Montreal Canada - Day 2

Montreal has been great!  It is such a beautiful city.  Did I happen to mention that the primary language in Montreal is French?  Although most people do speak English, I found that French was the first language people used when they spoke to us. 

On Monday morning, we went out for a run.  It was fairly cold - about 40 degrees.  Now this is 40 degree Fahrenheit which is the temperature scale we use in the United State.  In Canada, they use Celsius.  So 40 degrees to us is equivalent to 4.45 degrees in Canada.  It seems so much colder when you convert temperatures to Celsius doesn't it?!

We got to experience early morning Montreal during our run.  It was amazing!  It is very different to see a new city before most people are out starting their day.  It was beautiful.  We started off at the hotel, ran up a very steep hill (remember that "mountain" I mentioned the first day?), and ran through McGill University.  By the way, the mountain is known as Mount Royal.  They do call it a mountain, but technically since it is only about 764ft above sea level, it really is only a hill.  But it was hard running none the less!

McGill University was very interesting as well.  over 34,000 students attend there every year, so it is very large.  One of the largest in Canada actually.  They offer over 300 different degrees. So you could graduate and become a doctor, lawyer, or one of 298 other occupations!

I'm working hard!

After our run, we had to shower, then get to work (the real reason we came to Montreal!).  It was a travel related conference with over 350 people attending from all over Canada.  Aunt Denice had to work at a booth, demonstrating her software.  I helped out as you can see to the left.  It was fun, but hard work. 

Her software actually gives corporations Grade Point Averages - like what I will get in school when I get older. So it was kind of like I was still in school...

The Basilica

After the first session of working the booth, we had a couple hour break so we went out and saw the sights.  There was an amazing looking cathedral as they call it right next to the conference.  It was modeled after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and was built in 1894.  It definitely looks old!

The Canadian flag is 2nd from the left

I also took a picture of the Canadian flag so you could know what that looks like.  It is the red and white flag with the maple leaf  in the center. 

After working all day and getting in a bit of sight seeing, we had dinner at the conference and then headed back to our hotel. We headed home early this morning.  I'm exhausted!