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Bonjour again.... 2 great days in Montreal to report on, we arrived safe and sound as you know - except for lunatic taxi driver - all mad and drive so fast !!! Or maybe its because they know where they are going?
Our B&B is very cute, clean and private. There is a fairy godmother living here - because we came home yesterday and all our washing was done and dry in the dryer... merci ... we are in the latin quarter of Montreal and we have food in every direction - bloody fantastic.... did we tell you we like food.. don't worry there are hours of walking in between feeding times.
Explored old Montreal yesterday and it was old......

It was also all those yummy things cobbled streets, very old buildings, fab boutiques and galleries and cafe's... very large part of Montreal so explored there for quite some time and went on a very long walk that highlighted most of the old buildings in that area.... prior to that we went on the bus trip from hell - couldn't get on our lovely big red on off buses as they only run on sat and sun... so, we were trapped in a bus for 3 hours with an-ex school teadher as the tour guide and driver. He was painful but thought he was Jerry Lewis (but he so was not)... Thel and Lou had to split up on the bus because they were going to kill the driver and every time we seem to pass some impressive old landmark - he would be prattling on about girls in mini skirts.. the old blokes on the bus thought he was hysterical - we were the youngest on the bus - warning wil robinson warning - should have noticed that prior to paying $48 each to get on the bloody thing.... we did however see where the games were held and that it was only 5 years ago that they finished paying for the 1976 games..

Lou still saying bonjour to every person that she sees and Thel cracking up beside her as she does.

houses are brightly painted with all stairs outside - so that they can use the space inside - wrought iron everywhere and black rubber stuff on steps to save a big fall in the snow. Did you know that it gets to minus 30 - holy crap thats cold...

Thel and Lou have 3 day metro passes and get on and off like they live here - only problem is Lou has herself attached to Thel's hip because she would end up on the wrong line, wrong place etc.

The french language is beautiful to listen to - even though we have no idea what they are saying, Lou completely mesmerised by little children speaking french (surprise!!).... Thel and Lou have developed unusual expressions on their faces when talking and a lot of shoulder shrugging and hands waving - it helps them explain themselves. ·imagine Quebec - where french really is the main language.... a waiter felt sorry for us last night - because we were trying to decipher a french menu - sacreblur!!! It actually was french food too and it was superb - all so fresh - pate and then Lou had pork and Thel had brains - very tasty and the waiter was deliciously gay and fun.

Always one old church to see - and this one had the wow factor - gold, paintwork ornate timberwork - thel took a squillion photos - she was impressed!! Lou prayed ..... (don't know if it will help)....

Phillipe (owner of B&B) is really great and tries so hard to understand us - he does very well - 4 other guests now - as he has five rooms and its all full at the inn...

Blessed by fine weather and each morning it drizzles and then becomes a blue sky day - so walking is easy and no coats or brollies required.

Museum of fine art today and Zoe and Ellie you will be horrified as we spent 4 hours there - it was so good and both of us are concerned about some artists - we are sure they need medication - and are currently wandering the streets totally unmedicated .... Really tried hard to understand the explanation given to some of the creations - didn't help - they really have lost it. Poor old Pablo Picasso really was a tortured soul - his stuff is just left of centre ..... Tell us what happens with Pablo's money when a painting is resold - Lou thought that a royalty of some means is paid to the family or benefactors? Is this so?? Or is that literature??

also a new Napaoleon exhibition has just been donated and even includes his clothes and his death masks and furniture etc - was really interesting....

Have any of you been to the Saraton yet??? can you send a report please ..

The loos are weird here too - auto flushing - you hardly have your undies up and woooshh ther goes the flush and it is so loud that it frightens the beejesus out of you each time.....

Explored probably one kilometre of the underground shops - (Sandra you would love it - there are 33 klms of shops underground).... have decided to give up clothes shopping until New York - because even if Thel does a little twirl and points to her body and says "Clothes" - they still don't understand - we end up in another shop that sells clothes for stick insects and then we had a lady explain the sizes to us - and that honestly just confused us more .... they must sell them cause there are some seriously big mama's over here.

Off to another country (food wise)· tonight - will report in a couple of days ... love to you all - leave us some hellos please - missing you xxxxx We will try to attach some photos next time xxxx

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