I tried to stay quiet when packing my room in Montreal at 8 am, but I’m afraid I woke up all my poor roommates.
I had crepe omelette leftovers in the kitchen and walked to the bus station. I had already purchased my tickets so it was very easy to just get on the bus.
The second I sat on the bus I realized I’d forgotten my Flimsy Green Umbrella.
I sat next to a Frenchman. We chatted, and he tried to get me to practice my French, but I know so little that there were only a few words I could say. His English was really bad so we tried to communicate. But it was interesting and not a long boring ride at all. It took 3 hours. Evidently, the train takes 3.5 and you have to take the Metro to the train station. The bus was easiest.
The taxi driver ripped me off, charging $20 for a ten minute ride. I knew it was high, but I didn’t feel great and was already annoyed that the guy in front of me rudely jumped in front of me and stole my taxi. I simply didn’t have the energy to argue.
Oh well, it happens in every single city I’ve ever been to, and it happens to everybody.
There is a ginormous music festival going on in Quebec for two weeks. There are 100,000 people coming in for this event. Big names like Nickelback, Post Malone, Jonas Brothers, 50 Cent, etc., are here. It’s a pretty cool deal, $150 for a 10 day pass.
Unfortunately, my hostel is right in the middle of everything. There are booming speakers set up for the after-party directly facing the hostel.
I walked down to one of the three free stages around 3:30 to see what was up and it was really cool. There are food and drink booths, nice porta potties, and music on a big stage with a good sound system. This is not small time, whatsoever.
Walking back around 5:00 was a different story. There are hordes of people making a human river going down the street. You have to stay with the current or you will be trampled. If you need to make a U turn, you have to look for an opening and run through to reverse direction.
My strategy will be to have lunch/dinner by 5, then leave the area or stay in the hostel until 9 when crowds let up. Then I can hit the free shows or stand outside the headliners’ stages. You can hear everything; it’s just a little distorted.
I went back out and tried to get a drink somewhere in town but there were lines everywhere. I ended up back at my hostel. Then I felt really exhausted and went to read in bed, feeling every beat from across the street in my body, pissed off that I would never never ever ever sleep tonight. People in the hostel bar downstairs screaming and yelling. It’s like being at a frat party.
Then there’s my hostel itself. First, I have to walk up three flights of stairs to get to my room. Next, I hate my bed. I can’t sit up without hitting my head on the bottom of the mattress above, and I can’t straighten my neck. And every time I get out of the bunk, I hit my head on the curtain rod.
Plus, the bathroom is outside and I have to share with boys and girls! Ew. Never had to do that anywhere.
And I have a f-ing cold. No wonder my muscles burn when I walk.
I went down to reception asking if there were any options for changing to a quieter room. That said no. I asked if I could cancel my reservation and they said that since I had booked through Booking.com, that the change needs to go through them. I immediately contacted Booking, but but they haven’t responded.
I really wish I’d have kept my original place in Lower Town. I was nervous about the tiny, narrow staircase four flights up with the one bathroom on the 3rd floor that is to be shared by 8 people. Imagine needing to pee at 3 am, getting down the treacherous stairs while half asleep, then having to wait for someone taking a d&*p. Plus it was $70 more a night = almost a $300 difference. It would be worth it.
I just do not have the patience for 18 year olds drinking. I’m ready to go home. I’m too old for this shit. It’s cold in the evenings and I don’t have the right clothes.