HK...
posted by yung | 2:59 pm
5 Comments:
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I read somewhere once that Montreal is one of the largest French-speaking cities in the world. yeah it's quite funny when you try to speak a language you know a little of, only to get a whole spew of it back lol
Very nice pics, yung! I went to Montreal years ago, but the only place I remember is one of the cathedrals. I should drive up there sometime. (Side note: Canadians originated from all over Europe, but mostly England and France...both English and French are official languages in Canada)
Nice pics! =)
Yeah, Canadian speak French and English..You're true! French is a beautiful language, I learned French before..how to pronounce is difficult hehe
oh sammimatsu u know French! I tried to crash-learn just b4 going to Montreal but din get very far cos i was ill for 2 wks...but thk u to Ht for teaching me so patiently...
Yeah, Montreal is the 2nd largest French-speaking city in the world. It was founded in the 17th century by French settlers. Even though the English took over later, I guess the French influence remained...
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