Go Habs Go!!!

Before I came over to Canada, I had endured a general disdain for Americans (that's the United States variety), and I had thought that maybe being over the pond would somewhat expel the preconceptions I had about the fat stupid Yanks. How could I be so wrong.

Now, I had never lumped Canadians and Americans together, so don't take offence any canucks! And also, I am not singling out any Americans in general, but I speak from experience.

Working at the only Anglophone place in the whole of Montreal (a pathetic call centre), I deal daily with American and Canadians who have, granted, been 'duped' into making payments for memberships they never had.

But where the Canadians who call up actually have some idea of what day it is and of whats going on in their bank accounts (i.e. the first anomoly they notice they call their bank about), Americans are forever not checking their credit payments and end up paying the memberships for YEARS before they notice!

PS The job is rubbish, but I need money to pay for my 2 week holiday in, yes you guessed it, America!

On a more fun and non-related note, I went and sampled a bit of proper Canadian culture on Tuesday.

It was the hockey, and the Habs (Montreal Canadiens) versus the Caps (Washington Capitals). After much impressive celebration and light-work before the start, the game was eventually underway. The Habs dominated and won 4-0. Kate and I were waving and cheering all the way through with our Gladiator-esque foam hands!

It was a quality Christmas present, and we had our hot dogs, massive 'soda' and then returned to Britishness afterwards with a pint of Tetleys and glass of wine!

My campaign to educate Kate and the world of film is now underway. In recent weeks she has been sat through Land Before Time and Sister Act, and there is a list longer than my arm of films she needs to see! It will keep me occupied until our three week holiday to America and then Quebec City, which we booked up yesterday!!!

In other news, I finally made it around the art galleries in Montreal. I've been in this brilliantly cultural city for nearly three months now, and I had been meaning to do it for so long! The art was very good. The Beaux (Fine) Arts Museum had much more to offer than the celebrated Musee D'Art Contemporaine, but I didn't pay a dime for either so pound for pound they were definitely worth it!

Guten Tag from Berlin!

A word of warning- Don't have a leaving do from work when you will be flying to Germany at 3am the next morning. I can only learn from my mistakes.

After a hazy first few minutes as my mother slapped me round the face and showered me with cold water in an initially unsuccessful bid to get me out from my bed, I eventually found my way to the car and then onto the plane. When the hangover began to kick in I retired to the bathroom- my holiday had begun.

In fairness, because I had slept pretty much all the wa from London Luton to the German capital, I ended up being not too short of sleep. Our taxi driver picked us up at Schonefeld, and then told crappy jokes and pointless anacdotes for the half hour into the centre.

The first day was spent waking up. A coffee was in dire need for us, and then on to the Checkpoint Charlie museum. A pokey museum in an old whouse adjacent to the notorious crossing from East to West. It was interesting, although I still felt there was better to come from this town.

A kip was in order for the afternoon, to save strength for the Berliner Kindl and sauerkraut at a Movenpick along the Kurfürstendamm, Berlin's premier street.

On Friday, we saw some of the bigger sights. The Brandenburger Tor was even more impressive in real life than it was on telly, the Reichstag held the imposing nature of an efficient ex-dictatorship, and the Holocaust Memorial was harrowing and interesting at the same time. Much thought was given to the meanings in it creation.

German food was brilliant in the evening in the old Nikolaiviertel area of Berlin, just off from the Spree. Meatballs, bratworst, goulash, venison, we tried it all! The ambience in the old Bavarian pub was a joy, also.

Halfway through now. Saturday was probably the most hectic but also the most enjoyable of the holiday. Up early for the Judische Museum, I was enthralled by the exhibits, and the architecture of the whole place is something that has to be seen. Some guy had designed it to be edgy and unforgiving, and the whole place wreaked of rememberence. After several hours strolling the museum, I was accosted by a strange woman demanding I get out. It turned out to be my mum, and we were then rushing to get back to the apartment to get on with the rest of the day.

A stroll with Sue to Alexanderplatz was followed by a mad rush to get to the Olympiastadion for the football (tickets I had given up hope of receiving). Onto the S-Bahn and changing to the U-Bahn, I hardly had any idea where I was going until I got there. The old place looked like it had been built in gladitorial times, and the atmosphere- even in a half full stadium- was the same. Viv and John joined me later, foolishly having followed the U-Bahn all the way, adding 20 minutes onto their journey. Hertha won 2-0, but sadly I didn't make the action in time to see any of the goals!

Another rush back to the apartment to get ready for the meal. The Dumpiches of Berlin came together with the Dumpiches of Geddington, and the grappa und weisse flowed! So did the food and it seemed that I had become a disposal bin for my sister as I polished off half her meal.
We went on to the town and experience salsa Berlin-style! Viv asked for some techno and The Hoff but her requests fell on deaf ears. Two gay Turks tried to talk jive with me and I was having none of it!(No, I don't care if you have 'got it on down' in Manchester, OK?)- The oldies (Viv and John) couldn't last the pace and I wasn't staying out by myself (makes a change) so we headed back.

Sunday was spent getting as much in as possible. I searched for another chiliworst (the one I had eaten at the football had been magical) to no avail, so made do with a Heisse Schokolade (Hot Chocolate) in a cafe in Potsdammer Platz. How in turned into a chocolate and milkshake sundae between me ordering it and receiving it is beyond me!