Trip Day 1 - Montreal, Canada

Thursday May 24

The Alarm Rang early ... at 3:15 am.
An hour later we were ready, the house locked and we were on the road to the airport. You never know how all is going to go but everything went very smoothly so we were very early and sat for some time at the gate. The plane left on time at 6:50 am. Pretty good travel weather and I enjoyed my window seat. Ha, there was Manhattan with Central Park and when you know where it is you can see the George-Washington-Bridge and the highrise we lived in on the NJ side 43 years ago. Captain said 1 hour and 8 minutes to Boston.

We had quite some time to waste there and wandered about. Lobsters everywhere.

At about 10 am we boarded the next plane which was an even smaller propeller plane. It has been a while since we flew in one like it. Captain said it would take 1 hour and 7 minutes to Montreal. William and Caleb would have liked what we got as a snack: Papa cookies.

Immigration and customs were very efficient. They had machines where you put your passport in and answered some questions. Of course I had trouble again with the picture. It tried to take my photo twice but somehow didn’t. It was no problem though. An officer made my day when he said that the machines always had a problem with beautiful people. I like people with humor!

We knew that the taxis had fixed prices which makes it nice. Our driver talked like a waterfall. He had come to Canada 26 years ago from the Congo, spoke the clearest English and French and was very educated and funny. Time went fast and there we were at the hotel.

James picked a great location. And everybody is so friendly and helpful. Our room was ready and we got the key. Nothing to complain about.

The sun is shining and we head out for lunch. The hotel is on a pedestrian street, restaurants everywhere. People where playing chess with big chess figures or just lounging on plastic turf. All looked very friendly.

We went into a big mall with a large food court only about a block away. Decision, decision. We pick food from a Korean place. Plenty of empty tables in the middle. All is good. Lots to see, lots of people watching.

There had been many different food places but you know why I found this one somewhat funny.

We go back to the hotel where I try my luck blogging. Internet is good but my gadgets just don’t make it easy for me. Why do these big computer companies always update the programs and change things? James went out to find a bank to find out whether the Canadian money he had found at home was still good. Some was and some wasn’t but they exchanged it all. He also brought some beer back.

Friends had told me on Sunday after church about the AURA program at Notre Dame Basilica and that we really should try to see it. James googled and found out that we could see it at 6 pm. It would take a 14 minute walk. Since Kate and Dave would not be arriving from England before 9 pm we decided to do it. We had no idea what it was except that it was a Lightshow. It was a nice walk and we had plenty of time. No problem getting tickets about 21 CD each. We were let in 5:45 pm and it was finished about 6:35 pm. If you asked us how we liked it ... it was very interesting and I am glad we went. I would label it “modern art” but it could have been so much better. The sound was way too loud to the point that it hurt. And there was absolutely no explanation. My fantasy sometimes runs away with me and I think there might have been some meaning but it could have been just ... colored lights flashing.

A nice evening. We found a restaurant where we sat outside. We really only wanted some appetizers but then, things looked too good on the menu. So we had fun ordering.

Back to the hotel ... waiting for Kate (James’ sister) and David to arrive from London.

We waited in our room but never got the ring from the front desk that they had arrived. Finally James said “ They must be here” and went to the front desk. Ups, the guy had forgotten! We got their room number and knocked on their door and rang the telephone. Never an answer. So I waited in the lobby until they came. They had gone for a beer because they thought we had gone to bed. After a big hello (finally) we all went for another (good local) beer sitting outside marveling at how friendly everybody was. Because of all the hoopla and excitement to see each other I totally forgot to take photos. Night. Night.