Walk of Champions

My first full day in Montreal, and I've packed a lot in.  The day started (as ever in a new town) with a visit to the Tourist Information Centre, followed by a look round the impressive Cathedral Marie-Reine-du-Monde.  From there I headed out to the Canadian Centre for Architecture which had an exhibition about James Sterling with drawings and models from his archives.  (One odd thing about Montreal is that most museums etc don't open until 11am - obviously people like to lie-in!)

Next stop was the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.  Here, the main exhibition was of a pop artist called Tom Wesselmann who is less well known that Warhols etc but had some great pictures, particularly some made through cutting outlines from aluminium.  Another innovation in the main collection was the use of the audio guide not to tell about the pictures but to play pieces of music that relate to the time or the picture in some other way which was a great addition.  Lots of other aspects to the museum, including design elements and modern art.  Another gallery with lots in it, and another 3 hour visit!

I then headed out by Metro to St Helen's Island.  Here I first visited the Stanley Museum which had a Canadian History exhibit as well as a special display focused on kitchens and kitchen equipment over the past 100 years.  More interesting than it sounds (to me at least!)

The main reason for my being on the island is its neighbour - Isle Notre Dame.  This is the site of the Canadian Grand Prix each year and, when it isn't being used for motor racing it is open to the public as part of the public park.  I was therefore able to walk round the whole grand prix circuit which was very exciting.  Given the speed I went at (for the record, a 52 minute lap!) I can see why the drivers are given fast cars... Because it is a temporary circuit most things get packed up between races.  Therefore there were only a few grandstands still standing (and I think they were being taken down) and the pit lane looked like something for a low level support race rather than a Formula One paddock and the start/finish only had a small sign to mark it.  Key areas like the "Wall of Champions" were difficult to pick out (I think I found it, but then again it may just have been a bit of wall!).  Some parts of the track, such as the hairpin) were very recognisable though.  What you don't really get on TV is that the rack is very hemmed in, both by water on both sides and also by trees etc from the park - indeed I couldn't really see how they fit the grandstands in!  The track also has some changes of elevation (which you may not see on TV) and seems quite narrow in places!  I was the only person I saw walking the track, although there were plenty on bicycles (some of which went past me several times), a few on rollerblades and a few cars (there are car parks in the middle).  A great experience and one that you can get at very few circuits. 

Next door to the Circuit Giles Villeneuve is the site of the rowing events for the 1976 Olympics.  Part of it look quite tired (London 2012 organisers take note) but there was still some rowing taking place which was good to see that it wasn't totally abandoned!