Chicoutimi to Montreal

I could have stayed longer in Chicoutimi, but time is pushing us onwards. We interviewed such a range of people - the director of ELFCQ, the French Language and Quebec Culture School at the university, several independent filmmakers at the local film co-op, some hippies smoking joints in the park . . . it was really cool. I would defiantly recommend heading away from the obvious tourist spots of Quebec and heading into lesser travelled areas. Not just Chicoutimi, that was as far as we were able to make it this trip, but farther north, or farther up the river. It is awesome.

We headed for Montreal next, and after a long bus ride, I was not feeling well at all. I'm not too sure what got me, but it probably just boiled down to the nonstop travelling. We got into Montreal, and couldn't get a hold of the guy we were hoping to stay with, and then found a hostel, and then got a hold of the guy. But by that time, I didn't want to do anything but lay down and find a nice state of unconsciousness, and the hostel was only a block or so from the bus station, so we went there. It was kinda scary back there, not the best hostel we've stayed in, but then, most places near the bus station or train station are usually not in the best area and aren't the nicest, cleanest or safest. This did not stop me from falling into that nice state of unconsciousness as soon as my head hit the pillow. So thanks again to Neil, who did guard duty and slept with one eye open, watching the gear.

Montreal has not been the best place to get interviews, either. We had some success at McGill, but it's exam time, so most people are tucked away studying. We didn't get much from the shops we went in, though we did get a couple of people in a sex shop. And really, isn't that quintessentially what Montreal seems to be known for throughout Canada? Sex shops and parties. Maybe if I'd have been in more of a partying mood, we'd have been more successful, but I'm not sure how good the sound would have been anyway . . .