Montreal - Day 2 (4/8/10)

Day 2 began with a stop at the concierge desk (which was empty), but thankfully a very helpful bellhop (Patrice--our new BFF) came to our rescue and suggested we stop for breakfast at Au Pain Dore--a yummy French bakery (I'm thinking this can count as #52 on my list)! I had coffee, Deb had a latte, and we each had a chocolate croissant--heaven! We sat upstairs, enjoyed our decadent delights, and watched the bustle of downtown Montreal (what's not to love about vacations with lazy mornings!).

The weather was windy and chilly, but we bundled up in our winter coats, scarves and gloves and warmed by the coffee and croissants, headed out for some sight-seeing and shopping.

A first stop was to head up to McGill University on foot--of course we had to stop in at their bookstore (we're two academic geeks--and a bookstore is very much like a souvenir shop!). Patrice had also mentioned we should walk through the McGill Ghetto--we thought he was joking and throwing out some slang, but turns out that it's a real area. (The shopping won out over the historic neighborhood walk.)

A second stop was at our favorite clothing shop--H&M. I love this store--sure, some of the clothes are a little "out there" for me, but they have great prices and I often find things suitable to both work and home. Deb and I both made some purchases and headed down Rue Sainte-Catherine (a great shopping street in Montreal).

We eventually headed back towards the hotel--the conference that Deb was attending was hosted at a hotel just down the street. We stopped there for lunch and for her to pickup her conference materials. Then Deb went to a session while I headed back to the hotel room for a quick nap and some more shopping. This time I stopped in at Roots, a Canadian mainstay. Super expensive clothes but I found some great deals and gifts on clearance. Yea for sales!

For dinner we headed out to another area that Patrice had recommended--the Plateau--another historic part of the city. We wandered the streets searching out a place to have dinner (Thai, French, Italian anyone?) and enjoyed the cute confectioner shops, book stores, and papeterie (stationery stores--I was in heaven). We eventually settled on a small Mexican restaurant for dinner that served tacos al pastor. This was something new to me, but my cousin Deb, the Spanish professor and fluent-Spanish speaker, assured me I wouldn't be disappointed. And I wasn't--super yummy and I ate too much (even though the tacos were small!). After dinner we continued walking around Le Plateau, making a quick stop at a convenience store so we could pick up some Mackintosh toffees--another Canadian mainstay and something I always try to pick up while in Canada.

Then it was back to our hotel to get some shut-eye (did I mention the hotel had an elevator with a direct connect to the subway/metro tunnel--how cool/convenient is that?!?).

[I may have overdone the wikipedia citations in this post...but since it's not a paper for my class, I think I'm safe.]

Montreal - Day 1 (4/7/10)

Many months ago my cousin Deb invited me on a trip with her to Montreal, Canada. I love traveling, I love spending time with my cousins--the easy answer was an immediate "yes!". Deb needed to attend part of a work conference and I would tag along for fun, shopping, and more fun.

For months I anticipated the trip--a chance to get out of town is always exciting, but a chance to get out my passport and add another stamp--woohoo!!!

Two weeks ago I woke up before dawn (after finishing a paper that was due for class and only getting an hour of sleep), caught a ride to the airport from my favorite taxi driver (my Dad) and learned that my flight had been overbooked. Well, sure, I'd be willing to bump (really)--I'm on vacation and the free flight credit means another trip sometime soon! The very nice gate agent wasn't sure she'd need me to bump, but she booked me on flights later in the day so I'd be sure to make it to Montreal that night. She had me wait to board the plane until the very end. I actually got on the plane, and then not 5 minutes later, the nice gate agent came to find me and asked if I'd be willing to get off--sure! I'm on vacation! I've got nothing but time on my hands, books to read, and a Starbucks card waiting to be used--bring it on!

I'm sure it's hard to imagine spending two hours, much less 6 1/2 hours at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, but it actually went fast. I took a nap, drank some coffee, had some breakfast, did some work on my laptop, started a new book, took another nap, read part of a magazine, drank some more coffee, did some shopping, then got ready to board my first flight. To Detroit. Where I had a 4-hour layover. Don't feel sorry for me--I was on vacation!

When I boarded my flight I realized that I had been re-booked in first class. FIRST CLASS. I have never flown first class. Ever. First class rocks. My new BFF Sharon (head flight attendant) was there handing me a bottle of water and offering to take my coat. In a way, I felt like I was at one of those fancy restaurants. And, if I’d caught on earlier (ie, that I was in first class and that everything was FREE), I would have taken her up on her offer of a pre-flight beverage.

First class passengers have it made. Free food, free drinks, comfy seats, our own little bathroom (though that was just like all the other airplane bathrooms I’ve been in!), etc. And the food was GOOD. I chose the fiesta chicken salad for lunch. People—it had cilantro in it—CILANTRO. And it was yummy, as was the fresh fruit that came with it. And the glass of chardonnay I had wasn’t half bad either (I mean, I’m certainly not going to complain since it was FREE).

I did feel a little bad when we hit some turbulence and they had to suspend beverage service in the “main” cabin (though they continued it for us first classers). I almost wanted to take my glass of ginger ale (we’re talking a REAL glass, not that plastic stuff) back and share it with some of the other passengers…but I didn’t.

For taking the voluntary bump I received a flight credit to be used on future travel—that’s great and why I was so willing to turn my 9 hours of travel into 17 hours of travel. The first class travel experience was a completely unexpected, but totally appreciated, bonus.

If only Day 1 could have ended with the first class experience...but it didn't. We arrived in Detroit to a rainstorm and my 4-hour layover. The Detroit airport is nice. Since I had the time I decided to get some exercise and walked the A, B and C terminals (I was missing my Zumba class at the Y so the walking was good--though my shoulder-bag got heavier with each terminal!). The Detroit airport also has this cool connector tunnel with ambient music and lighting--a picture wouldn't do it justice, but it was sort of like being in one of those aquarium tunnels with the water and fish all around.

Though I was ready for my flight to leave, the airport was not and declared a state of "ground stop"--something about it lightening outside and taking the ground crew off the tarmac. That delayed us another hour but I finally boarded the flight from Detroit to Montreal with several French-speaking fellow travelers. Woohoo!!!

Unfortunately this flight was almost a complete opposite from my first one. I was seated in an exit row (ideally allowing me more leg room), but had a seat-mate who had no issues with "spilling over" into my seat area. Really? Your legs are on my side buddy! And then our flight attendant Denise came down the row to get our consent that we could operate the doors in the event of an emergency.

Denise: Do you confirm that you are physcially able to operate the doors in case of an emergency?

Us: Yes.

Denise: But most important...do NOTHING unless I TELL YOU TO. Do you understand me?

What other answer is there??? I think Denise had had a long day--she had an issue with a passenger who refused to put her purse under the seat in front of her. Then that same passenger tried to get out of her seat while we were still ascending (I was afraid Denise was going to turn the flight around!). The flight got even better when my seat-mate started whistling. That's right people--he was WHISTLING (and not because he was listening to an ipod!).

And then we arrived in Montreal. Whew! But my luggage wasn't waiting there like I'd been told it would (since it should have arrived hours earlier). Then I had to wait almost another hour for the Delta gate agent to return to the baggage area and complete my missing luggage form (I was assured it was in hanging out in Detroit and should arrive the next day).

Thankfully I made it out of the airport and with the help of my French taxi driver, made it to the Marriott Chateau Champlain, my home away from home for the next four days. Vacation--here I come!

Thanks, Delta, for the best and (almost) worst traveling experience of my life--I'll see you again soon when I use that flight credit (maybe even on first class!).

Random thots

I love watching the TV show "Dancing with the Stars"--I love the live music, the crazy costumes, the background stories, etc. What I don't love are terrible dancers and this season there are some terrible, TERRIBLE dancers. I never call in and vote for my favorites, but if they had an option to vote OFF people, I'd totally be there.

Who I'd vote OFF:

Buzz--You're a legend, I get it. You did some amazing things and inspired a nation, got it. You're bringing the over 50 crowd to the television-viewing audience--they have money and the show needs the advertisers, so I get that too. But Buzz--you cannot dance. Your body has flown it's last mission and it's time to put that puppy back in the hangar. Please.

Kate--Kate, Kate, Kate...where to start--the fake hair, fake smile, fake drama on the show. Yes, I realize you don't like the news media or the cameras and have a lot to deal with in your life right now. But, do you have a real job? Isn't it your famous "show" that has supported your family in the manner its become accustomed to? I can't decide if you're just a terrible dancer, or, if you just don't want to be there (and feel above it all), either way, you've got to go.

Aiden--You seem nice enough, but I have no idea who you are (yes, I realize you're a soap star), and I just keep thinking that you should be out somewhere, making a western in the Australian outback.

Ultimate victory

"Ultimate victory comes from the grave of apparent defeat."

This was the theme of the pastor's sermon this Easter morning and it's stuck in my mind. Actually, it's stuck in my mind since I went to the Saturday night contemporary worship service that Palmcroft hosted last night (worship under the stars--it was like being at summer camp, but with 700 other people!). The pastor used examples such as Moses' life and the journey across the Red Sea (Exodus), the two witnesses discussed in Revelation 11, and Jesus' crucifixion and rising from the dead--the message certainly captured my attention and I'm still chewing on it.

Today was a great day--sang with the choir in all three morning services, then spent the afternoon with family. My brother and SIL1 hosted a backyard picnic and pool party (only the boys braved the frigid temps of the pool!). I took a nap in the sun, played catch with my nephew, caught up with SIL2, and ate way too much (including ham sandwiches, deviled eggs, and m&m brownies!).

Today was a great day and a great way to celebrate our risen Lord!

Hippity, hoppity

I went to my first hip hop class at the Y this week and I loved it. Loved it. Loved it so much I can't wait to go back,, wish it were offered every night of the week and wish I could toss in the towel on Zumba and embrace only hip hop.

Did I mention I loved it?

Everything was built on an eight-count. As in, 5-6-7-8-jam out! But seriously, Vicki S. at the Southwest Valley Family YMCA may just be my favorite group exercise teacher ever. She broke down the moves into small pieces, putting together a few at a time, repeating them repeatedly, and having us build on the routine each time. Granted, the moves in the first 1/2 hour of the class probably weren't that difficult, but who doesn't love a "kick-sit" or a "bucket-pull"--I think it was probably good that I couldn't see myself in the mirror, but I was totally rockin' out.

Then came the second half of the class when Vicki S. decided to teach a new routine...and things sort of fell apart for me. Between trying to "shake it like Beyonce" and doing a "cross-kick," I had a much more difficult time keeping up, but as with so many things in life, I laughed at myself, kept jammin' out, and had a great time.

And the other thing I love about hip hop? You can have a total attitude while you're doing it, like, "yea, don't mess with me--I know hip hop" (and then bust out some moves).