A Grand [Prix] Weekend

Last weekend was our first weekend in Montreal. The beginning of this week seems to have picked up pace. It seems so long ago already. Although, we have been in Canada for a total of 9 days but it feels like we've been here for a month!

On Friday morning we made our way over to the Gille Villeneuve Circuit in Montreal for the first practice of the F1 weekend. The city was packed with fans, all sporting their favourite team shirts. Our seats were a 30 minute walk away but worth it. We had a view of the start/finish line and corners 1 & 2, meaning that the cars slowed down enough to get some great pictures.

This was my first Grand Prix weekend. The atmosphere was electric. Especially on Sunday for the race. Temperatures reached 30 degrees, which felt even hotter packed on to a bench like a sardine. Our row in the Grandstand was full of burly men. The row in front had much more space as there about 4 children. Once the race got started and the cheers and excitement heightened I soon forgot about the lack of space, focused solely on getting a great shot of the drivers.

I learnt a lot this weekend about essential items to accompany you to the F1;

My pashmina became the weekend must have item, becoming a shield from the sun, with it draped over our heads and sunglasses holding it in place. The Arabic men who do this have cottoned to a good idea here!

Bright blue, plastic ponchos from Disney, Florida were a must. After practice on Friday, whilst trekking back to the station, the heavens opened. Out came the ponchos bought in Florida about 10 years that I scoffed at when my Mum offered them to us. They covered us to our knees and the hood fitted over our caps so that the rain stayed off our face. We managed to stay semi dry, although had we been sitting down we'd have escaped the damp.

A picnic. We took bottles of water, made sandwiches and brought fruit and snacks. The food once inside the event area is so expensive and who knows what it's made of. I enjoyed having a picnic 3 days in a row.

Flat, comfy shoes. We had to walk 30 minutes to our grandstand...enough said.

When you watch the F1 at home on the TV and you see the likes of Nicole Scherzinger in a chiffon, white dresses, heels and perfect hair, you would come to the conclusion that the F1 is quite a glamorous affair. Perhaps so if you part of the Paddock club. But for 90% of the rest of us, practicality is the word to bear in mind.

We had such a great weekend. Especially as Lewis won!!
I can't wait to do it again.

L x