Montreal: Made it!
OK! I MADE IT!
I had a connecting flight from SFO to Toronto, and then to Montreal from there, which split my flight time up such that I got a total of about 1.5 hours of sleep max. So, that means that within the last 36 hours or so, I have had about 2.5 hours of sleep! Lordy, lordy. But I am here and that makes it worthwhile.
When I got off the plane, I picked up my bags, and headed outside. I quickly found a kiosk for a shuttle to take me into the downtown area. (Centre-Ville) $16 was a lot better than the $40 a cab would have cost. And this shuttle took me from the Airport to the depot, at which point, they split us up by hotel, and I was taken to the Delta Centre-Ville by a really sweet guy who kept hoping for red lights so he could point out fun things on the map book he gave me. He drove right up to the front door of the Delta, took my bag in and handed it to the chasseur. I checked in, and the chasseur showed me up to my room. I am on the 19th floor, and have an overview of the downtown office buildings, which is not too scenic, but kinda cool, for the location. The room is alright, some of the fixtures are a bit dated, but overall it is nice. Has character, but has also been recently renovated, and the bed is ridiculously awesome. (Wider than it is long, and brand new linens! Take that, trying to sleep on an airplane!)
So, I decided my room was a bit stuffy and that if I went to Lush, and bought some bath stuff, it would make the place smell lovely. I did, and it did! (Youki-Hi jasmine, and honeysuckle bath bomb, and jasmine scented Alkmaar soap.) So, now the room smells nice, as do I!
Unfortunately, I tried to get some shopping done while I was in that part of town (Sainte Catherine area) and it was pretty depressing. Tons of too young, too trendy people, and stores, and nothing I liked, or could wear. (Still no new jeans :( ) So, I made my way back to my room, took a bath and then took a much needed nap!
When I woke up, I thought for a few minutes I was dying, because everything caught up with me while I was asleep. Then mom called me, and she encouraged me to get right back out there. That and the fact that I had not eaten in 9 hours. So I got dressed, and went down stairs to talk to the concierge about what to eat. He seemed to think less than highly of my taste in food, based solely on the fact that I was a Californian (not enough duck confit in our diet, guys! try harder!) he suggested a Spanish-ish place in Old town called Restaurant Les Pyrenee my yelp review of it is here)
After dinner, I wondered around old town/downtown, and it started to rain with thunder and lightening. I stopped in at a place for a cappacino, and chocolate croissant, and decided, finally to walk back to the hotel, but only after my jack, pashimina, and pants were all totally soaked.
Tomorrow, I had to check out the metro situation. There is a station in the plaza right behind my hotel. I am going to a spa, and then later I have reservations a Au Pied De Cochon, which is known for its fois gras poutine!
All-in-all today was a pretty big success! Go team vacation!
I had a connecting flight from SFO to Toronto, and then to Montreal from there, which split my flight time up such that I got a total of about 1.5 hours of sleep max. So, that means that within the last 36 hours or so, I have had about 2.5 hours of sleep! Lordy, lordy. But I am here and that makes it worthwhile.
When I got off the plane, I picked up my bags, and headed outside. I quickly found a kiosk for a shuttle to take me into the downtown area. (Centre-Ville) $16 was a lot better than the $40 a cab would have cost. And this shuttle took me from the Airport to the depot, at which point, they split us up by hotel, and I was taken to the Delta Centre-Ville by a really sweet guy who kept hoping for red lights so he could point out fun things on the map book he gave me. He drove right up to the front door of the Delta, took my bag in and handed it to the chasseur. I checked in, and the chasseur showed me up to my room. I am on the 19th floor, and have an overview of the downtown office buildings, which is not too scenic, but kinda cool, for the location. The room is alright, some of the fixtures are a bit dated, but overall it is nice. Has character, but has also been recently renovated, and the bed is ridiculously awesome. (Wider than it is long, and brand new linens! Take that, trying to sleep on an airplane!)
So, I decided my room was a bit stuffy and that if I went to Lush, and bought some bath stuff, it would make the place smell lovely. I did, and it did! (Youki-Hi jasmine, and honeysuckle bath bomb, and jasmine scented Alkmaar soap.) So, now the room smells nice, as do I!
Unfortunately, I tried to get some shopping done while I was in that part of town (Sainte Catherine area) and it was pretty depressing. Tons of too young, too trendy people, and stores, and nothing I liked, or could wear. (Still no new jeans :( ) So, I made my way back to my room, took a bath and then took a much needed nap!
When I woke up, I thought for a few minutes I was dying, because everything caught up with me while I was asleep. Then mom called me, and she encouraged me to get right back out there. That and the fact that I had not eaten in 9 hours. So I got dressed, and went down stairs to talk to the concierge about what to eat. He seemed to think less than highly of my taste in food, based solely on the fact that I was a Californian (not enough duck confit in our diet, guys! try harder!) he suggested a Spanish-ish place in Old town called Restaurant Les Pyrenee my yelp review of it is here)
After dinner, I wondered around old town/downtown, and it started to rain with thunder and lightening. I stopped in at a place for a cappacino, and chocolate croissant, and decided, finally to walk back to the hotel, but only after my jack, pashimina, and pants were all totally soaked.
Tomorrow, I had to check out the metro situation. There is a station in the plaza right behind my hotel. I am going to a spa, and then later I have reservations a Au Pied De Cochon, which is known for its fois gras poutine!
All-in-all today was a pretty big success! Go team vacation!