Flight 521/651, Ottawa to Victoria

It’s my last day in Ottawa. I’ve been a bit negligant in updating my travelogue here, so to both of you reading it, I apologize.

Angela and I arrived in Montreal on the evening of the afternoon on the 5th. From the bus station, the Berri-UQAM Metro station is just a flight of stairs away. Onto the Orange line and off at Rosemont, and then a bus ride to Ang’s friend’s apartment (thanks Megan!) We dropped off our stuff and returned downtown to wander the streets.

We dined at a pub with the sound of an outdoor concert drifting in from outside. It was the FrancoFolies festival, a showcase for French-language musicians. The streets are closed off for a four-block radius and stages are set up in vacant lots and intersections for the musicians to perform on. We went and listened to a couple bands and then returned home.

Saturday morning was devoted to exploring Old Montreal. Wandering through there really gives you a feel for the age of the city. You can still see the remains of the old city walls in some areas. Back on rue Ste-Catherine, we admired the garish neon facade of Super Sexe, which I’m told is the largest strip club in all of Canada. We did not go in.

On Sunday we headed to the Olympic Village. Our first stop was the Biodome. Pauly Shore was nowhere to be found, to my simultaneous disappointment and relief, but we did see all manner of animals, including various tropical birds, penguins, snakes, lizards, primates, and fish. After that we visited the Insectarium, and the botanical gardens. That night we watched a bunch of Sex and the City on DVD. No better way to bond with your sister than that.

Monday was shopping day, but neither of us bought much. That night my buddy Jay called me up. He and a couple friends were making a road trip from Calgary to Nova Scotia (or something) and had just arrived in Montreal. I left Angela to her Sex and the City (“You want to watch MORE??”) and met them in a tiny brew pub called Reservoir. They had already been to Schwartz’s, which is just around the corner. I had not yet been, and as Angela and I were leaving the next morning I had resigned myself to having to miss this particular Montreal destination. Fortunately it was still open, and Jay and I went over so that I could have my smoked meat sandwich. It was very tasty.

Our next stop was some hole-in-the-wall pub whose name I never found out. It had decor from the 1970s and cheap beer. It was perfect. After that, we went to this 24-hour poutine restaurant. I didn’t order any since I was still stuffed from my smoked meat sandwich, but I happily stole some from one of Jay’s friends. It was the most delicious poutine I have ever eaten. After that, we went and hung out on a hill overlooking the pond in a nearby park. By that point it was getting on to 2am and I had to be up at 6am to catch the bus back to Ottawa, so after walking with them to the apartment where they were staying I said my goodbyes and caught a cab back to the apartment.

Montreal was very cool. I would like to have stayed longer; as it is, I feel I only scratched the surface of what the city has to offer. I’m sure I will return someday.

My last few days here in Ottawa: a most entertaining CG party featuring bagpipe musical chairs, taking refuge under a bridge during a thunderstorm, a visit to the Museum of Civilization which had an excellent exhibit on Pompeii, and renting a bike and riding up and down the Rideau Canal. Oh, and buying a sweet t-shirt with the old CBC logo on it from the CBC store on Sparks Street.

Well, there you have it. My adventure is now coming to a close. I have to go to work tomorrow, which seems a lot weirder than it probably should be. Thank you, Ottawa, for your hospitality.