I had no plans to blog my full day in Montreal. To be honest, it was quite boring as I was severely lacking in sleep. Numerous opportunities presented themselves (ie, getting locked out of my AirBnB, forgetting to give the bride and groom their wedding gift, etc), but I resisted because all you’d get were tons of cool angle shots around Montreal. And even a ghost! And then the Universe was like “giiiiiirrrrrrrl, you’re not getting off that easy.” So allow me to make the Universe happy and share one final blog entry from my mini jaunt to Canada:
Sunday morning I left Ottawa via the train and headed to Montreal. It is a super easy route (no train changes) and I felt good about being in Montreal despite not speaking any French and being extremely tired from Saturday’s wedding festivities. I walked from the central train station to my Airbnb and got in relatively easily. I followed all the check in rules and anyone who knows me knows I read, re-read and then read again any and all instructions. Why yes, I do have some anxiety. But who doesn’t?!
I quickly dropped off my bags and proceeded to go find food because I was starving. Did I mention it was Canadian Thanksgiving? Did I mention I still don’t know what exactly it commemorates but if I’m going to move to Canada, I suppose I should learn. On Saturday, I was so worried about missing the shuttle to the wedding venue that I forgot the card and money I carried for the happy couple. No biggie because now I could address it to “Cate and Taylor” [shameless plug to read the previous blog entry titled “#weddinggoals”]. Somehow I knew I’d need to borrow from the wedding gift money so I opened the sealed envelope (tacky I know, but I’ll blame the postal company if questioned) and grabbed the cash. And luckily I did because the only restaurant I found in close proximity to my Airbnb was a Chinese restaurant that only accepted cash. My intuition/anxiety have never steered me wrong. While at dinner, I received a message from the Airbnb host Cedric. His message said to remember to keep the room key card away from cell phones and credit cards because it could get demagnetized. You’d think his lengthy check in instructions might have mentioned that fact. Below is our exchange:
Um listen Cedric, it might be a cultural thing or maybe you’re just an ass but tell people in the checkin instructions and we won’t have to inconvenience you. I may have misinterpreted his message as rude but he may also have been. After getting the new key, I was hesitant to leave the apartment again. But nevertheless, on Monday I set out to explore Montreal. And by explore, I mean walk around for 3 hours, grab McDonald’s (don’t judge) and go back to the apartment because it was cold! Below are some of my favorite pictures from around Montreal and if you look closely in one, there is some weird green orb that we can’t figure it out. And by we, I mean I sent it to my mom who’s a professional photographer for confirmation on whether it was lens flare or not. She says “no.” It’s also in front of City Hall so perhaps it’s haunted.
As I was packing to go home, I realized I had no clean underwear left but that was Ok because I was heading home. Also, I tossed my SonicCare toothbrush head because a refill was awaiting me at my final destination. I should have known the Universe had other plans for me. At 11a, I checked out of Cedric’s disgusting apartment and walked to a nice steakhouse because no way was I going to eat crappy United/Air Canada airplane food. When I was done eating, I took a fun Uber ride to the airport where I would wait about 4 hours until my flight. All good because I’d rather be waiting there than miss my flight. As boarding time came and went, there was no plane in sight. My connection in Houston was about an hour so it was tight but I felt confident the Universe wouldn’t do me wrong. I mean, it saw me pack and knew I had no clean underwear left. Nasty.
We finally board and are informed that an extra hour is added to our flight time because of heavy winds in Houston. F Houston. Not really but I really, really want to get home. Overhearing conversations around me, I realize the older woman sitting in the aisle across from me is supposed to be connecting to the San Diego flight also. Well her and another couple so FOUR OF US! This is important later because F#%^ United. She’s praying and chiding me for being a realist that we probably won’t make the flight. I remind her that San Diego is snobby and there’s times where air traffic is not allowed. Sometimes I wish SD would let planes continuously come in for this particular reason. We land and it’s mad house, a woman actually jumped from 2 rows in front of me to 2 behind me to get her suitcase. And then proceeded to ram me with it because she has a “tight connection.” Newsflash lady, we all have tight connections. Calm yourself! I walk to customer service and get rebooked on the next morning flight to SD. But no hotel comp because it wasn’t United’s fault. F#%^ United. I mean, couldn’t they have escorted the 4 of us to the plane and made it wait 10-20 mins. We had already cleared customs in Montreal and were all ready to go home. Again, F#%^ United. So I shelled out $63 of my own money to spend 1 night in a hotel room that smelled like cigarettes with decor straight out of 1980s. I’m now in the airport awaiting my final fight to San Diego. And for those wondering, I’m not wearing any underwear, my face isn’t washed, my clothes are dirty and best of all, I haven’t brushed my teeth in over 24 hours. F#%^ United!!
There She Goes... 