As we didn't have to leave for the station until 11.30am this morning, we made sure we were all packed up early, so we could grab 90 mins to do things we still wanted to do in Montreal.
L & J promptly went bike riding along the Rue de la Commune (Waterfront of the Old Port) on the bikes you hire for 2.50$ an hour, while I walked back through Vieux-Montreal to visit the historic Chateau Ramezay, built in 1705. Being a professional journalist, I show my card and get in for free to these types of places, all over Montreal, which is just heaven for me. I spent almost 90 minutes touring the home and museum, which was great. To see every detail would require two hours, but I was very happy with what I saw. This is the most significant house in Montreal, in that it was purpose built by the first Governor, and subsequently became the heart of Montreal politics, with note-worthies such as Benjamin Franklin and Benedict Arnold playing a part in it's 300+ year history.
I walked home in the light drizzle, past Notre Dame, and rejoined my family at our loft apartment to collect our luggage. When we stepped outside a taxi came along straight away, with a friendly driver and whisked us off to the Gare Central. Our train was delayed, by just half an hour, thankfully no more. Montreal has been marvellous, and a week here perfect for us. It gave us time to get over our jet-lag and come to terms with the time zone adjustment. Travelling with a kid, we also need a bit more time in some ways. Even though our 12 year old is a great traveller, it's still best not to push too hard. For people who are already in North America, fresh, fit and sans children, I'd probably suggest that five nights in Montreal would be adequate to do all the things that are most important to you.
The train from Montreal to Quebec City is fantastic. It's a 3 hour journey which I'm on now, as I type. You get free wifi, along with access to various films, comedies, docos, news and arts & culture features. You also get a large fold out desk, with powerpoint, panoramic windows, a fold out lower seat at a nice angle for sleeping (not that we need to do that) and full F&B service, and this is economy class. Very civilised. The train does stop at multiple small villages along the way, but that's OK.
The landscape outside is so very green - It's gorgeous. The houses are fascinating to view, for us, as they are so 'picture-book'. Some of them don't quite look real. They're cute as a button. It's also interesting that there is no fencing at all. This also applies to all of the farms lands. Admittedly this seems to be crop farming, so there's no livestock to hem in.
The forests of birch are so dense that it would be hard to find your way out if you wandered in there unaware. There's countless waterways and wide rivers along the journey, so a pleasant amount of vistas to look out upon.
Our AirBnB host, Frederick, is meeting us at our apartment in Quebec City, to show us in. It's inside the old city, within the fortress walls, or ramparts, as they're called. We spend 3 nights there, which should be a perfect amount of time, we hope. This gives us two full days to look around. I never count travel days as 'in city' days, as that just doesn't make sense to me. I suppose it should go without saying that it's wonderful to be on holiday, but it really is, so I feel compelled to state the obvious. It's so good for the soul. As soon as you're away, you forget all the scrimping and saving it took to get to where you are, and it all just seems part of your natural day-to-day life, because of course by the time you're 'there' it is part of your reality. Enough armchair philosophising from me... I think I'll publish this little missive, and report back later.
Later ... Our train arrived into the Gare early, so we caught our taxi in the rain, and waited 30 mins in our new/old rue for Frederick to arrive. All the buildings here are bald-faced with no verandahs, but luckily one place in the whole rue has an inset entry, and it happened to be opposite our little nook. So, we did not have to become soaking wet and cold, like the squirrel we saw on the cobblestones. They are crazy drivers around here. Within ten minutes of leaving the Gare we'd witnessed four episodes of really bad driving decisions! Anyway, Frederick arrived, and let us into our two room, plus bathroom, nest for the next few nights, and it's really sweet, and just as pictured on-line. Frederick was also impressed that I am 'just as pictured' online. Apparently most people are not!
No comments:
Post a Comment