Tres Bien, Quebec, Tres Bien!

If Montreal was like being in another country, well, Quebec City was like being in another continent. From the moment Benoit, my couchsurfing host picked me up and we ventured to the local markets where everyone conversed fully in French, to arriving at his home to find out I was the only one who didn't speak french (thankully most of them also spoke English), it was quite obvious I'd need to adjust quite quickly. 'Bonjour, parlet vous francais?' (Good morning, do you speak English?) and 'Moi Francais parlet pa beacoup' (Which I was informed is a very rough, yet endearing 'Me French speak not well'), became my most used phrases during my time three days in Quebec City.

With his expansive and extremely handy local knowledge, Benoit took a group of those staying at his house (a combination of Belgian, Portugese and French) to a show that he refused to give away any information on, other than to say we'd like it. As we arrived and circumnavigated the crowds to find a pristine viewing position, the show began, and before long we realised it was none other than a show put on by Cirque Du Soleil. I'd never managed to see a Cirque Du Soleil show in Perth, but it was quite easy to see why the shows are so highly rated as the performers completed have to be seen to believed acrobat feats.

Cirque Du Soleil

After heading down to the waterfront to watch a fireworks competition heat (they actually exist), myself and three Belgian guys also staying with Benoit headed off in search of some decent Belgian beer, in what turned out to be a masterclass for me on everything beer related. I guess beer really is religion over there.

I was up early the next day, especially so given the education I had been undertaking the night prior, and  heading into downtown Quebec. My day of exploring on foot took me through Haute-Ville (upper town), Basse-Ville (lower town), and Vieux Quebec (old-town). At times, especially in the older areas of the city, I'd completely forget that I was still in North America and not in Europe. Highlights included the spectacular Chateu Fontenac, Dufferin Terrace, and Place-Royale. A ferry ride across the the Saint Lawrence river provided panaromic views of the old-town and city walls, with the Chateau perched prominently atop.

Chateu Fontenac to the left on Dufferin Terrace

Palace Royale

An annoyingly wet day the next day included a visit to Montmerancy Falls, the highest falls in Quebec, and 30 metres higher than Niagara Falls. It was prior to a visit to the falls, though, that I ventured to the Grand Theatre of Quebec to attend a performance put on by the Orchestre symphonique de Québec (Quebec Symphony Orchestra) in conjunction with Opera Singer Jessye Norman, after receiving complimentary tickets from a friend I made in Montreal.

Whilst not a massive opera fan, I couldn't help but be impressed by Ms Norman's performance, and found myself getting goosebumps as she belted out 'Amazing Grace', and even 'You Will Never Walk Alone'. I was equally, if not more impressed, by the Orchestra alone performing a stunning rendition of the ET Themesong. The crowd at the event must have been as equally impressed as I as they engaged in what may or may not have been a world record attempt for the longest standing applause.

I headed back to Montreal the next day thanks to  lift from Benoit, and headed onward to none other than Boston Massachussets, and the first stop in my last stretch of the States, as I head down the east coast.

Bonjour, Montreal!

Seemingly, and luckily, as Toronto's weather had taken a turn for the worse, I was on my way to Montreal. A mediocre on and off bus sleep later and I arrived in the equally as grey, yet slightly cooler, Montreal. For the first time this trip, my lack of lingual skills came to the fore in the predominately French speaking city. In reality, with a largely bilingual speaking population, there were no real issues...yet.

After traipsing through some irritating stop-start rain, I checked in to my hostel, and in a moment of pure luck, managed to walk past the TV area about 20 minutes before the 100m final, and as a result, catch the first decent, live, glimpse of the Olympics all trip. Bravo, Mr Bolt, bravo.

With Vieux Montreal (Old Montreal), full cobblestone pathed roads, wide riverside pathways lined with trees and european styled architecture, I felt as if I were in a completely different continent, let alone country to one I had been in earlier that morning.  I made my way down to Vieux  Port, and noticed large groups of people heading towards some sort of music festival in the distance called 'Divers Cite'. I spotted a couple of promotional posters around, but couldn't pick out what it said, other than that admission was free.

As I entered the festival, I noticed a lot of shirtless men, but as that's a given at any music festival, I didn't think a lot of it. Upon entering the main stage area, I noticed that it was almost ALL men without shirts on. And they were dancing. And holding hands. I know what you're thinking, and yes, as it turns out, I had unknowingly gone to one of Canada's most popular LBGT dance festivals.  After leaving the festivities down by the waterfront, I continued to make my way through more sporadic rain, and more of the old town, soaking in views of the tremendous architecture and rain simultaneously.

Vieux Montreal

Vieux Port

As far as sporting stadiums go, the Montreal Olympic Stadium and its surroundings were almost depressingly drab and underutilised. 36 years may have passed since the Stadium's prime, but it seems as if the stadium is heavily underutilised and very dated. It was hard to imagine that it, and the nearby Centre for Sport (aquatics) were major stadiums in an Olympics given their current state. The nearby Velodrome was the most revitalised of the venues in the area, however, only because it had been converted into a Biodome. The four miniature climate controlled zones mimicked their specific climates perfectly, and it was a good opportunity to catch glimpses of some animals I hadn't spotted before, such as a Beaver. There was no Pauly Shore, however.

Olympic Stadium

Biodome

After heading up to Mont Royal (the mountain the city is named after) and having a panaromic view over the city, I headed on my way to meet Marco, whom I would be staying with for a couple of days. Upon arriving at Marco's and being welcomed inside, I was greeted by a plethora of other travellers from France, Colombia, Brazil and the US, in addition to Marco's grown up Canadian children. For the evening we dined on a selection of salmon (it's growing on me), Quebecois cheese, beer and wine... and that was just the appetisers. It completely confirmed my belief that couchsurfing is one of the best experiences when travelling, as half a dozen or so of us sat around drinking and talking about different cultures and languages until the late hours of the night.

View from Mont Royal

Mont Royal

The next morning I made my way back down to the Old Port to visit Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Museum of Archaeology and History,  which was hosting a very cool special Samurai exhibit. After exploring the old town and old port in weather that was much more pleasant than that of of a couple of days prior, I caught the metro to Mont Royal Station again to Parc Avenue, where I had previously heard that there was a place called Tourtière Australienne, which is essentially an Australian bakery. I picked up the first meat pie I had eaten in months, which resulted in nostalgic ecstacy like nothing I've never experienced before.

Pointe-à-Callière

After stumbling across a college and Canadian Football League Stadium set back against Mont Royal, I managed to get inside and have a bit of a walk around. Venturing further into the city, I came across a group of young Indian men playing cricket. After spending the entirety of the trip so far not being able to explain cricket to anyone, let alone play it, I took a chance and asked them if I could join in. Luckily for me, they happily obliged, and I spent the next hour talking and playing cricket with a complete group of strangers, the only connection between us being our love for cricket.

Molson Stadium

Street cricket

The next morning was slightly more chaotic than planned. In my desire to sleep a bit longer, I decided that instead of locating an internet cafe, I would ignore the 'YOU MUST PRINT YOUR ELECTRONIC TICKET BEFORE ARRIVAL' notice on my e-ticket delivery email, and just try and get it printed at the station for a nominal fee as I'd done in the past. After arriving at the station with a calm  30 minutes to departure, I comfortably and calmly strode to the ticket counter, feeling a bit cool that I had rebelled against the ticket purchasing system.

Alas, when I got to the counter, at this stage about 20 miutes prior to my bus departing, I was told that there was not the slightest chance of being able to print my ticket at the station, and I would need to track down somewhere to print it. It was at this stage I was pretty much resigned to missing my train, but upon exiting the bus station (bags and all), I managed to spot a public library just down the road. After a short jog (again, bags and all), I entered the public library with a stress inducing 15 minutes until bus departure. With my bus departing at 3:00pm, the break down over the next few minutes went as follows.

2:45 - Arrive at library

2:46 - Try and figure out where in the library to go

2:47 - Find entrance to computers

2:47 - Told I need to put my bags in a locker

2:49 - Arrive back at entrnace to Library, speak to library assistant about printing out ticket

2:50 - Sign up for a vistitors library pass in Montreal

2:51 - Wait for the attendant to type in every single detail on my drivers licence. Wonder if he will make a comment on the photo on my licence. He doesn't.

2:52 - Get access to a computer

2:53 - Check email, get distracted by football email newsletter.

2:53 - Find email with ticket

2:54 - Try to print ticket with French computer options. Go off memory of computer button locations.

2:54 - Print ticket

2:55 - Exit computer, pick up ticket

2:56 - Exit library, run back to bus station

2:58 - Arrive back at bus station, get in line at last.

Once I arrived, I bought and enjoyed the most enjoyable Coke of my life, loaded my bags on the bus, and enjoyed the ride to Quebec.