You could say we are hanging in there by a thread. I'm talking about the weather. A week slated to be rain doused has been wonderfully rain free. Well, except for last night, though I have to say that walking in the evening with an umbrella out was rather refreshing. Or this morning, while I was blissfully unaware, riding the metro. Still, on other days, we've been lucky, but just barely. And it looks as if we are to have one more day of good fortune. I'm returning to the farmette Friday, so I will have had a great run of it: the big time rain is now said to arrive here in Eastern Canada tomorrow. Full force and swinging, or you could say pelting. But starting tomorrow.
Since we're looking good this morning, I set out for that morning walk through the old town all the way to Olive et Gourmand. Hands down my favorite breakfast here.
To the port, and back again.
Our morning meetup is at the Marche Atwater -- the second of the big markets of Montreal (and in my opinion, the nicer of the two).
Want to know what's blooming and selling here now? I'll flash you some highlights:
Plants and flowers -- lots of them.
Local strawberries -- lots of them.
More flowers!
Rhubarb -- makes me think of ours back home.
Oh, hey there, Sandpiper!
As the young family trickles in, I take the big kids for a pizza lunch while the grownups search out something a little bit more exotic.
Oh, and ice cream. I'm always good for an ice cream treat.
(Others at the market opt for buying salamis, cheeses, tomatoes and a baguette. No, they're not part of our group, just a pair of Quebecois, acting very... French.)
From the market, it's a short stroll to the Canal Lachine. There are paths along this serene and once very important body of water.
The sun is poking through, it all looks so pretty! (The big tower? That's part of the market.)
It's the last time that the whole Gang of ten will be together, so we get someone to take a photo...
We head now to the metro and in doing that, we pass a flag shop. It's tucked to a side street and I can't imagine who comes to it and for what reason, but it catches the interest of the kids (and some grownups) and so there is a small shopping detour that takes place. I'm not sure who purchased what flag, but here are some very satisfied kids:
(this next one was taken by my son-in-law)
At the metro station, Joe, one of the grownup friends, gives Snowdrop a lesson in sketching with pencils of a different thickness. It was a chance thing that he saw her frustration with creating sketches that never quite fit her idea of what she'd wanted to draw. Since he is an accomplished sketcher, he went to the trouble of showing her how to handle such frustrations (start with a thin pencil and keep a nifty eraser with you).
We split up now. I stick with the young family and we head to the blow-up playground in the Old Port.
Things are a little wet after that morning shower, but the kids have fun. Too, there is a crazy little merry-go-round with a spinning saucer which both Snowdrop and Sparrow manage to spin so fast that I get dizzy just watching. That was epic! -- Snowdrop tells me, with a look of deep satisfaction.
(The littlest guy concentrated on navigation of a different sort.)
In the evening, the kids are again home with a sitter. I'm with the grownups. Six of us.
At Pichai. A Thai place.
With very very good food.
It really is impressive how well you can eat here, for prices far lower than south of the border. I have yet to have a disappointing meal and indeed, some have been exceptionally fabulous. Of course, we are in a major metropolitan area and so there are choices. Many choices. But my memories of past trips to Quebec the province are equally positive. Fresh and honest rather than frozen and fried.
One more day before me. And of course, with it comes (for me, not them yet), the Covid test that will permit me to travel back to the US. It is not a little frustrating to know that you can travel by land back to the US without testing, and you can criss cross the US by airplane without testing, but this one form of reentry -- a flight from another country, a neighboring country, requires you to have no sign of the virus. Of course, it is a far far bigger deal for families than it is for me. Were I to get a positive test result (despite my double boost, it is possible), I'd have to wait it out a few days. For families -- that's not easy. Ah well. Let's hope all our mask wearing in public places has served us well!
In the meantime, I'll borrow the sign I saw at my breakfast place. Goodnight...
