Got up early to prepare for my rafting adventure. Our class meets up downtown and heads to the Metro. To get to the rafting it’s a 20 minute subway ride plus a 25 minute bus ride. When we arrive, we wait around for about 45 minutes before staring to gear up: life jacket, helmet, paddle. It’s a great day for rafting, hot and sunny. I’m one of the last people to get into the boat, so I end up being at the very front, one of two “captains.” Lovely. It’s not a lot different from Dragon boating, which I’ve done a few times, but it’s not as comfortable. You’d think those big tubes would be soft and cushy, but they aren’t. We sit on the side, with one leg in the boat and the other bent and on the side.
The rapids are pretty cool! For the big waves, the instructor yells “DOWN” and everyone crouches inside the boat so that they aren’t swept away. There are 4 or 5 big waves, and quite a few smaller ones. Everyone is drenched by the time the ride ends, around 45 minutes and 7 kms later. We get to jump in the water a couple times, but getting back in the raft is a lot harder than you’d think! It’s a lot of rowing since the rapids are on a big river and we have to steer the boat into them. But it was fun!
When I get back to the residence it’s only 4:30pm and I still have time to take the Metro over to Parc Jean Drapeau to check out the Week-Ends du Monde celebrations. It’s the first time I take the Metro by myself, but I don’t get lost! There are hoards of people heading to the park, but I manage to cram into the subway car and even get a seat. Some of my classmates were going to the festival, so I hope to find them, but when I get there I realize that it’s impossible with the huge number of people. Another case where it would be helpful to have a phone. I walk around the park and snap some pictures. It’s ridiculously hot. I set a new personal best for sweating. It turns out that the festivities are not really worth being out in the heat, so I head back to the mainland (the park is on an island).
I also take a few pictures of the underground sights in the Metro. It’s called the underground city because there are a lot of tunnels and stores underground, which would be awesome in the winter.
Now I’m exhausted and must rest. One more week to go!
