Recently, I wrote that my Costa Rica adventure in January would be my first international trip in 2 years. I mis-wrote. It wasn’t until I was packing for a trip to Montreal this week, and needed to unearth my passport, that I realized that I was actually leaving the country.
My mom, 2 year old WanderBaby and I set out from Boston at about 6am on Monday. With a 30 min. pitstop at around mile 34 on I-89 in VT, we were in our great rented flat (http://www.berlinfx.com/montreal-eng.htm) by 12pm. The apartment was in the Plateau Mont-Royal area in walking distance to everything.
Two things pleasantly surprised me about Montreal:
1. It is very French. Every shop keeper, waitress, and car attendant greeted me in French. They generally switched to English without a problem, especially the young ones, but alot of times their accent was pretty heavy. I was surprised and pleased by this discovery. I felt like I was in a foreign place. Way to go people of Quebec Province! You are holding onto your language/culture despite the Canadian English around you and the American English flooding your borders.
2. It’s a great place for kids. Playgrounds abound – one every 2-3 blocks. The metro was a little tricky but sidewalks are ample and the pace of life is slow enough that people aren’t bowling you over.
Getting there was a hassle but the payoff was great. My son got to know his aunt, who just relocated from Moscow. And I had a few moments alone, walking down the street, overhearing a French conversation, not knowing what I would find around the next corner.
Turns out Canada, just a drive away, is truly a foreign country. Reassuring for a mama who needs a little wandering without a long flight.
right on with the quebec plug. i always rather enjoyed the drive, perhaps that will change a bit when i have a little one in the car.