Montreal

I am in Montreal for the annual meeting of one of my favorite academic associations, the International Communication Association. I think I have been to all but one of their meetings for 24 years. A good annual academic meeting is sort of a cross between a stimulating intellectual exchange and an ongoing summer camp where you see your friends from last summer.

This year has been a bit less fun since I caught a cold on the plane up. Still, I am staying at an odd but fun hotel, the Hilton Bonaventure, which is the top two floors of a downtown building, sort of in the middle of the photo above. Sharing a room with my long time academic buddy and mentor, Doug Boyd.

I have had a somewhat busy schedule, three papers and three panels to comment on, so going to sleep for a couple of days to shake the cold was not really an option. So I have been sort of pacing things, semi-sensibly for a change, to stay semi-healthy for when I do need to talk or comment.

Today (Sunday) was such a pretty day, though, that I could not resist a brief walk through Chinatown and old Montreal, which are a pretty easy walk away. I walked through the place Jacques Cartier, full of jugglers, singers and a magician who also ranted about Quebec independence.
Then over by where the old city walls used to be, just up from this military parade ground (champ des mars) and back to the hotel.

In about an hour we are supposed to have a get together for current and past students and faculty from my department, Radio-TV-Film at UT. Probably in a faux Irish pub which seem to abound near the hotel.