Montreal, Quebec, Canada

When I found out that I was going to be in eastern Canada, one of the first things I thought of was traveling to Montreal. I've always considered Montreal one of my favorite cities in Canada, even though I haven't been in over 10 years. Because of this, I was actually a little unsure that I would still have the same opinion of the city. But I was pleasantly surprised to find out that all those years ago, I developed an opinion that I shared now. Montreal is still one of my favorite two cities in Canada. After traveling all over, I can now make a comparison of Montreal to other places I've been. I like to think it's a combination of an old European city, mixed with Melbourne. This entirely explains why I'm completely in love with the city.

After a long absence, I finally made it back to Montreal today (after a flight cancellation courtesy of the customer service wonder named Air Canada). My first instinct after walking a bit down Rue Rene Levesque was that I may have overvalued the city. That was until I wandered down Rue St Catherines and started to see the copious amounts of graffiti just off the street. I've always had a soft-spot for graffiti and Montreal starting winning me back over with it's acceptance of the street art. After finding an old smoked-meat restaurant for lunch I immediately went down to Old Montreal (Vieux-Ville).


This part of the city is one of the closest facsimiles of Europe that you will find in Canada (outside of Quebec City). Narrow streets, pedestrian areas, public plazas, every restaurant with a patio on the sidewalk, horse carriages, beautiful architecture, cobblestone streets. Just an amazing place to visit. I made a particular point of walking down every single street.


After seeing everything in Old Montreal, I made a stop at Bascilique Notre-Dame. I broke my normal rule of paying to enter a church, am I was happy to do it. I found myself just staring at the beauty of the church, you know, when I wasn't take a hundred photos (that's probably a literal estimate).


One stop that I felt like I should make was to Mont-Royal Parc and the Chalet seeing as I had never been. After a metro ride, a bus ride, and getting lost in the forest, I made it to the viewpoint over the city. I rested there for a bit, took some photos, watched some skateboarders before making my down the hill, via McGill University (I now REALLY want to go to McGill). I fit in a gigantic plate of poutine before heading back to Vieux-Ville for a couple of night photos and some ice cream.


With that, I had been walking around for 9+ hours and I was done for the day. And tremendously satisfied that I decided to make the journey to le belle province. Tomorrow is the big trip back to big bad Alberta.

And just for fun, here's some photos from cottage country in 'northern Ontario' (specifically, right here).

Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada

Sometimes I realize that I'm really lucky. Today is one of those days. My job has turned out quite well for me over the last few months and today I got a bit of a reward.

Every year the founder of the company takes as many employees that can make it to his cottage on Lake Huron. But of course, it's not just any cottage. He owns an island. A couple acre island. It's amazing here and we get to spend the entire day laying in the sun and swimming. I'm currently sitting on the patio getting sunburnt.

Gibby
On my iPhone

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

A little bit of dejavu as I have returned back to Canada and my first stop of Toronto. It was a minor adventure today getting back into the country. I woke up in Manhattan at 3:30am (1:30 back home) and started heading for the airport in the rain.

I made it to LaGuardia to find that Air Canada had not even opened their check-in both. So instead I made friends with some of the other people waiting in line. After completing check-in and security I discovered the the airport was in fact the worst I'd ever been to. Cramped waiting areas. Worn seats. Loud air circulation. Leaking roofs. Your typical first-world problems.

Anyways, my flight was delayed taking off and landing in Toronto. As soon as I got my luggage I immediately caught a taxi to downtown because I wasn't just flying in from New York, I was going to work. I am working out of my companies Toronto office for the week (I should probably get a photo of that). I wandered into work a little after 9, complete with my two travel backpacks and a big smile. I was finally getting to meet all the people I'd been working with for months.

After a nearly full day of work, Janelle (my fellow Edmonton planner) took off for our hotel, got changed and headed out for the night. As the Red Sox were in town, we felt it'd be a good idea to go down and watch a game at the Sky Dome. It was a bad idea. The Blue Jays were not good. However, we did manage to find the most over-the-top hot dog and have many belly laughs at the expense of ourselves and those around us.

So to recap. That was one day. Six plus hour commute from Manhattan to Toronto. Full work day. Baseball game at Sky Dome. My life is so weird it freaks me out a little. But I wouldn't want it any other way.

Here's some leftover photos from New York and a couple from this evening. Enjoy.

New York, New York, United States of America (3)

Whirlwind complete!

My weekend in New York is now over, and I am sitting in LaGuardia waiting for my plane back to Toronto. We rounded out or weekend a little more casually then it started. The highlights were checking out Rockafeller, MoMA, Central Park, and a couple of runs.

There was also a little late night excursion to Central Park for some photos. I did manage to get a few, but after multiple random people screaming at me, I felt it might prudent to go somewhere safer. But I didn't leave. After a saw a few police cruising, with lights on and several large groups congregating, I took the hint and went home. But I did manage to get a few nice photos before I left.


Anyways, in the bizarre corner of this world that I call my life, I am currently traveling to Toronto this morning so that I can go to work. Seems incredibly strange but I'm excited to meet a lot of the people that I have been working with for months now. I'm also pumped for whatever random shenanigans I get up to in downtown Toronto this week.

New York, New York, United States of America (2)

Holy. Crap. Welcome to NYC.


Not sure how we just managed to do everything we did in two days, but Kari and I have been on a tear. Here's us on a 5 second photo break in the subway.


Rather than try to explain it all, I'm just going to give you names of places we went (that I can remember).

Broadway, Central Park, Columbus Circle, Times Square (x2), Off Broadway, Bryant Park (x2), Grand Central (x2), City Library, Flat Iron Building (x2), High Line Park, Greenwich Village, TriBeCa, SoHo (x), World Trade Centre, Battery Park, City Hall, Court Houses (x2), Brooklyn, Brooklyn Bridge (x2), River Ferry, Subway (x205), Macy's, Penn Station, Madison Square Garden, Grand Central Oyster Bar, China Town, Litte Italy, Union Square. And about twice as many as I forgot.

Two days! Which is excellent, because we still have....two days left!

The photos have been expectedly awesome. We did a 5 hour night photo session tonight that will take a while to properly appreciate. Rather than stay up later than I already am (it's 2:30am) giving you the full catalogue of photos, I will simply provide you some of the highlights. Here are some unedited pieces of magic. Enjoy.

New York, New York, United States of America

Here is the continuation of my random thoughts on my way to New York. Got a little weird overnight in the Toronto airport.

2:15- There is music being pumped in all over the airport. I'm enjoying it.





2:26- needed a fresh air break from my inability to sleep on the uncomfortable benches. It's

warmer in TO now than it was all day in Edmonton.





2:44- Airports than have arm rests on their benches are inconsiderate of overnight travelers.





2:51- After all the crap music played in the airport tonight, there is is a beauty. Rebellion (Lies).



3:54- Hey, it's a marginal nap!! And now I try to clear security and customs again.



4:08- Boarding pass = progress



4:18- Lineups are a way of life in airports. Learn to love them.



4:21- Nothing better than a window seat when flying into one of the great cities of the world.



4:26- There is potential for a sensual pat-down this morning. Man are they going to be

disappointed that I haven't showered yet.



4:42- American customs is in the bag! Well not like that. Seriously, they are not corrupt. Where

are you taking me?



4:44- A nice big empty walkway. Still with music playing loudly before 5am.





5:00- It's 3am in Edmonton and I'm starting to crash. Body is revolting. Bags under the eyes.

Etc etc.





5:07- Despite all the craziness and sleep-deprivation that goes along with traveling, I think I

enjoy it so much because I actually get some time by myself. I get to think, without distraction. I

get to read. I get to write. Generally it puts my soul at ease. It also reminds me how amazing last

year was.



5:11- I am currently living on Handsome Furs cranked up to 11. It's my stay awake fuel.



5:51- ima gunna be in NY in less than two hours. Holy poop.



6:10- Airplane time!





6:11- I got another stamp in my passport today. Bonus.



6:22- Again, I'm relying on sleeping on an airplane to make it through a day. I know how this

ends.



7:10- yiewwww! Threw down another nap and I'm now up over and hour of sleep spread over 12

hours.



7:11- this lovely wing will be blocking my view of the city when I land.





7:54- Alright, now I'm excited.



8:08- Wikitravel was right. Laguardia is a dump.



8:20- Taxi ride number 2 of 'today'





8:25- I regret not peeing before leaving the airport. Road be bumpy.



8:27- I am fascinated with this place already. Photo



8:34- I remember the rough parts of America being pretty sketch. Not much changed.



8:35- Man none of the stores are even open yet. It can't possibly be this early.



8:36- My poor camera is doomed to a weekend of exhaustive work.



8:38- Slowly starting to put together why this neighborhood looks dodgy. Harlem. That explains

it.





8:44- I'm not certain if my aggressive pedestrian style is going to fit in here or get me killed.



8:46- Parking and double parking appear to be a bit of an issue here.



8:59- And I made it to the hotel! Bags are dropped off. Facilities were borrowed. Thanks for

following my rambles. Now the fun really begins.