Bonjour Montréal

Despite all my whingeing about the internet situation, things are going pretty well up here. I’ll try to bring you up to date.

Friday, I went to the public library, where I was able to use the public WiFi to upload the pictures for this posting. Now that I know where it is and how to get there, I’ll be doing more of that.

Last weekend was unseasonably warm, which is to say it broke every historical record for the date. It was around 75ºF/24C and sunny. Considering that a mere eight days earlier there had been the worst ice-storm since 1998, the contrast was notable.

Lots and lots of people were out and about. Many had slightly blissed-out “finally-got-some-vitamin-D” expressions. People were playing sports in the public fields on Rue Rosemont, gathering in large numbers in the shopping areas along (not-yet walk-street) Avenue-du-Mont-Royal, playing boules (or pétanque) in the park, queuing for ice-cream at a fashionable new place on Rue Saint-Denis, and picnicking on blankets at Parc La Fontaine.

I went and bought myself a bike helmet, and took my first Bixi bike ride. In fact, it was my first time on a bicycle in years and years. After a short ride home from the bike shop to the apartment, I walked back closer to our old neighborhood to pick up some mail, and then took another Bixi bike back. So many people were out enjoying the sun that I had to walk to several bike stands before I found one with a bike available! I probably pedaled all of a mile and a half over the course of two bicycle journeys, so I guess I’m a bike guy now.

Our apartment is on a tree-lined street in a neighborhood of tree-lined streets. The east/west streets are busier and have more businesses, while the north/south streets are mostly residential. Running both directions between them are many ruelles vertes. The ruelles are currently not very vert, but everywhere are signs that the area will be green and shady soon. Some early spring flowers are showing themselves, and many of the trees seem to be readying themselves to leaf out.