This week has been a fairly civilised affair. I really enjoyed Chicago and could envisage spending more time in the windy city and then on Thursday I entered Canada at 07:00am after all night on the bus. The whole reason for coming to Canada was to see my God Mother but neither e-mails nor calls could locate Dee and I was left wondering whether the clogs had been popped.
Monday started with an hours power walk at 07:30 with backpack to catch the Mega Bus to Chicago. The countryside along the way wasn't very inspiring: flat fields of corn on the cob. As soon as I arrived in Chicago the city had a great feel to it. It is after all the birth place of House Music. Early evening I went for a pleasant stroll around the central loop and to Millennium Park. The city blooms on every corner and there are loads of cultural diversions and free artistic events. I started imagining it was somewhere where I could live until I reminded myself of the title windy city and its icy winter temperatures.
Tuesday was time to wear out the Havaianas some more as I walked all the way to Navy Pier and caught the Metro to a stop called Bryn Mawr. I was curious to see what a place with a Welsh name had to offer: a nice beach and park with the usual dodgy types raiding bins. I later went out for the suggested LP walking tour and as usual got lost and gave up. I think I need a refresher course in map reading! I'd had a good day out in Chicago where people on the street are really friendly and as soon as they see you with a map cannot resist to offer assistance. Such a shame though that those with an information sign above their heads are unhelpful and very often don't have a clue. Maybe it is my RP accent that they don't understand.
Wednesday was prepare yourself Rabbitts for another long 17:00-07:30 night on the bus. I did have sufficient time to visit the Chicago Board of Trade where futures were first traded in 1848 and I discovered a company I would love to work for in London. I didn't get much shut eye on the Dog - hyperactive children on Coke and i pod blarring next to me. I've come to the conclusion that 90% of people are inconsiderate. After 2 bus changes in the dead of night and having to get off the bus for an upside down immigration stamp in Canada I finally arrived at Niagara Falls. I have also come to the conclusion with all this time on my hands that border staff are very representative of their countries. India - chaotic, Thailand - efficient and friendly, Laos - bureaucratic and old fashioned, Vietnam - unfriendly and didn't believe my picture was me, Cambodia - friendly and serene, Singapore - so non-descript I can't even remember, Australia and New Zealand - so welcoming, USA - barked questions at me like a dog that I quivered and stuttered, Canada - upside down stamp. What will that mean?
Thursday was one of those days where nothing goes right and even my shower gel leaked everywhere. Niagara Falls with its torrents of water was spectacular as I sailed in my blue bin bag on the Maiden of Mist for an up and close encounter with the spray. The area around the falls has been ruined into a tacky tourist trap and the town itself is like a ghost town with very unfriendly people. I eventually made it to Toronto, I'll spare you the finer details, and walked all the way to Global Village Backpackers which has a great view of the CN Tower. My day ended as it had started - badly. My roomie came in at 12:15 and got up at 06:15 waking me up both times. It's not surprising that I am starting to look worn out and bedragled.
I therefore got up early and went off on my peligrinations to Kensington Market and China Town. I've seen better so headed home for a siesta, my first one in a long time and then was back out to find something decent to photograph in Toronto. It was a hard task in the souless city. I had another quiet night in until my new roomie turned up at 22:30 and then woke me up at 05:30 when he came in.
I was off on the Dog at 09:30 to Montreal. Greyhound Canada is on the whole a better service and has less mad clientele than it's neighbours but I overheard one traveller on the phone say "the man making my bagel isn't wearing gloves and refuses to give my money back and I want a Police officer here now". Maybe she was fearing listeria contamination which has claimed 9 lives so far. I arrived at Chez Jean in Montreal to find a higgledy-piggledy house full of mattresses in every nook and crannie but full of character, very friendly and incredibly clean. I ended up sharing a double mattress with Kiwi Ruth as space was at a premium.
Sunday I went wandering all day around Montreal. My neighbourhood had a lovely community feel to it with nice houses and great little shops. I walked all the way from Plateau Mont-Royal to the old Port, back through cobbled streets, saw Horatio on a plinth and tried to take some photos without getting the Canadian flag in the photo - near on impossible and went window shopping along Ste Catherine Street. I made my way wearily home and spoke French with my fellow hostellers. Someone thought my French accent was Mexican, thats a new one! It's just very rusty at the moment amigos. Jean-Charles, Pierre and Norbert invited me out to a free open air screening of Undergound by Kusturica which I loved back in 1996 and introduced me to Balkan Gypsy music. It was another alcohol free evening and that mans that I won't have had any booze in one country that I have visited. Cor blimey govenor! The upside down stamp must represent being teetotal.
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