I’m finally here. After all that stressing about cash, the immigration people didn’t even bother to check my bank balance. Phew!It’s cold in Canada. I’m all nice warm and dry in the hostel for the time being. Currently in Quebec City in the province of Quebec! I walked this evening judging how much longer I could stand a soggy left foot, when I looked up and there was a beautifully lit citadel towering above me! Very Disney… but better and real.
It’s so cold here, as I walked to the city centre I saw snow on the footpath! I think it was a plowed pile, cos that was all there was of it. It’s been raining – trickles of rain the whole time I’ve been here. Need new shoes and coat. I’m getting wet. I also need a haircut.
Whilst walking the main street of Kingston a woman stopped me and handed her salon’s business card with an offer of a discount. Do I look that bad and poor? I am very inspired to get my hair done in trendy ole Canada.
Canada is a very intelligent, cultured, cosmopolitan and a very liberal country so far. People in this part speak French, and English with a French-Canadian accent. People communicate a lot, love gourmet food, care about their hair a lot, wear smart glasses and big warm coats. Unlike most of the USA there are interracial couples and same-sex couples everywhere everyday. It’s amazing how different things are here to the US. It’s also unbelievably natural, beautiful, old and European!
I stayed low key watching films and going to exhibitions in Montreal – saw the Museum of Contemporary Art and chuckled with artistic jealousy at the work of Vik Muniz. Watched Into the Wild, the true story of adventurously spirited Chris McCandle aka Alexander Supertramp as he lived in the wild in Alaska. I was very inspired to do the same as I fear I have so many of the same beliefs, but none of his aptitude or will – especially when it comes to hunting, skinning and gutting your own food… egh. Also, Brand upon the Brain a new super 8 silent film narrated by Isabella Rosellini. Quirky!
On a spur of the moment with no accom or tickets, I decided to see Tegan and Sara in nearby Kingston. Tickets sold out, but I lucked out at the door with strangers. Cheap too! Got real close. Sara looks too skinny. Got pics. They’re better with a home audience.
Seemed like a Tegan fueled night – as I suspected the new album was. Kicked off withCall it Off and lots of new stuff followed by Under Feet Like Ours stuff by an emo 18 year old Tegan. Then a mix of stuff (all my faves were played!). Then they did a crazy New Order-esque keyboardy version of Rhiannon’s Umbrella! It was actually really good! I hope there’s a good bootleg somewhere. I wished they had recorded it!
Giggled to their silly sibling bickering and useless everyday anecdotes about getting haircuts and going to illegal parties in your twenties. I like musicians who share stupid regular stories on stage… like John Mayer. They played at the Sydenham United Church which turned out to be a pride church… I didn’t know they existed! Crazy Canadians! It was very bizarre seeing pride colours in a church, let alone a band!
Kingston is a small town – mostly uni students (there are two unis). Lots of nature and old buildings. I walked with a frog at night. Scared I might run into a bear soon… What does one do in that situation?
In New York saw the Guggenheim, the Museum of Natural History, For the Bible Tells Me So, Romance and Cigarettes, Bloc Party at Madison Square Gardens, Arcade Fire, Les Savy Fav, LCD Soundsystem and Blonde Redhead (check them out!) – to add to the already long list of things I did culturally.
The End.
