The Land of Bixi

What I learned about Montreal:

There is a certain aggressive vigour* in the city's view of itself- here is the founder of McGill, for example:

Onward!

It's particularly clear in the behaviour of the cyclists, who all ride like maniacs. And there are so many of them! Everywhere we rode (and we rode a lot) there were scores of fit, reckless people on bikes zooming by and jamming up the intersections. They have a beautifully done and very well used bike share programme, and everywhere you look is another rack of public bikes (or Bixis):

SO MANY BIXIS

The fact that each Bixi weighs about 50 pounds does not deter Montreallers from riding them TOP SPEED in all directions. I have wistful fantasies of NYC getting to that point eventually, but we'd need some serious bike lane restructuring. Montreal's bike lanes make sense, go where you want to go, and are often protected by concrete curbs on BOTH sides. It was really nice. 

There was also lovely architecture and landscapes and some really dedicated surfers flopping around in a slightly turbulent section of the Saint Lawrence. There was a Biosphere,

One of the weirder world fair relics I've seen, though I think Knoxville's Sunsphere still wins

And the Highest Inclined Tower in the World,

We went up in a funicular

And an Octopus,

Previously sighted in Portland

And an unexpected screening of my favorite Swiss 80s art film which OH MY LACK OF GOD is on YouTube! Aaaaah!

I liked wandering around and not rushing at all, and it was lovely to spend time with my gentleman-friend. We tried to speak French, but couldn't quite shake a sense of ridiculousness even if we KNEW we were saying the words we meant to say. The bizarre Quebecois accent doesn't help. A friendly youth hostel employee informed us that Montreallers are all mean, much meaner than New Yorkers, but  Philadelphians are the meanest of all. It's a shame that everyone's perception of Phila appears to be based on It's Always Sunny. 

I stopped in Phila on the way back to Brooklyn to collect my cat, and while sitting in the Rocket Cat and trying to get my brain together after a 15 hour train ride and inadequate sleep I felt a great sense of homesickness. Mostly because the flyers pasted to the windows were so much cooler than the ones I'd find in an analogous Brooklyn cafe. I might just be going to the wrong cafes, but Phila has a lovely sense of community and I don't think this big, anxious city can replicate it. 

Dorian don't care, though. He was nervous for about an hour, then decided he was above it all. 

This is after having his way with my lovely new curtains

It's only been 24 hours and my cat is already cooler than I am. 

Orientation starts tomorrow. I am not gonna be a snob! I am not gonna be a snob! I am not gonna be a snob! Much. 

-Isis

*Spelled in Canadian to honour and humour our neighbour's flavours.