surreal and brief weekend in montreal,
                                                         
                             with photos of myself all dazed,
  
               and a map as proof to miss collector
                                                          
                      that she did experience this,
    
                                   so if she is glowing inside,

           she can see clearly why.

                                                                       *     *     *

all of the photos and the map were created on the last day of my visit,
spent mostly on a fantastically long day-excursion in underground montreal.  

there is a whole subterranean city underneath the streets, with laundromats, subway stations,
theatres, dentists, shops, banks, and corridors connecting most buildings, museums, and train
depots in downtown montreal.  it is said to be the largest underground pedway network in the world.

the lighting, constantly hazy and artificial, would range from an uncannily sterile white hallway, to
a strange purplish glow against plasticene faux-brick walls, to alarming primaries, blue, red, yellow.

the restaurants - - - all the qualities of a charming sidewalk cafe, with little tables and dainty
wrought-iron chairs. except for usually no lighting, not even artificially. a drab-looking mural
on the wall depicting the lively outdoor street scene that this cafe would embody, if it wasnt
trapped in some dank underground corner.  potted plants scattered here and there, some solace
for the nature-lovers i suppose, although i'm not quite sure if they really make anyone feel closer
to being outside.  completely simulated (un)reality, in a time warped, seasonless ant colony.  

if i had to endure the winters there (as in march it felt like january) i would explore it for months.

[this mapsproject is working in my original mission to archive the places i've been, and
the people who've shared their time and space with me.  already my earlier SF excursion is
fading from my everyday consciousness....how long will this one stay with me?]