Anytime we do something for the first time, we are presented with a big learning curve, and that was true for finding the bus stop. After much wandering and looking, I did see the sign that included 747 - the number of the airport bus - in its info, and I stood around with my bags til it roared in. I got up the steps with my bags, dropped my five $2 coins in the slot, got my ticket, and the driver took off with me trying to grab the bar while keeping my suitcase from rolling down the aisle. A nice young Asian man offered to help, and I let him. Gratefully.
Forty minutes later, it let the traveling crowd off at the big airport. I entered, spotted the signs that said departure, and took the escalator up. Then customs and TSA, always a delight. The X-ray machine spotted something in my bag that would have endangered the American public. I had bought a handy bag of maple syrup that was just too many ounces to take on the plane. The gruff agent made sure I saw him place it in a trash can, assuring me he would not be taking it home. Oh well. My mistake.
Making it to the gate, I still had almost eight Canadian dollars left to spend. I opted for one more gastronomic treat, a take home bag of St. Viateur bagels, only 5$, plus a chocolate croissant that I promptly ate though certainly didn't need. Will I ever find another?!
Now it is only about an hour until my flight leaves for Atlanta. I am glad to have my iPad to keep me busy.
I admit that some parts of traveling are a pain, but I think it is all worth it. What I like the most is the way my mind opens up. I think I tend to immerse myself in the new place and study all that is around me. It makes me feel like I have been away from my surroundings more than four days.
Some interesting stuff:
The hotel was named Espresso, and we could have a cup of it anytime we wanted. A real treat.
In the lobby and elevators we saw many people whose ethnicity we had problems identifying. The guy at the desk said they were from, "Up north." They were Cree Indians who came to the city for medical care. I actually sat next to a woman who had a baby wrapped up like a papoose.
All the people at the front desk were terrific and seemed to enjoy talking with us.
I was pretty amazed how the people I talked to switched from French, which always sounds so melodic and pretty, to an accent free Englsh.
I am guessing there are not that many people of Northern Europe heritage here. Most white people are darker skinned, black hair. There are lots of Asians, quite a few mid easterners, Moslems, and North Africans, I am guessing. Some black people. We had all positive experiences with the people we came across. Yesterday at the market, a white woman behind me in line as I was getting the pate, started talking to me in some language. I said, "I don't speak . . . " And she said, "Thank goodness. Neither do I." We laughed, and she told me she was from British Columbia, here to visit relatives. I suppose of all the people I saw, she looked the most like me.
I am glad I got to walk and look at the people and the old architecture. I am glad I got to experience many of the tourist things. Montreal is an interesting big city.
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