2 in a row...
So my last post was more of an introduction... Sort of a "Welcome to Canadia, eh" kind of thing.
This place is kind of cool. I'm digging it here. It's a little different than Western Mass. For instance, French is the main language as opposed to the Spanish we're all used to back home. And if you're lucky, you'll actually hear people in malls speak English now and then. Kind of cool.
The weather isn't that much different except that they use the Metric System up here. So when some Canadian tells you "Hey man, the weather with the windchill can get as low as 30 below eh.", the American translation is "Dear sir, the weather with the windchill can get as low as 22 below." Cold but it isn't the tundra I was expecting. 1 word: Overhype.
Speaking of overhype... The Metro is a "Source of Pride" as you can see for yourself in this official document: http://www.stm.info/English/en-bref/a-notrefierte.pdf
Now... The Metro isn't bad. Perhaps a little better than the T in Boston. But it's nothing to brag about. I mean, the T is great compared to the New York Subway and you don't hear Bostonians say "Hey, check out the T, it's a Source of Pride." And if someone ever tells you that: GUTPUNCH.
One cool thing is when I look out my windows, or if I'm on my balcony, I have a lovely view of Parc St-Laurent. The one thing different about the parks here in Montreal is that they are lacking in 2 major areas: Trash and riff-raff. It's always clean and there's no trouble to be found. One wicked cool thing that they do... There's a track around the football field. Now I'm not sure if it's Canadian Football regulation or American Football regulation... Time to buy a bigger tape measure.. But anyway, they take that track, freeze it and then smooth it out with a zamboni. So up until about 10pm, 7 nights a week one can watch people ice skating under very very bright floodlights that light up most of my apartment. (At least I'm saving a few bucks on electricity). I haven't invested in a pair of skates yet, but since the rink isn't that far, I may invest some money here: http://www.spudtech.com
Right now the country seems to be in a grand state of depression. No hockey at the present. I like hockey but the real travesty here is that the Expos are officially going to Washington DC. Not that they were anything great or even good.. In fact, they sucked.. But even crappy baseball is still baseball. And the teams they played were good. Oh well.
So those are things in a nutshell for now. I'm still exploring the the area. There's a lot of cool stuff to see. And I'm sure I'll have plenty of good tales from the Canuck-side to share with you all.
Seacrest... Out!
This place is kind of cool. I'm digging it here. It's a little different than Western Mass. For instance, French is the main language as opposed to the Spanish we're all used to back home. And if you're lucky, you'll actually hear people in malls speak English now and then. Kind of cool.
The weather isn't that much different except that they use the Metric System up here. So when some Canadian tells you "Hey man, the weather with the windchill can get as low as 30 below eh.", the American translation is "Dear sir, the weather with the windchill can get as low as 22 below." Cold but it isn't the tundra I was expecting. 1 word: Overhype.
Speaking of overhype... The Metro is a "Source of Pride" as you can see for yourself in this official document: http://www.stm.info/English/en-bref/a-notrefierte.pdf
Now... The Metro isn't bad. Perhaps a little better than the T in Boston. But it's nothing to brag about. I mean, the T is great compared to the New York Subway and you don't hear Bostonians say "Hey, check out the T, it's a Source of Pride." And if someone ever tells you that: GUTPUNCH.
One cool thing is when I look out my windows, or if I'm on my balcony, I have a lovely view of Parc St-Laurent. The one thing different about the parks here in Montreal is that they are lacking in 2 major areas: Trash and riff-raff. It's always clean and there's no trouble to be found. One wicked cool thing that they do... There's a track around the football field. Now I'm not sure if it's Canadian Football regulation or American Football regulation... Time to buy a bigger tape measure.. But anyway, they take that track, freeze it and then smooth it out with a zamboni. So up until about 10pm, 7 nights a week one can watch people ice skating under very very bright floodlights that light up most of my apartment. (At least I'm saving a few bucks on electricity). I haven't invested in a pair of skates yet, but since the rink isn't that far, I may invest some money here: http://www.spudtech.com
Right now the country seems to be in a grand state of depression. No hockey at the present. I like hockey but the real travesty here is that the Expos are officially going to Washington DC. Not that they were anything great or even good.. In fact, they sucked.. But even crappy baseball is still baseball. And the teams they played were good. Oh well.
So those are things in a nutshell for now. I'm still exploring the the area. There's a lot of cool stuff to see. And I'm sure I'll have plenty of good tales from the Canuck-side to share with you all.
Seacrest... Out!
posted by Surviving In The Burbs at 1/04/2005 07:58:00 PM
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