Final Thoughts

By this time tomorrow, we will be in Victoria.  Today, we travelled from Kingston to Toronto, a pretty drive which included for Doug a swim in Lake Ontario at Sandybanks Provincial Park.
So, we are going back to where we came from.   I am looking forward to friends, Nellie, my own pillow, large bars of soap, speaking English, soft water for shampooing, and  cool sea breezes;  I will miss family, Tobi and Cricket, speaking French, playing with the GPS, tin roofs and red brick houses,  eating in restaurants & other peoples' kitchens.
Over and out.

Odds and Ends

The Ends:
Today, we travelled from Quebec City to Kingston.  Like Charles de Gaulle, we took the Chemin de Roi as far as Trois-Rivieres- very scenic.   I haven't said much about our B&B, or gite as it is known in French.  It was located on the outskirts of the city in an undistinguished area.  The building itself was plain, but inside it was beautifully restored and had rooms for 5.  Our host, Elizabethe, was a character.  She seemed quite strict at first and told us to take off our shoes.  When she was reciting her schpiel about touring Quebec City, she told us not to interrupt- she would answer questions when she was finished!  But, by our leave-taking, we were very fond of her.  Her breakfasts were exceptional.  Yesterday - zuchinni pancakes and today - eggplant gallatte.
The Odds:
Tonight, we walked around Kingston.  I must remark on the Presbyterian  church, which has a cannon on the front lawn!  (It came from the defence of Londonderry).  I guess they never heard about pounding swords into ploughshares.  Ka-boom.

Adieu Quebec

And so we say "Salut" a Quebec City.  It's been a grand visit  We spent today walking the Rue St. Jean, explored the walled city and went to the Market to split a sandwich & beer.The afternoon found us on the road to Montmorency Falls, just outside the city ( It is higher than Niagara Falls) , followed by a picturesque drive around the perimetre of L'Ile D'Orleans.
My final impression of PQ, as we leave, is this:  it is so much nicer than I remember.  The cities are more prosperous, more energetic, more historic, more scenic.  The people are friendlier, more confident and their driving has improved!  Why the change?  Well, I guess I've changed. And Maitre Chez Nous is a reality. It's all good.
One thing that is exactly as I recall is the weather.  Today, if you count the humidex, the temperatures were in the high 30sC.  Bloody hot.

Quebec City

Here we are in the only fortified city north of Mexico City - romantic Quebec City.  We walked miles around the Old Town, Plains of Abraham, Chateau Frontenac, quaint buildings, atmospheric churches and ended up at an interesting restaurant.  (I even found room to stuff down an ice cream cone at the end.)  I think I look like a giant pink ice cream cone ...melting.   It is so-o-o hot and humid.

To save my back, I have thrown vanity to the wind and I am using my Nordic walking poles, to navigate these steep roads.  I am the only person ever to walk the streets of Quebec with poles.  I could very well find myself featured on the National.  Someone asked me if I was training for a triathalon.  It's sort of humiliating, but I like to keep 'em guessing.
Our B&B has a noisy air conditioner - any port in a storm .

Tout le Jour

My shopping experience does not describe the whole of Sunday.  Doug visited the Musee des Beaux Arts (free!).  We returned to the Oratory and wandered through the relaxing Garden of the Way of the Cross, where "Jesus of Montreal" was filmed and took in an organ recital in the church.  Near dinnertime, we joined Dean and David at David's apartment, had a cooling beer and walked through his neighbourhood, where our noses told us there was a good pizza restaurant.  And, indeed, it was yummy.  We topped it off with poutine.  Finally, we drove over to Lafontaine Parc, enjoyed the lake and ambience, with a really good ice cream cone. 
Our experience of the demonstrations has been minimal.  Crescent Street - the epicentre - is only 2 blocks away, so we hear lots of noise, but we have stayed clear on purpose.  Driving through David's end of town, we passed two neighbourhood "casseroles" (beating pots and pans).  They seemed largely peaceful. 

Fashion's Fool

Ok, Ok, my apologies to my more erudite and cerebral  readers.  This posting will be shallow to bedrock...but say it, I must.  The shopping here is terrific!  I spent an hour and a half on St. Catherine’s St looking for a dress.  There is such variety .  I did come across something blue and breezy and chic.  But, after trying it on decided to give it a pass.  I told the sales clerk that “Je suis  trop vieux pour cela”  (I’m too old to wear it) and she laughed  as if I had said something terribly amusant.  The prevailing attitude here is that you are never too old for any style – just wear it with confidence.  This philosophy did not persuade me to part with my money .

Saturday

Today, we four toured St. Joseph's, visited the Jean Talon Market (where we picked up splendid croissants, cheese, cold cuts, & pastries) had a picnic at Jarry Parc, drove up to the lookout at Mont Royal and drove around Old Montreal.  Whew!  And, I might add, I have used my dormant French.  It's rusty (never was fluent), but people are patient.  We wound up the day at the Plateau for dinner.

Les Bons Matins

This is our third visit to the gite, Les Bons Matins.  Over the years, the breakfast offering has contracted, but since my waisteline has not, less is probably a good thing.  We happily dined on Eggs Benedict and OJ, with good strong coffee.  We are located, to our surprise, very close to the "manifs" or demonstrations.  Police presence is huge.  Doug and I went for a walk last night, but stayed clear of what looked like more than boisterous celebrations.  On Sunday, we expect to see a large event because the Grand Prix Formula 500 moves into high gear.  I feel ambivalent about the whole thing - it is a complicated problem. 

Deja Vu

When we return to the land of our youth, all the dreams and fears of that time seem to percolate to the surface again.  This emotional landscape feels quite quaint, from the perspective of 61.  And so, here I am in that long past world of bellcast, tin roofs, "Arret" and now street demonstrations.  We left beautiful, prosperous Brockville and rolled into Quebec.  The exit to St Anne-de-Bellevue beckoned us and we took Dean down our Memory Lane, showing him the church where we were married, my old home, and Pointe Claire village, with its ancient windmill, Eglise St. Joachim and the lake.  Finally, we found our way into the city, through its crumbling infrastructure (the Mercier Bridge, falling apart, is reduced to two lanes for safety..yikes !) and to our B&B, Les Bons Matins.  David met us there and gave us each a red square.  I know that we will have many discussions about this situation - the activity seems very close to our accomodation...police are everywhere and traffic is disrupted.  The boys say that the United Church is responsible for their revolutionary thinking.

Kingston

A short walking and driving tour a la Doug, took us by the limestone buildings of Kingston, Queen’s University,  and the  Penitentiary, plus the neighbouring place of worship, uniquely and appropriately named "The Church of the Good Thief". This city exudes history from every pore.  There seemed to be an inordinate number of young adults wandering about with their middle-aged parents.  Eventually, we concluded that today must be convocation.  Dean felt like he fit in, hanging out with us.

Our Car and Other Notes

For auto-philes, I should mention that our rental car is a Buick LaCross - it is large with poor visibility and lots of electronic buttons.  The cool thing is the back-up screen, which is a little TV picture of whatever is behind you when you are backing up.
The drive from Waterloo to Kingston  was absolutely lovely (thank you Carol for suggesting the Loyalist Drive).  We took the little ferry at Glenora and easily found our Motel 6.  We are enjoying a beer in our room with Dean and soon we will be off to find something to eat.

Happy Trails to You or I've Got to be Movin' Along

This morning, we say adios, adieu, and farewell to Carol, the hostess with the mostest and to her "laugh-a-minute" dogs. We will miss them all.  It's been a brilliant  and memorable visit and we couldn't have felt more welcome.

A Day with Dean

The last time Dean was in Waterloo, he was 3 years old, survived on Ritz crackers and, heck, we didn't remember to enroll him in preschool! Now he's 6'1" and is attending a statistics conference at the University of Guelph.  What a happy coincidence that his conference coincided with our visit.
Today, we picked up Dean at his dorm and took a driving tour of Waterloo County, including a spin by the Grand River, and through the covered bridge, known as the Kissing Bridge;  visited Conestoga, the St. Jacob's Mennonite Cemetery where his ancestors lie, and passed by little towns with pretty names like Maryhill, Elmira and Elora.  They sound like love songs.
Later that afternoon, we arrived at the Columbia Forest Care Facility and spirited in some spirits - specifically a thermos full of Whisky Sours (Mytle's favourite).  We absconded with Nana/Myrt to a picnic bench in the courtyard, where we five had a little drinking party, complete with healthy chips. Yee-ha.
We rounded off the day with dinner out at an all-you-can eat place called Crossroads and returned Dean home serenaded by a brilliant thunder storm.  Tomorrow, we're off to Kingston.
Pictures will follow as soon as we can find WiFi.

Food Glorious Food

Imagine a friendly game of badminton among friends.  Not a competitive, strategic match, but the kind where you play just for the joy of it.  The birdie falls right at your feet or way back out-of-bounds - the real fun of it is keeping the game going.  That describes our conversation (last night) over a brilliant dinner, with our dear friends Larry and Tricia.  Our talk bounced from the immediate and sobering present to the hilarious memories of our past...and back again.  The smoked pork chops and cheesecake were amazing.  We are grateful for such generosity and friendship.
Today, we drove out to cousins Karon and Bob's place - Bob, unfortunately, is under the weather, but Karon wanted us to have a rhubarb pie , straight from her garden - slow food.  Mmmm.  We are off to Myrt's to share a slice right now.  Over and out.

La Famille

Growing up thousands of miles from any aunts, uncles, cousins or grandparents, I am always charmed at Doug's family gatherings.  It seems, in Waterloo,  with the snap of fingers, dozens of related people can be called to one place to celebrate their relationship. Tonight, Carol hosted a delicious dinner for about 20 people plus various small boys, who moved too quickly to be named.  The warmth, friendliness, concern and conviviality of mere mortals was spirited to this one place with such ease and intention.
Dean, who is coincidently, attending the SSA Conference (statisticians) at U of Guelph, was able to join us.
The dishes are done, the food is out away and we are watching geriatric rock and roll on PBS - a sort of British Invasion type of retrospective.  "Mrs. Brown, You've Got A Lovely Daughter...lalala"

Our Waterloo

Here we are in the land of buggies, bonnets and Blackberries…..and brrrr.  It’s cold : 10 C.  Flight was good, Carol and dogs are fine.  We visited Nana/Myrtle this morning at Columbia Forest Home and took her for a drive.  Pretty straightforward if you don’t count the gong show in the car, when we mistakenly (honest!) disconnected her monitor.  A disembodied voice loudly yelled “Don’t get out of your (wheel)chair!  Don’t get out of your chair! , whilst the alarming alarm sounded “ beep beep beep”. Technology has taken over.   I guess we had the staff totally confused.  We will know better next time.
Well, next time was that same afternoon.  And we were much more cool this time - no mistakes.  Doug took us for a very lovely (second) drive through New Dundee and Victoria Park.  We stopped for a yummy Iced Cappaccino, which Myrt proclaimed was "good to the last drop". No alarms, no mis-steps. We are Masters of the Long Term Care Universe.