I am so tired. I fell like I haven’t even unpacked fully yet and I am in the middle of party central. The past days have been intense…

I met up with Joel and Brandon again on Friday night, and we went to the so-called Village éphémère, on the St. Laurent River front.

It is a temporary summer installation, a number of contains with bars, food trucks, a beach area and an outdoor dance floor, with different DJs playing each night. It’s basically like a container village, with added wooden constructions, patios and other spaces.

Underneath the massive Pont Jacques-Cartier, that crosses the St. Laurent over to Montréal’s southern suburbs, the Village éphémère is sitting between train tracks and containers, in a rather industrial area, but in walking distance from St. Catherine East and the Village Gay – which by the way is the official name of the neighborhood. .

It was not as full as we expected, but it was a great atmosphere. Access is free, beers are cheap, and the electronic music was excellent… Lots of young people just dancing or chilling under the stars, sitting in some wooden pavilions or under random art installations.

We met up with other friends and went for a drink at their place, and then on to the Stud, a relaxed village bar in town.

By the time I walked home I was quite drunk – no way to take the rental bike system back up, and I watched the break of dawn over the city.

I didn’t sleep that much, so on Saturday I met up with them again in Park Laurier, which is at the other end of my street.

Summer has just started in Montreal, maybe two, three weeks ago, after what was a long, tough winter, and a late spring. So everybody is out. Shirtless, running, playing, drinking, sleeping… the park was packed.

In the middle a swimming pool that is free during the week – and where I have the firm intention to swim. Two three times a week!

Later in the evening I walked over to Joel’s place, to watch the fire work competition over the river, but I was a bit too late. No problem, as it will run over the course of the next weeks, with different teams competing. Another event that Montreal has in store during the summer…

I met their friend Greg, and we headed over to the village for a final, relaxed beer on one of the street patios on St. Catherine’s.

Again, I was home late and only slept at the break of dawn. It’s pretty hot here right now, so I take some time to fall asleep, but unfortunately wake up too early.

Sunday afternoon I just had to have a sleep in the park, before hitting another summer event: Les Tam-tam du Mont-Royal.