Je dans le Montreal!!
French words and phrases pop in and out of my mind like whack a mole plasticized characters. I keep seeing people I know in all these french faced on crowded streets. Maybe there is a french version of everyone I know.
I am here on buisness. A delicious fun filled all expense paid trip to the royal mountain. It is a nice token of appreciation for all the hard work I do. Its nice being able to go out for a good meal here, and have the company take care of it. And truly, in turn, for their generosity, I feel a great loyalty to our organization. I can idenitfy with the vision.
I love montreal. Or maybe I should say Ive fallen in love with montreal.
On my first night, after the first meeting, I went back to the hostel for a bit, and then, fuelled by desire for alcohol, sought out beer on the lively streets of mackay and rene lavesque (pronounced LA-VECK as I way sorely informed.) The meeting, for which I had travelled 8 hours by train for, was quite frustratingly, entirely in french. I couldn't understand 90% of what was going on, as they didn't translate anything! It was the most uncomfortable meeting I have ever been to, and hard drink was imperative.
I wandered the streets until I happened upon a little place called Upstairs, which was ironically in the basement of the building, once hearing the delicious sounds of jazz rising up to the street.
The pub was chic, with a cozy dcor, and was utterly packed with people. I managed to find a nook at the back, where I listened to live improv avant garde jazz, and wrote poetry in my little notebook. I was hyped to see they were serving my favourite quebec beer - Boreale! I stayed until I was satisfyingly drunk, and then sauntered through those happy and fiendishly busy-on-a-tuesday-night downtown streets. Le rue St. Catherine! Elle est anime!
Ahhh, good music, beer and bed. C`est la vie.
Meetings followed the next day, mostly in english (thank god) and we were treated to a gourmet (Gastronomique!) vegetarian lunch. We ended early, and were set loose once again on the city.
I spent my time checking into a cool little hostel I had been recommended to by a backpacker recently. Its called L`utopik (check the site) and is quite possibly the best hostel I have stayed at. For one, the price is $20 including tax, and each dorm has its own bathroom and kitchen. I think every new hostel should have that. It is such a good setup. It's a bit dated, but I think that adds to the charm. It has a cafe attached with this same way, and its like Ive died and gone to Bohemeian Heaven. There is art everywhere, and the whole place has this attitude that its been put together by loving individuals over time. There are two (functioning?) fireplaces and little rooms and chairs and couches and tables everywhere. Anyone can find a little nook, grab a coffee, and log in to the free wifi. Its a dream. No one bothers you. Everyone here are psuedo hipsters with rhetorical and creative diatribes and I love it. Im in a back corner right now, surrounded by plants in a oversized armchair with my jasmine green tea.
I feel such a good energy here. It is an amazing city.
In fact, theres nothing I want more right now that to suddenly move to montreal, and become a starving artist, designing clothing and jewelery, and painting and graffitotag
I love to dream of my lifestyle in this city, where id live (l`utopik!), where Id eat, and shop, and hang out.
This city has such a great vibe. Even better than Toronto. Everyone is very jovial, but very much in their own world too! (But who isnt.) Its so open minded and creative and efficient and ancient and wonderous. I wish I had more time to spend here
French words and phrases pop in and out of my mind like whack a mole plasticized characters. I keep seeing people I know in all these french faced on crowded streets. Maybe there is a french version of everyone I know.
I am here on buisness. A delicious fun filled all expense paid trip to the royal mountain. It is a nice token of appreciation for all the hard work I do. Its nice being able to go out for a good meal here, and have the company take care of it. And truly, in turn, for their generosity, I feel a great loyalty to our organization. I can idenitfy with the vision.
I love montreal. Or maybe I should say Ive fallen in love with montreal.
On my first night, after the first meeting, I went back to the hostel for a bit, and then, fuelled by desire for alcohol, sought out beer on the lively streets of mackay and rene lavesque (pronounced LA-VECK as I way sorely informed.) The meeting, for which I had travelled 8 hours by train for, was quite frustratingly, entirely in french. I couldn't understand 90% of what was going on, as they didn't translate anything! It was the most uncomfortable meeting I have ever been to, and hard drink was imperative.
I wandered the streets until I happened upon a little place called Upstairs, which was ironically in the basement of the building, once hearing the delicious sounds of jazz rising up to the street.
The pub was chic, with a cozy dcor, and was utterly packed with people. I managed to find a nook at the back, where I listened to live improv avant garde jazz, and wrote poetry in my little notebook. I was hyped to see they were serving my favourite quebec beer - Boreale! I stayed until I was satisfyingly drunk, and then sauntered through those happy and fiendishly busy-on-a-tuesday-night downtown streets. Le rue St. Catherine! Elle est anime!
Ahhh, good music, beer and bed. C`est la vie.
Meetings followed the next day, mostly in english (thank god) and we were treated to a gourmet (Gastronomique!) vegetarian lunch. We ended early, and were set loose once again on the city.
I spent my time checking into a cool little hostel I had been recommended to by a backpacker recently. Its called L`utopik (check the site) and is quite possibly the best hostel I have stayed at. For one, the price is $20 including tax, and each dorm has its own bathroom and kitchen. I think every new hostel should have that. It is such a good setup. It's a bit dated, but I think that adds to the charm. It has a cafe attached with this same way, and its like Ive died and gone to Bohemeian Heaven. There is art everywhere, and the whole place has this attitude that its been put together by loving individuals over time. There are two (functioning?) fireplaces and little rooms and chairs and couches and tables everywhere. Anyone can find a little nook, grab a coffee, and log in to the free wifi. Its a dream. No one bothers you. Everyone here are psuedo hipsters with rhetorical and creative diatribes and I love it. Im in a back corner right now, surrounded by plants in a oversized armchair with my jasmine green tea.
I feel such a good energy here. It is an amazing city.
In fact, theres nothing I want more right now that to suddenly move to montreal, and become a starving artist, designing clothing and jewelery, and painting and graffitotag
I love to dream of my lifestyle in this city, where id live (l`utopik!), where Id eat, and shop, and hang out.
This city has such a great vibe. Even better than Toronto. Everyone is very jovial, but very much in their own world too! (But who isnt.) Its so open minded and creative and efficient and ancient and wonderous. I wish I had more time to spend here
VIEW 3 of 3 COMMENTS
Amsterdam was great, even better than last time since we kind of had a feel for the city already. As for fav coffee shops, Barney's would be of course first. #1 in weed and omlets. Then there was another place called the Coin, loose leaf tea as far as the eye can see and a very cool atmosphere, not to mention the exceptional hash!