Good Bye Montreal...For Now

Good bye Montreal but not for long. I have packed everything up including some croutons for Danielle and croissants for Gabi. I say good bye to my temporary home. It actually doesn’t take long to pack up and take my stuff downstairs. Laura is taking me to the train station. It is another beautiful day in Montreal and I am hoping for the same on the other end in Hamilton. I have to walk back about 5-6 blocks before I make it to my apartment.

This was a great trip! I saw so much more of Montreal and did a few more things around town. It is starting to be one of my favourite places to visit. (Of course, Laura is living here, so that is another plus!) I am going to have to pack a little better next time but everything is a learning curve, no matter how old you are. It is so nice to see spring arrive with the daffodils, tulips and hyacinths in bloom. I will be back in August on my way to the east coast (stay tuned for another blog).

I have booked Business class on the train for the ride back. Yeah, it is more expensive but I thought I would give it a try. You have access to a separate lounge where you have complimentary coffee, juice and pop. You also get to board first. The seats are wider and spaced farther apart so you have more room. You also get a complimentary drink (little early in the day for me).
We are a couple of hours into our train ride and they have come around for lunch. We have the option of pasta with spinach, trout with rice or a cold chicken dish. I have chosen the pasta with spinach, side salad, olive bun and a nice carrot cake to finish off. In Business Class you get real utensils (not plastic) a glass for the red wine (very nice wine at that!) butter and the bun is warm. All in all: wonderful. I think I like this upgrade. I have found my new way to travel!

After lunch with a nice coffee and chocolate to finish, I check out the outside. I don’t have a window seat but that’s okay. I seems that the farmers have been busy while I was in Montreal. The fields have been plowed and look nice and neat now ready for planting. Mother Nature has been busy as well! The trees are much greener as is the grass. We have just past Kingston, so I’m going to read for a little while longer. Just past Bellville and they have come along again with the drink cart. I could be plastered by the time I leave this train if I wanted.

I have made it into Union Station in Toronto. Thought if I hurried, I could make the connecting GO train into Hamilton. So, I hurry, hurry, hurry down the platform elevator, over to the Go train area, back up to the platform, just to hear “All doors are closing” as I make it up the last step. I get to watch my train leave as I’m huffing and puffing with exertion. Back down the stairs (with luggage in tow). I have to wait an hour for the next train. I find a seat and pull out my tablet to read the hour away. I do some people watching and what do I see. As I’m listening to an announcement that masks are required everywhere in the station, about 30% of people are wandering around without masks. I really shouldn’t people watch; it ticks me off too much. So back to reading.

I get my train back to Hamilton. It is once again a pleasant ride. I walk the six blocks back home and feel slightly exhausted. It has been a very nice trip and I will definitely take the train more often. Maybe in the fall I’ll take the one that goes up to northern Ontario for the fall colours. Anyway, I have to unpack, get the laundry done. Tomorrow I can start to pack for the next trip in less than two weeks to Greece.

Thanks for joining me. Bye for now!Read more