36 hours in Montreal

Our train delivered us safely into Montreal Gare Centrale, and we hauled our bags the half hour walk to the apartment. It was hot, tiring work and we were un-Englishly disappointed that the building didn’t have an elevator, so we had to trudge up to the third floor. 😩

We dropped our bags and went to find something for tram - bought some frozen pizzas and a really expensive bottle of wine to enjoy back at the apartment, and detoured slightly to a frozen yogurt shop so Alana could have her pudding before her main course. I know, standards are slipping!

Rather bizarrely as we were walking back to the apartment a woman asked us for directions to a grocery shop, and we walked that way with her, her husband and their granddaughters. It turned out that she was from Eltham, with family from Basingstoke, and her husband was from Hitchin, and his nephew had been at school roughly the same time as Simon and  I (remember Ben Hull, Hollyoaks actor, yes, him!). It’s a small world.

We got back to the apartment and ate pizza while watching the baseball on tv (Toronto Blue Jays vs Baltimore Orioles).

Next morning I went for a wander to find a boulangerie - not easy in what seems to be the business district! Eventually I found some breakfast goods, and we got ourselves ready for a day out at the Vieux Port, which advertises itself and Canada’s second most visited attraction (we’re learning to take these claims with a pinch of salt!).

First thing to do was to watch an historic recreation of an armed brigade marching along the dockside and then firing their muskets. 

Then someone had the crazy idea to hire a 3-person bike and ride around a busy tourist spot… what could possibly go wrong? 

Next crazy idea was for Alana and I to ride a 1200ft zip line over the harbour… 

One of us was slightly more excited than the other…

Having survived the 111 steps up and then flying super fast over the water, we needed lunch,  a restorative ice cream and a bit of a sit down on the dockside loungers before heading to the beach at the end of the dock area. 

We enjoyed a very relaxing hour or so sitting and watching the world go by, while Alana played in the sand and with the misting towers.

Then we wandered back through the old dock area via a grocery store where we got provisions for yet another gourmet supper, and then strolled back to the apartment. 

Supper of rice and passata, with a side of tinned artichokes was again served in front of the baseball (Oakland Athletics at the LA Dodgers). I even looked up the rules of the game so we have at least some idea of what is happening. 

Then we got ourselves packed up and ready for a swift departure in the morning.

I’d like to say that we bounced out of bed next morning but that might be a stretch. Anyway, up early and got down to the street door of the apartment building to discover it was absolutely throwing it down… and we had a half hour walk with our heavy heavy bags…

So after a very brief discussion (“Shall we?”, “Yes!”) we decided to try to get a cab, and instantly one pulled up behind us, driven by a Kingsley Shacklebolt lookalike, which Alana was pleased with! Five happy and dry minutes later we were dropped off at the station, with loads of time before our train was due to leave - hurrah!

6 hours to Toronto. Let’s go!

Adventure score: 9/10

Tiredness rating: 4/10