Last day in Montreal.
I hope I’ll have time to find maple syrup, I remember it being terribly expensive at the airport, while a proper can of syrup was rather cheap at a supermarket. The opposite of alcohol really.

It is sunny again today over Montreal, and it seems I would be more encline to move in here now; I am not afraid of the cold anymore. Whether or not it remains an attractive city past the “snowhasfrozenitssummerletsgotomusicfestivals” thing, would the cultural life be up to it? I have yet to experience it, which leaves room for improvement.

The Hilton Bonaventure was a peculiar experience, with so many geeks pacing the corridors, emptying almost completely when the MIGS was over. Watching the warm water of the pool under the sun was quite magic, I wish I had taken my swim briefs.

I’m now staying in the St-Paul Hotel and the room is amazing. The sun has lit the building across the street with the reflections from the nearby windows.

From my window I can see the Habitat 67 architectural housing piece of the Avenue Pierre Dupuy. I really need to find that syrup.

It’s 10pm as I am writing this note listening to the latest Eels album (how many did they produce in the last two years, really?!), being at last in the hotel suite my company rented since the previous guest left the room at 5pm and it took more than 2 hours to clean it and let me in (although the bed table lamp’s light bulb was dead).

Gladly enough, my day until then had been very pleasant. I visited the cutest little 2 years old girl for dinner who had birthday cake pajamas, and I had been walking for hours in the Griffintown area where new ugly buildings replace the old ugly ones. Oh, and there’s the Darling Foundry too.

Thanks to the sunny and crisp winter weather combined with the former warehouses, I took such nice photos; mostly with the Instax of the recently acquired Yashica 35MF though, no luck for you.

I never walked that part of the city, although when discovering the old Montreal the last time I had seen the rusty buildings from afar which seemed to offer a good stroll. I did know I would pass by a DIY glass factory (Espace Verre) where people were at work even if we’re Sunday today, a tiny dam, some squirrels, old chevy rusting, the new Hangar restaurant and several dog parks.

Leaving that neighborhood I went to stock on music magazines, the usual suspects being Rolling Stone, Spin and NME, trying to get my hands on Bolaño’s 2666 too. I was surprised how few english books were on the shelves compared to the french ones. Even in Paris the english language section is bigger. Having read and enjoyed very much Amulet I wanted to get to the main course. I read the first 30 pages in the metro and so far so (very) good.

I have to get on to work though, new exhibition coming up soon. Once online the above pictures shall be advertised for here. I promise.

This is going to be the first time leaving home, wife and kid. Tough times.

I am seating in the airport lounge now, thinking about how having a little boy changed my life, and how it did not really change anything at all…

In the plane now. I packed up warm clothes since it started snowing this week in Montreal. I have my new Yashica with me, though the awaited carrying bag has not arrived yet. The plane is full of Quebec people and it is entertaining to hear them speak their French.

Location:Le Mesnil-Amelot,France