In Love With Montreal

Flights & Customs

Misery. That’s enough said about having to do an extra stop between Sydney and NY at Los Angeles airport. Apparently all incoming traffic to USA has to stop first in Los Angeles, no matter which direction you’re coming from. This is so they can haul off all your checked-in luggage and scan it, etc. I go nailed hardcore for having face-wash in my carry-on luggage. It didn’t help when I gave a smart remark to the customs officer about recommending he use it on himself!

In Love with Montreal

Totally in love with Motreal. We (colleague and I) got here last night (Friday night) about 11pm, and very impressed with the hotel we’re staying at. We tidied up and went straight out for some grub. Got 2 MASSIVE – and I mean absoutely MASSIVE slices of pizza (each one equivalent to half a Domino’s large pizza) plus a can of Dr. Pepper for CAD$5. It was the Dr. Pepper that really made it extra special. People were talking to us in the pizza place because of our Oz accents, which makes it easy to have a good time.

We went on to a pub to get a few beers into us – purely for the health benefits of being able to get asleep. (It was 1am and we were buzzing (timezone lag). I bought the first round for $10, gave the bar chick a $10 note, and she looked at me funny. Slowly, she folded it in front of me, highlighting the fact that I hadn’t tipped her I guess. Got VERY bad looks from her, and very bad service. Quickly, we realised everyone tips here as standard. We think it’s about 20% that you have to tip or risk being not very popular at all! Fortunately we realised early enough, apologised, and tipped generously thereafter. (Minor culture difference!)

Our hotel is right in the middle of the city, with heaps of night life action. Lots of variety of pubs and clubs, it’s great. I’d love to live in Montreal purely for this reason.

Going to go see if Ben (colleague) is awake yet, will post again soon.

P.S. In the net cafe I’m at I’m hearing lots of Starcraft sounds!! If I was here for more than a week I’d join in on this Starcraft action going on here