Summer fun in Montreal - late June 2010: I

[+ newatthis]

Beforehand. Ten months since my last trip, a record. An unusual number of glitches have made me anxious. There will be no priceline coups (last year I landed the Sheraton for $60) – 18,500 Rotarians are having their convention in Montreal and none of the 4* hotels has vacancies. Mtlover, whose visit will overlap mine, suggests BBV, a bed and breakfast in the Village. They can give me a room with private bath but only for the first 4 nights; I'll have to move to a shared-bath room for the last night. I also put down a refundable deposit on a 1-bedroom apartment on the Plateau.

 

The Canadian dollar is trending against me. In the past year it has risen from US$0.86 to US$0.97.

 

And most worrisome of all has been a spate of postings on this MC denigrating the Montreal experience. Will I end up in a bad living situation in a dull city paying high prices?

 

Housing breaks my way at the last minute: there's been a cancellation at BBV and I can keep the same room for my whole visit.

 

I set up sessions with two favorite escorts for Tuesday and Wednesday. A visit to craigslist produces a prospect who seems professional and reliable on the phone; I book him for Monday afternoon. (My general experience with Montreal craigslist has been good.)

 

 

Sunday. A worrisome start – the incipient cold that has been nagging at me all week chooses this morning to break into full-blown sneezing and coughing. Worse – the computer refuses to accept my boarding pass (American has just instituted online check in for international flights) and my name is not on the gate agent's paper list. I'm asked to step aside. A few people board; she consults a second list and says "funny, you're on one list, but not the other." I get a sinking feeling in my stomach; the plane looks full and I envision its pulling away without me. Finally she relents and allows me to board.

 

We arrive early. Off the plane and straight through immigration and customs, less than 10 minutes from plane door to terminal door. I've decided to try the new express bus to town. To the end of the line, the bus station on Rue Berri, takes 35 minutes, about 5 minutes longer than a taxi. From there I opt for a short taxi ride over a 15-minute walk to the BBV.

 

Mtlover, who arrived a few days ago, greets me at the door. The manager checks me in and takes me to my newly renovated second floor room. It's cheery and spotlessly clean, but quite small. The double bed, two small night tables with drawers for clothing and small European style (i.e. not built in) closet more or less completely fill the available floor space. The extremely hot houseboy is busy cleaning the room next door as I unpack. I hope to see more of him!

 

I whip off an email to my Monday craigslist guy, telling him where to meet me so I can let him into the BBV. I ask him to confirm that arrangement either by phone or email.

 

We head to the terrace at Kilo for a drink and boy-watching while Mtlover fills me in on his adventures. A local acquaintance passes by and stops to greet me. Ste. Cathérine has been spiffed up for the summer season with 3 broad undulating yellow stripes from Berri to Papineau. I notice that a few restaurants (Food, Vallarta, Donatella's) have closed; they've been replaced by as many or more new places (Tomato, Villa Rouge, Steak Frites, Juste Pour Vous). Mtlover goes off for a massage appointment; we're to meet around 5:30 at Campus. I arrive early and it seems pretty empty, so I go back outside, settle in on the park bench across the street, and watch the very hot waiter at Mado's for about 45 minutes.

 

Back at Campus, there are now quite a few more customers and dancers. (Since there is no longer a 6 pm to midnight shift, they must have been hanging out upstairs when I first arrived.) I sit at the bar. I'm very taken with a beautifully built, darkly handsome dancer named Jasmin, but he doesn't make eye contact. With Mtlover's arrival, we move to a table near the stage. We're both entranced by Charles, who has large, soulful eyes. When Mtlover takes him to the back, I manage to induce Jasmin to come over. The lack of eye contact was no accident; he doesn't show much interest in making conversation, either. Worse, within a few minutes he announces – with no prompting on my part – that he's straight and only does this "for the money." Oh, yes, and "would I like to do some dances?" (You can guess my answer.) Mtlover returns Charles to our table; I turn my attention to him and, lousy friend that I am, leave Mtlover to deal with Jasmin. Charles has a headache. I produce some ibuprofen and offer to massage his head. As soon as he's feeling better, we head for the booths. Even with a headache, he's worth it. When I indicate the meter has run out, he asks me to stay and massage him some more, off the clock. He's extremely sweet, curls up in my arms as I massage his head and shoulders. I sure hope I see more of him this week!

 

Back at the table, Mtlover is sitting alone, no Jasmin. He doesn't look too pleased with me – trying to make conversation with Jasmin was so painful that he gave up and started reading his email. We proceed to Saloon for dinner – even though it's crowded, we manage to snag an outside table right along the street. Usual good food and good eye candy. Mtlover wants to take a nap; I'm to wake him at 11 for an excursion to Taboo and Stock. I check my email; no response from my Monday craigslist guy. I'm feeling really under the weather and it looks like he's going to be a no show, so I cancel by email.

 

No dancers are hanging around outside Taboo, an ominous sign. Sure enough, the place is almost empty. The bartender, however, is Hugo, a former dancer whom I've always found beautiful, if a bit moody, and I notice a couple of cuties hanging around. Mtlover is having none of this, so off we go to Stock without even buying a drink. We're both hoping to reconnect with Bruno, a wonderfully acrobatic dancer who's more the afternoon-Campus than the Stock type. I bonded with him a year ago during his brief stint at Taboo, and Mtlover had a great time with him earlier in the week. Alas, tonight all the Stock dancers are the big, heavily muscled, straight, silent types, so we enjoy the eye candy with minimal interaction.

 

 

Monday. I forgo the BBV's breakfast and head for Autour d'un Pain, 1 minute from the BBV; the convenience of its location is awesome. Mtlover and I decide to take in "Holy Rollers" at the Forum. Knowing nothing about it, I am pleasantly surprised; Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Bartha are certainly easy to look at. I sniffle through the movie. I'm very glad I canceled today's appointment, which gives me time to tank up on cold medicine and take a nap before Campus. About the same number of dancers and customers as last night. Only one, Sascha, initially catches our interest; he appears to have time for every customer but us. Alexandre sits himself down next to me. As I'm about to signal my lack of interest, his hand lands high up on my thigh and changes my mind. And he's actually fun to talk with. After his stage show, we go to the back; I'm definitely happy I didn't follow my first instinct! When I return, Mtlover has disappeared – I guess correctly that he's in the back, with a dancer named Scott whom I hadn't noticed before.

 

Dinner time. We head for the Villa Rouge, which has replaced Donatella's and is conveniently on the way to Taboo. Mtlover is less than thrilled when the waiter tells him that local (provincial?) law requires that burgers be served well done. (I'm pleased with my meal.) Unfortunately, Taboo hasn't changed, so we depart quickly for Stock. No Bruno again tonight, though there are several other more compact, less muscled guys. Mtlover needs to pack for an early morning departure and I'm under the weather, so we call it quits by midnight. We do notice that the crowd on Ste. Cathérine is considerably larger than it was on Sunday night. Go figure.

[jamier]

Thanks, newatthis, for the excellent post. I can't wait to get back to Montreal in a couple of months. Summer's definitely a great time to enjoy the city. And it's refreshing to see a poster on here with a positive attitude about enjoying Montreal. Sure, the Village has changed a lot, but there's still fun to be had. Combine the Villlage and strip club fun with other attractions of the city and, in my opinion, it's as much fun as ever before.

 

The Botanic Garden is one of the best in the world, the history and culture is incredible, the museum's are oftentimes fantastic (I've seen so many cool exhibitions including Andy Warhol and Yves Saint Laurent) and the almost-year-round supply of festivals are great. Cafes, coffee shops for people-watching in so many fun neighborhoods, live music from acoustic and Jazz to rock, and one of the best performing arts centers and programs anywhere.

 

Feeling down on a visit to Montreal? Do a little planning, go with a positive attitude for change, look beyond the Village and strip clubs (but enjoy those too), and I bet ya' it will be as enjoyable as ever before

 

J

[jamier]

PS. did you see the fireworks - has the season started yet? Every Saturday evening during the summer, they take place across the river. I have so many fond memories of wandering over to the river from the Village to look across at incredible displays in the weekly international contest.

[Guest mvan1]

 

- - -- - - -- -And it's refreshing to see a poster on here with a positive attitude about enjoying Montreal. Sure, the Village has changed a lot, but there's still fun to be had. Combine the Villlage and strip club fun with other attractions of the city and, in my opinion, it's as much fun as ever before.

 

 

Of the dozen or so posters who complained during the past two months about the decline in the village, not one poster had anything negative to say about Montreal, the city. So, what is refreshing?

 

 

The Botanic Garden is one of the best in the world, the history and culture is incredible, the museum's are oftentimes fantastic (I've seen so many cool exhibitions including Andy Warhol and Yves Saint Laurent) and the almost-year-round supply of festivals are great. Cafes, coffee shops for people-watching in so many fun neighborhoods, live music from acoustic and Jazz to rock, and one of the best performing arts centers and programs anywhere.

 

Again, each of us who remarked about the decline in the village never had anything negative to say about the fine arts available in Montreal, away from the village. Therefore, your point, please?

 

 

Feeling down on a visit to Montreal? Do a little planning, go with a positive attitude for change, look beyond the Village and strip clubs (but enjoy those too), and I bet ya' it will be as enjoyable as ever before

 

 

Of course visitors will have as good a time as ever in the rest of Montreal, out of the village. No one said they would not.

 

Please go back and read the dozens of posts concernong the decline of Montreal's village. After you do that, I think you will realize your "pep" talk post missed its mark.

 

By the way, Newatthis, I am glad you had a good time.

 

.

[Karl-G]

Montreal Botanic Garden

 

Are we all agreed that the Montreal Botanic Garden has not declined at all in the past ten years?

Here are some recent flowers I enjoyed.

 

 

 

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x167/edith_piaf/mbg3.jpg

 

Peach Begonia

 

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http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x167/edith_piaf/mbg2.jpg

 

The Garden Cafe

 

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http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x167/edith_piaf/mbg4.jpg

 

Cream Dahlia

 

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http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x167/edith_piaf/mbg6.jpg

 

Pink Roses

 

 

 

[Karl-G]

Montreal

 

.

Thanks very much for your reports on Montreal; they are informative and enjoyable. It is interesting to hear about changes on Ste Catherine and street life in the village. Nice to hear that you had a good time in Montreal.

 

.

[+ newatthis]

PS. did you see the fireworks - has the season started yet?

I didn't see them myself, but the season has started.