Oh Canada

I spent less than 24 hours in Canada. I spent about 11 hours driving and about 22 or 23 hours in the country, less at my destination. Was it worth it? Actually yes it was. I forgot how much long drives by myself in open spaces helps to ease my soul. Nowhere near as much as the sounds of waves on a deserted beach, but nonetheless it did help me recharge.

I didn’t stay in Montréal, I stayed in the suburbs. This particular suburb will have a metro that will take you right into Montréal… soon. There have been delays, I’m sure partially due to COVID. So, it’s not open yet, but when it is, it’ll be a breeze to get there, especially from the hotel as the metro is supposed to be located right near the hotel.

So I stopped at border control and was told I needed the ArriveCan app but everyone gets 1 free pass in their life and they’d let me through without it. Mind you I was in the process of setting it up while I was in the customs line, however not having a hotel booked yet was making it very difficult and the line moved quicker than I expected, once I got to the area where I saw the sign about needed the app anyway.

I soon pulled over to call the kiddo and then get gas. My card was declined. Right, I didn’t tell my bank I was going to Canada. I said to the cashier (as it was declined at the pump and I had to go inside and I was declined there as well) I need to call my bank and let them know I am in Canada. He points to the corner and says there’s an ATM. I had ATM fees. Especially out to country ATM fees. BUT I turn and I see that the ATM is for my bank! RIGHT! My bank originated in Canada! How lovely! So I went to the ATM hoping this would work and success!

I got my gas as I had only a 1/4 tank left. But I was impressed I got to ANOTHER COUNTRY with 1 tank of gas. Then I called my bank and told them I was in Canada… until tomorrow night. I then booked my hotel and called the kiddo for our evening call. Then popped the coordinates into the GPS and headed for the hotel.

The hotel was lovely, I may write more about it at another time. For now just let me tell you, I loved it. Beautiful space. I relaxed for a few minutes then hopped in the car and headed for Montréal proper. It took about 20 minutes to drive there. I found a lot and paid for the parking at a pay station and my card worked! Terrific News!

The rain had stopped but things were still wet. I had checked the weather before I had left, I knew it was going to be rainy. So rain coat, umbrella, rain boots I left them all at home. Why? who knows. Additionally, I didn’t even bring sneakers with me. So me and my sandals walked through puddles on the streets of the Old Town district and headed for Notre Dame Basilica. It was closed for the day by the time I got there. Of course it was. It was almost 6 pm on a Sunday, the Lord’s Day. But I took a walk around the exterior. There was construction going on about the facade. But it’s the one in Paris that was damaged by the fire. But this one too appeared to be in need of repairs. Alas, when buildings are old, it’s bound to happen. (Original construction was from 1824-1829… amazing it was done in 5 years. while La Sagrada began in 1882 and was finished… well, it’s still not done. Supply chain issues right?) Anyway, I did the touristy thing and snapped a picture.

From there I walked down to the Port. There was some huge pirate ship that was not on the water and was a ropes course. Extending from it or next to it was a zip line that went right over the water. If I wasn’t in a dress I actually might have done it. I was feeling a bit adventurous at the moment. Hey! I did a big thing! I got over my anxiety and drove up to Canada by myself! Let’s keep the momentum going! But let’s not flash my goods to all of Montréal. So I stayed on land and I did not walk the plank and fly the zip line. I don’t think that’s actually how you leave the zip line, but it should be. If they start doing that, it was totally my idea. You saw it here first people. Remember that. By the Harbor there were a bunch of tiny houses that had various goods and foods to buy. Most were closed by that hour.

There was a sculpture that was reminiscent of Robert Indiana’s Love Sculpture that you can find in NY, but it was made to the effect of the famed “I ❤ NY” shirts, expect it was I love Montréal, but in French. That’s a lot of changes. So maybe it was nothing like Robert Indiana’s statue, but I’ll let you be the judge of that.

In the background you can see some structure. That structure is La Grande roue de Montréal. It is much like the London Eye and the various others in cities around the globe. I had plans to go on it but the skies had other ideas. Though the rain had stopped, it was still pretty cloudy and it wouldn’t make for a great sunset. So, I skipped it. Thought I had been in Montréal proper now for about 30 minutes something told me I’d probably be back again.

After my walk around the port I decided I should probably finally eat something that day. So I had heard one should go to Schwartz’s so I went to Schwartz’s. I love a good deli. It was a further walk than I had expected. I went through many of the neighrhoods in Montréal. The LBGTQ district that had disco balls that lined the main street (I LOVeD that), to the Latin Quarter where I walked up a very large hill (I did NoT love that), to others that I didn’t know the names of. But I finally made it to Schwartz’s. There was quite a line. I looked inside, there were not many tables. THEN I saw a sign that said “Take out” YES! That’ll work. So I went over there and there was just 1 family of 2 people ahead of me. when it was my turn I ordered the “meat sandwich” and then made the now very long trek back to my car.

It was now dark, and my gps kept losing me so I would go in the wrong direction for about half a block on more than 1 occasion before righting myself which only made my long walk that much longer. But finally I made it to my car. Now I could tear into my meat sandwich in the car or I could drive back to the hotel and eat it like a civilized human being. I figured I waited this long I might as well just drive back. And so I did.

When I got back I decided to wash the city off of me. There were times when I was walking that I felt I could smell NYC. Do you know what I mean? when NY is hot and muggy and it has rained and the warm wind blows. That smell the city has. Well Montréal has that same smell. And I did not want it on me. Nor did I want that dirty water on my feet from being in sandals. Finally after my show I was ready to eat. I ate and watched a little TV, nothing really interested me. So I went to bed at about 10:30p.

Oh, how was the sandwich? It was good. I’d say I like Katz’s better. But I think that’s just for the size. Because really, in some instances, size does matter. And when it comes to meat, meat is definitely one of them.