Lake Louise

Breakfast was outside looking over the valley. Horse floats passed our house traveling along the dusty road to somewhere. Squirrels sat on the fence, a woodpecker invisibly pecked away. We chomped on muesli and fruit and woke up with numerous cups of tea. And then off to Lake Louise. Google wasn't right, it took more than the 90 minutes promised. We parked in a lower car park and walked  a couple of k's to the  chateau. Lots of photo opportunities. We had heard about the walk to the tea house and chose the one at the valley of the six glaciers.  Took a couple of hours to walk the five k's. Up the valley between extinct glaciers, along a fast flowing river to the tea house. We heard the rumbling of glaciers calving, had tea and food and wandered back down for a drink at the chateau.  The sky turned smoky again as we turned towards our cabin and towards another red sun setting over the Rockies. A great day. One to remember.

Meeting up with Shaz and Az

6.00 we boarded the flight to Calgary via Toronto. Not lots to say about the flight. Harry and I weren't sitting together on either flight. I managed to catch glimpses of Toronto suburbia and the great Lakes. No major hassles arriving and picking up rental car. Only two wrong turns to pick up Sharon and Aaron at their motel. And then off to Banff and our little wooden house miles away from anywhere. We stopped at Banff for a short break, asked at the info center for an update on the forest fires and did some shopping for dinner. Good thing Aaron suggested his wraps as there are no shops in little old briscoe. Our cabin is quaint, has comfy beds, a few spiders amd mossies. After dinner we sat down to a game of 500 and watched a beautiful sunset made red from the fires on the other side of the mountain range.

Our last day in Quebec City

A slow start, a very slow start. 10.30 saw us wandering down the street wondering about breakfast  (or was it brunch). We didn't get far. Just on the corner a mulberry painted door beckoned us. Through a dark cafe to the bright shaded courtyard similar to so many others we have seen in our three days in the city. A squirrel ran across a roof. Trees rustled in the wind.  And brunch - let me think - toast, potatoes, scrambled egg, brie, vege pate, melon, strawberries, water melon, banana and of course three or perhaps four cups of tea. Who is counting? We ventured to the newer part of the city. Clean and tidy. It occurred to us that more money was spent in tourist areas than suburbia. Residents walked along broken footpaths, a beautiful church needed renovation, a campaign to rid Quebec of a Japanese weed was in force. We found the St Charles river and wandered its banks for a few kms. We long for the cycle paths. Wide and away from roads and pedestrians. Hot and tired we sat for an hour outside the railway station. The slight breeze sprinkling us with water from the fountain. We didn't move. Lunch was a banana and water, afternoon tea up the road at a patisserie. Then sleep. Time to wake up, explore the streets a bit more, have some dinner and prepare for that early flight to Calgary.

Biking to Montmorency Falls

The street outside our hotel is reasonably quiet. It is the thoroughfare between two busy roads where shops and restaurants mingle happily together. Quietness punctuated by only the occasional pedestrians having what they think is a private conversation was enough to give Harry and I  a few hours in sleep heaven. Which was just as well because we needed to be down at the bike shop ready for our trip. Full of pastries and tea we set off rather wobbly at first until we got used to commuter bikes. We had a history lesson on regular stops and rode through countless puddles. It had rained over night. Montmorency Falls was our destination.  Our packed lunch was cheese, dried cranberries,  biscotti, chocolate bar and drink.  Up in the cable car, across on a zip line  (not today), over the swing bridge and down 1000 (almost) steps  gave us different views of the falls that gush 3000 cubic metres of water a second. If you think that's an exaggeration it could be but blame our tour guide. And then back to town. I could only imagine the falls in winter. Hanging icicles, frozen lake, so much more mist from falling water. We had coffee and burgers with Evalyn and Jo a couple from Florida who had joined us on the trip. We enjoyed wiling away a couple of hours with new friends.  The sun came out, after quite a drizzly cool day (perfect for bike ride less perfect for photos) we raced up to the information Center to book a boat cruise. Four hours of sitting, eating, entertainment while we cruised along seemed like the right way to end the day.

Hello Quebec City

It's the end of a long hot day.  I  am sitting writing the blog outside our hotel in the  shade. Harry has gone to find a laundry. I can't stop yawning. Except for a few stops for food and drinks we have been on our feet all day. The old town is steeped in history of the last tree centuries. Little stone shops lining cobblestone streets. Filled with happy hot people looking, buying and eating. The town is abuzz.  Firstly we visited the governor generals house in the  citadel. The staff were very helpful. We went in the general direction following orders from the guide. Loud shrill whistle bought us back to security where our bags had a cursory glance. We were then turned back from the t ticket office and told to wait outside. Back through security where we asked if they wanted to see our bags again. With a grin he said "this is security". Could a glance get less  cursory than before?  Yep!!  Madeline took us for a tour of the second home of the  GG. Same political story but a couple more centuries added on.  Little sign of the indigenous people but plenty of English and French and the story of the Americans wanting a slice of Quebec.  At the end of the tour we walked back through the citadel as a group marched to a small brass band.  One poor man turned the wrong way and every one laughed,  his comrades, the audience and his leader. He just went red.

We took a left along the wooden promenade perched along the cliff face and high above the port. The trees providing shade also obscured the view but that was a small price to pay. We stopped for a smoothie outside the chateau, talked to a couple from Michigan and a rather eccentric elderly local before wandering more.
Then more walking around the historic wall which is currently having a face lift. In the evening we settled for a restaurant (green, red, white signalled Italian but we were wrong. Great food thoonly spoilt by the waitress who told us the tip wasn't big enough.

Goodbye Montreal

The alarm rang in my ears at 8.  I was awake rather surprisingly. The night club and festival had closed it was after all Monday night.  So a good sleep was expected. I should have told my hotel mates.12.30 on went the music. The supremes "baby don't leave me".  Loud and close the same song was played for 45 minutes. I kid you not.

I was up for my toast and strawberry jam. Suitcase accompanied me to ground level and I walked to the shopping complex.  There are 19 miles of underground passage ways and malls all linked to the metro. It had stopped raining but I thought I would give it a go. After all I had a map and thetre were sign posts. After a few wrong turns I asked a security guard for directions. He was one of the few people I had spoken to that were not bilingual. Using the universal language of  hand signals I headed on my way. I got lost again and so resurfaced at road level. I made the station with no further distractions. After I left my bag I started to explore a new to  me anyway part of Montreal. Found some lovely churches, stopped at a little cafe. Here the waiter asked me if I  wanted a fish with my latte. Thinking he meant a chocolate marshmallow one I said "non" with a smile. The baristar overheard and said he would give me something else. I was given a picture of a cat on my coffee. In this part of  the city English is spoken a bit more. I  didn't quite feel so alone hearing conversations I could understand. Mont royal was ahead. I  looked up and thought doesn't look too high for a Kaukau girl and off I went. I was pleased I did. Treelined walk ways and stairs to a great view.  Saw some chipmunks but very few birds. Where are all those Canadian geese - oh yes I  left them in NZ.

By this time Harry had arrived and we sat having a leisurely lunch (Harry ordered poutine pizza) and then we caught our train to Quebec City.  We are in an old house high on the hill above the city. Very quaint small bedroom where one of us needs to access our  suit case at a time and the bathroom is up steep steps covered with well worn red carpets.

Restaurants are great and there is plenty to  choose from.

How to spend a wet day in Montreal

The music came to an end at 11.30 last night. Perhaps there was a Sunday night curfew. I was pleased as it wasn't easy listening. That and a few noisy neighbors meant a fairly wakeful night and I was surprised when I finally woke it was 10.13. I had missed breakfast which I could cope with. It was also raining. Once outside I realized how heavily and revised my plans. Seeing Montreal from the top of mont royal today wasn't going to happen. I found a shopping mall and after a few minutes decided to  head back to notre dame as today it was open. Spectacular and I am not just saying that cos it was nice and dry and warm.  After spending some time there admiring the huge pipe organ, intricate paintings and engraving  (wood rather than marble) I hoped to have a tour inside hotel villa. Gave up on a two hour wait. Had a snooze at the hotel and wandered around looking for dinner. Had carrot sticks and humus and then found an Indian that served quite good malai kofta. It was a nice relaxing day for a tired tourist.

Day two in Montreal

The jazz trumpeter stopped trumpetting at 1.20 this morning. I gave up trying to sleep and lay in bed enjoying the music. He or she were rather good. I settled for toast and strawberry jam (whole strawberries with juice) and a much needed cup of tea for breakfast while others chomped into croissants with cream cheese and nutella.

Then off I went. First to notre dame a rather spectacular church amongst some other amazing architecture of the 18th and 19 centuries. Along lots of cobbled streets I meandered to the hotel villa and the house of governor general in 18th century Ramazay. I  hadn't realized that Canada had been settled so much earlier than New Zealand. Canada is celebrating it's 375 anniversary this year. Time for another breakfast  (this time outside in a little cafe). I watched the world go by while munching on potatoes and omelet. Oh and copious cups of tea.

I wandered over to the man made beach which appealed to my sense of humor. You can't swim as it is right on the  shipping lane but there are sprinklers to refresh  you and all for $2. Given Montreal has no beaches I thought it was quite a good idea. I  climbed to the top of the clock tower (going up the 300 steps was quite nerve racking, surprisingly easier coming down).

After admiring some more old buildings surrounded by 1960 boxes I decided to go for a long walk helped by a smoothie.  Through residential areas, street after street of 3 or 4 storey apartment blocks I ventured. Hardly anyone was around. I finally got to the bio dome.  Part of the 1976 commonwealth games stadium. Amazing garden, never seen so many lillies. Half of Montreal was there I reckon.

I wandered back along streets a block down from where I ventured before.  I found where all the other residents were. Cafés, shops, more fairs, the street one over was thriving.

Exhausted and with blisters from shoes that have never been so unkind before I stopped for a Vietnamese dinner and then croissant and hot chocolate closer to my digs. There I listened to a wheel chair bound man singing rather well.  He had a sign next to his jar of  $$. "I am glad I survived, I am glad to be alive." Puts my little hardships into perspective.

Now I am off to get my camera wifi linked. Wish me luck!!!! It didn't happen. I took one look at the miniscule print in the instructions and felt too tired.

Arrival in Montreal

I am lying on my backpacker bed after a couple of reasonably tiring days. Left Wellington late as the storm was playing havoc with other airports. "If you are walking out on the tarmac hold tightly on to your things" said a pleasant voice as I waited for the call.  "We'll have to go fast" said the cabin crew member when he found out a number of us had connections. We raced across to the international airport, through deep puddles and scattered rain drops. Filled out the departure card asked if I could bypass the queue and walked along the concourse. "3 minutes" to the gate said the sign and then  5 minutes"said a later sign. There must be a saying about running faster but getting further away. "Perfect" said the security guard as he looked at my photo then me. I replied "well almost" but being told that at 60 aint half bad.  Plane ride was long and sleepless. The healtheries tablets to improve sleep on planes didn't seem to help. I watched United Kingdom  (great film ) and the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel which I appreciated a lot more since being in India. Aaron picked me up then we picked Sharon up returning her to the airport. We wandered round the harbor had a burger by the water front after walking on grass in bare feet to help get over jet lag. According to Aaron this is also in Die Hard, so it must be true. By the time we got back to the apartment  I was expecting to be shot and the having to run across glass going 'ouch' before the night was finished. The trip to Montreal went ok. Long queue through security but that was  manageable. After throwing bags into my room headed off to find somewhere for dinner where I sat and planned tomorrow. The hotel is in the middle of festival town (I counted four as  I walked along) so could be a noisy night.