... a little ditty called madness....

So Montreal is wonderful, there are so many beautiful people here - it is stunning. Arrived here at around 7pm yesterday - Still waiting for my luggage to catch up to me (Yay United Airlines) Starting to get a bit worried. Also honourable mention goes to US Customs - Where I am sure my luggage was last in tact. So Washington was something. First impression - Hot, Second - wow Americains like hugenormous flags as much as Canadians like random huge things (Wawa's Goose, The Giant Peanut in NB, check out http://www.bigthings.ca/ a funny tribute to Canada's Big Things). Third - Washington is well, different. We flew into Dulles Airport which is in Virginia as far as I can tell? But it seemed to belive it was in Washington. Dulles Airport is not the popular Washington Airport, Regan is - But I guess International Folks tend to get the shakedown at that airport so except for the luggage incident.... nah I think I would have taken the shakedown, I'd like some luggage please. Clothes maybe? I don't know why I flew into Dulles... It was first on the list I guess. Anyway it was lovely there - I had drank a fair amount of gin during my travels and was quite happy - The airport has these weird pod mobiles to take you from the terminals to the main building, it was very retro space age. The airport was nuts but once we got on the highway it was quiet - there isn't a lot of traffic in Washington. I stayed at a lovely ditty called the Morrison-Clark Historic Inn which was fairly centrally located. the first day we were there is was something like 98 degrees F - nuts, day 2 was 110. Day one was a late arrival, day two - we registered for the conference we were attending (Student Recruitment and Retention - I could tell you more but the airplane ate my luggage) then we went on tour. It was crazy hot - 110. 110! I had no idea how much I loved that big blue ocean until I saw a pond i couldn't jump in. We went to see the white house - Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial. They sure do like statues in Washington - they are everywhere. Architecture is amazing and the city design is odd. There are no real shopping districts downtown except for a spurt by China Town and another up at Georgetown, which is all fine - no need to drop dollars. (Especially when everything is in a suitcase that is on vacation) Other days were spent at the conference - I didn't get into the Smithsonian Museums which isn't cool but they closed as soon as the conference was over - We did get to go on tour and see the sights of D.C. Everything from the uppidy neighbourhoods, to the not so uppidy - Oddly enough fairly close to the divide in classes we drove by the main brians of the IMF and right next door our good pals of the WTO. *Sigh* And I am sure many of you knew how I felt. After this we did an amazing valley drive into Virginia - absolutely stunning. While there we went to the Arlington National Cemetery it was something.... Did the tour, took in the sites - then we went to see the unknown soldiers and were watching a very long changing of the guards when all of a sudden one of the guard turns to everyone annonunces that it's 7pm, the area is closed and is now a restriced military zone. I have never seen people scurry in such a hurry. Yikes. People in D.C. are mostly friendly - but also mostly tourists or immigrants in the areas where I was, I don't think there are many people from D.C. - It is kind of like Calgary. Sure you know people from Calgary - But Do you KNOW people from Calgary?

Last night after arriving in Montreal we went for a little walk in the city so I could try to find anything, cause i have nothing...haha and we ended up at la fondue - ordered a ton of great food, a bottle of great wine and chocolate fondue to end. Took in sights and sounds - and today was pretty much the same - Went on tour, went to mount royale and took in tam tams .. how can I explain it - Evolve gone wild. Huge hippie gathering with tonnes of people all over the park doing drum circles, local artisians selling their wears, and the best - (the stunt kids, jugglers, devlil stickeans, and poi boys were great mind you) but the best were these kids who had claimes a part of the park. They were having medieval battles. It was crazy - People of all ages constructed swords and shields and costumes. I can't wait to post pics!

This evening was a tour of sainte-catherine, old montreal, and china town. There are concerts everywhere this evening and people everywhere as well. great city - great vibe.

I think I could see myself living here for a bit... Je pense que je pourrais vivre ici en effet. C'est une grande idée. Je pense oui ! Au Revoir... Éclat Dessus - Stacy