So beginneth the update I know you all crave whilst I am away in what I have fondly begun calling "Wonderland", the reason for which you all shall learn after Thursday when I chronicle the events of Sunday. (Confusing, isn't it? The reason for the delay is because I want to write about each day with its own entry, and since Un air de famille happened on Sunday, I can't talk about it until the episode airs on Thursday.)
I am currently sitting the Concordia University Welcome Centre, waiting for my guided tour to start. So far, the same more "interested" in the individual person than McGill was, but that's just a vague impression. I've also already been told that it IS possible for Americans to receive financial aid to go here. Sweet! The campus is more integrated into the city, like l'Université de Montréal, as opposed to McGill, which is like a little island in the middle of the city.
Soooo I got up this morning a little later than normal, which was nice. I woke up at 9 and didn't get up for a half-hour, though I told the young woman who took the top bunk of the bed next to mine that she could turn on the light if she wanted. Today, I decided, is my day to be a tourist. I took the Métro to la Station... Something-or-Other... and walked around Vieux-Montréal trying to find la Basilique Notre-Dame. So I walked up a street, passing the entrance to Chinatown, and made my way around. I got a bit turned around until FINALLY I found it. Actually, I was going the wrong way and turned around to see one of the towers peeking up above the buildings. Oops.
I looooove Vieux-Montréal, and didn't hesitate to take photos, 'cause forget other people, right? I didn't go into the basilica, nor did I feel the urge, but it was nice to see it, nonetheless. I sat and looked for a while before going into one of touristiest shops I'd ever seen, and also one I have visited each time I've come to Montréal, first with Sarah and Gloria, and then with Lauren. I got myself a Montréal sweatshirt, a necklace, and a keychain, because I am a dork.
After I left, I wanted to go by the restaurant that Garou owns, since it's right by the basilica, but rue Saint-Gabriel is completely closed off due to construction. Sadness. So instead I made my way back to the metro station (which I now remember is Place-des-Armes), taking the same path I did before. Only when I returned to the station did I notice that, if I turned to my right, I could see the basilica right down the street, and that I needn't have gone all the way around. Oops.
Later
I have returned to the hostel after a long, exhausting day. I swear, when I return to Missouri, I'll want to sleep for a week, only I won't be able to since I'll have classes two days later. Oh, well. I am currently sitting near the kitchen area of the hostel, as the room is filled with three other women who all look ready for bed, despite the fact that it is currently 6:30 in the evening.
The tour of Concordia was longer than that of McGill's, which I guess is to be expected since the campus is right in the middle of the city. Surprisingly, I liked the atmosphere of Concordia more, which surprised me since McGill is more similar to Truman. They also have graduate housing, which is awesome. What I found amusing was that one of the girls going on the tour was the same one from the tour of McGill, the one from Italy. I overheard the woman in charge of tours saying that, though this tour was small, the one tomorrow will have 60 people. Holy crap. This is, apparently, due to "the Americans' Thanksgiving." Looks like they all had the same idea I had!
After the tour, I headed back to the hostel to relax for a bit. The wind is and was seriously insane, actually slowing me down a few times and making it difficult to walk. Honestly, we don't get wind like that in Kirksville - at least not when I've been there. As I was walking through the doorway to the corridor that leads to my room, my headphones caught on the handle without my knowledge, and snapped cleanly. As someone addicted to music, this was quite sad, especially since I have two three-hour bus rides tomorrow, a ninety-minute one on Thursday, another ninety-minute on Friday, plus my flight home that day, I need music. So I went to Archambault and bought a pair of $10 headphones. Aw yeah.
From there, I took the métro to try to find La Banquise, the restaurant François took me to on Sunday. I tried in vain to find it on Monday, but it was impossible. I managed to get extremely turned around. So I finally found it this time, only to learn that it is currently closed for renovations. I was not pleased, especially since I was starving. So, instead, I went to a diner-like place that I'd passed on the way over called Restaurant L'Anecdote and got some of their poutine instead. It was quite good, though there was far too much cheese and it was not at all squeaky. Though I'd spoken in French to the waiter the whole time, as I was leaving, he told me the price in English. GRRRRR. I'll just pretend he did it out of habit and not due to my slower speech. Humph.
Other than that, Québec City tomorrow! WOO!
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