the rest of Montreal

After Claires house I went to stay in Little Italy with Drew & Amy, who I found their contact info in the guest book that was at the place where I stayed at in Burlington VT (with Rob & Nati). Drew and Amy are political activists who write and film for radical grass roots media organizations. Mediacoop.ca

The day after my bike was stolen and right after I filed the report with the po-po, I went to a coffee shop to use the interweb on my Ipod. I met a friendly space guy who was super interesting with a lot to share and express. He was on his way to a rainbow but before he left he let me borrow his scary spare bike. He even played some flute for me!! (that is how he made money, through busking) I was greatful for that!! The day after, a random stranger letting me use their bike. Even though the handle bar stem was not connected to the fork, which made the bicycle dangerous and handled like a toy car, I used it for a day.

The rest of the week I just borrowed peoples bikes that I was staying with as well as used the citys bike system called BIXI. Its a great, because there are racks of Bixi bikes on almost every street corner, and it makes commuting and getting places ultra convenient. Basically you pay $5 for 24hrs or $12 for 72- and after you take out the bike from its space, you just return it back to any other bixi stand. The catch is you can only use the bike for 30min at a time. So once you return it to the stand, you may  need to get it back out. The point is you are just using it to travel quickly from one destination to the next around the city. I think this system of the borrowed city bike is also implemented in Toronto and London.  
If I wasent so idealist and somewhat of a bike snob who s in love with a lugged steel frame than there would be no point to even having a bike in this city.....

WHY ME?

Which brings me to the reasons why I think my bike was stolen.

I cold just say that I was not being careful with my possessions, which is partly true. (Even though I have left my bike locked up unattended for longer in DC, Philly & NYC. So it was definitely a professional operation for someone to open the U-Lock.)

or

I could just shrug it off and say "it was totally random" & "bad things happen to good people"

But I think there may be more to it than that. 

The incident has caused me to think "Am I not doing something right in my life?"

Because I think stuff happens for a reason.

And now, more than ever, I am evaluating my thoughts and actions. This has also caused me to reprioritize. As in finding new ways to have fun other than on my bicycle. But more importantly, not identifying with the material object. 

I did identify with my nice bicycle and I still totally do. I am a cyclist who loved riding and I loved my bike, now I am just Nora.

What I did in Montreal (post bicycle)

 I started running to try to compensate for the exercise. I am increasing my distance ever other day.

From doing more walking and running than I am used to, my legs are sore because im using new muscles . But despite my throbbing shins and achy thighs I feel great.

I have been dancing quite a bit too. Each sunday there is somthing called Picnic Electronic. An Island with djs playing a bunch of house music. You can bring whatever food and drink you want and the dancing lasts all day.

After I went with some people to the Picnic on Saturday there was a screening of the popular Quebec drama titled C. R. A. Z. Y.

The park service people didnt put on the subtitles, but it was easy to understand. and others around me were whispering me in on what I didnt get.

  A friend in Charleston suggested that I eat Montreals famous dish. Which happened to be repulsing and i dont know why any province would pride theirselves in this food. Poutine: fries, smothered in brown gravy, squeaky cheese and whatever else you want them to glob on top. Its worse for you than a greasy pizza topped with hotdog.

 I went to the park la fountain (fountain park) and saw three amazing Arabic bands. The quality of the music was so good. I felt like I was at Austin City Limits, but for free.

Photos:
Oh and just to fill you in on why there are no photos and there will not be any for a while.
I was walking around the city, I had just taken a photo of a building. and an hour later I sat down in a nearby park to write a post card, I looked through my bag and the small pouch I kept my camera and ipod in was stolen!! Yep. pick pocketed.


Once again, there has been a major shift in my priorities. Instead of spending hours of my week in coffee shops using the wifi I will be doing more writing as well as some reworking of the thoughts and lyrics I have been writing on my trip. A lot of stuff would pop in my head while on my bike, and I didnt do anything with them after I wrote them down.

This is not so bad: no phone, no ipod. Now I can truly live as a luddite now just in idea but in practice.
Hurray!!

comic relief: