Came in late Saturday afternoon and we went straight downtown. Despite the drizzle all through the night there was a ton of people everywhere and their different blocks that were shut down with pop up stores. Even with all the people, the city is big enough that we didnt have to wait long to get dinner at a pub.
We stumbled upon the Ritz Carlton, where at the very least both Sainz and Leclerc were staying and there was a ton of people waiting for them to walk through the front door. Saw them both, security stopped them from getting mobbed. Got a couple pictures, but nothing where you can tell them apart from anybody else.
Good time - and theres a ton of people in Ferraris and Lambo's everywhere.
Race Day : Not having any idea what was going - our ticket said 9 AM so we made plans to get their at 9 AM. We took a taxi to a subway station and took the subway to the Jean Drapeau park which is compromised of two islands on the St. Lawrence river.
We walked around the track and there was a bunch ofevents...a simulator, a Monster event had some free drinks, a tire changing competition. What seemed like a few hundred food trucks where at the event - tried my first poutine with duck there. Did some more walking around - got some cool souvenirs. Snuck into a section by the start line during the drivers parade, saw all the drivers and that was cool.
Race starts - its a little hectic and a tight squeeze in the bleachers but the atmosphere is great (sun came out just as the race was starting too). As I mentioned, I was on the hairpin and this part of the track is where you see the cars the most (reason I landed on these seats). Seeing these cars in person and seeing the speed they were moving at was just a little bit unreal. Hard to describe, but really awesome seeing the cars in person. We did seeing some passing too, which of course was a highlight.
Race ends - Verstappen wins by 9 seconds. I'd seen this with other races but I didnt expect it in Canada for some reason but suddenly everyone is jumping the fence and running on the track. It's like a tidal wave, and everyone is running. We are literally at the opposite end of the track - so we realize if we run, maybe we make the podium. With out huge ass bags we run what I would guess was 3/4 of a mile. We make it just in time to see Verstappen get the first-place trophy.
Walked around the track for a bit and there happens to be a casino on the island next to the track - pretty nice but lost a couple hundred.
Came back out, went to the Heineken beer garden and there is an enormous party going. Awesome - had a bunch of drunks, had a great time, met some people no complaints. Went back downtown - more festivities going on - no problem finding some dinner. Went back to the hotel
