MONTREAL

September September 1st- September 4th

We arrived in Montreal late in the afternoon on Thursday September 1st. Mike had a business meeting so the kids and I headed out just down the street to Notre Dame Cathedral in Old Montreal. I actually had to drag the kids a little promising a stop into Chapters/Indigo! for a new book each. However, after stepping inside the grand church their weak protestations ceased as they marvelled at the size and beauty of the ceiling, the windows and the large number of candles. We explored the periphery, the wedding chapel in behind the sanctuary, and the alter. Greg was emotional and frustrated and Lilli started to drive me nuts with her new found love of the art of photography. We took a moment in a pew to collect our thoughts and I an extra moment for a prayer of strength (how am I to ensure these kids’ eduction over the next two years?) and a prayer for our safety. We left the church emotional, but recharged. And charged on we did. Further away from Mike and onto Chapters. The kids will claim I got us lost a couple of times, but their cries are completely unfounded. I knew where we were the whole time. I just may not have known how to get where we wanted to go. Completely different. We found the store, we got two new books and met Mike with only 10 or so texts, frantic waving and me running the block as fast as I could at such an hour after such a day. We hit the campsite (KOA south of Montreal) and picked up bread and water. We dined by firelight on peanut butter and honey sandwiches prepared in the dark. The next day we rose late, attended school (and meetings) then took the subway into the city. We grabbed lunch at a great sandwich shop and again Mike had a business meeting. The kids and I were left to our own devices. Luckily for them, the Montreal History Museum was close by. Complete with a workbook for the kids, we spent the afternoon exploring the museum. The temporary exhibit was all about the rise and fall of the mob in Montreal from 1940-1960. School that day included the details of a mugshot (I did maneuver them (perhaps a little clumsy) past the information on prostitution) and on the legalities of gambling. We met Mike afterwards for a drink, then headed back to the campsite for a chicken curry dinner. On Saturday we met up with Cecile (friend from our time in Lausanne, Switzerland) and her two kids Ariane and Riwal. We met them at Parc du Mont Royal and enjoyed a lovely stroll around Beaver Lake and a little soccer in the woods. Montreal is a fantastic city with loads of character, great food and a tremendous amount of road construction. You are lazy and relaxed one moment and frantically scurrying the next.
But we are on the road again. Keepin’ On to the USA.