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Published: August 8th 2007
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Friday 3rd August
So it was time to move on...again! Catching a midday bus from Quebec to Montreal, we said goodbyes to Megan and Roman and got back on the road. Arriving in Monteal it was yet another scorcher, and not having yet sorted a hostel we eventually found a university halls that were renting out their rooms for the summer break. Me and Michael paired up once again which is becoming a theme....bonuses include midnight snuggling (don't ask) and unlimited access to Michael's snack collection...the big negative being his mouldy, rotting, decrepid trainers which have almost become a fifth member of the trip and have started to move. Lets start a campaign to get them evicted. All those in favour...........
We spent the evening walking down St Catherines st, a massive long street in Montreal comprising shops, restaurants and dubious adult nightspots. However it seemed we had arrived in festival season as there was huge street parties for the Francophile and also the Nascar rally which created a vibrant atmosphere. We dived into a classic american diner for subs, pizzas and salads and then Joe decided to 'supersize himself' when the waiter challenged him to try the 'brownie erruption'. Normaly
for 2 people to share, Joe tackled the mammoth desert....and instantly regretted it. Joe's fault is that he can't turn down challenge, rather like Marty McFly in Back to the future, which I really love to exploit! We spent the rest of the evening wandering around further and had a couple of beers overlooking the festivities.
Saturday 4th August
Awaking mid morning, we had a bit of time to kill before our evening flight, so we sloathed into a cafe for a gut buster special and to check emails etc. I was a little perplexed at the amount of massive muscle-bound men with handle bar mustaches but thought nothing of it. Until I saw the rainbow flag outside the cafe. And the baby-oiled men outside in tiny hotpats. And dozens of men outside holding hands. Very liberal. So we got Mike out of the hotpants and into some proper clothes, went to the airport and flew the 45 minute flight to boston. Now if I was in any doubt between the differences between Canada and the US, they were foregrounded within 5 minutes of meeting Michael's cousins, Amanda and Madeline. Whereas I had found the Canadians slightly reserved, the
girls never stopped nattering, 'oh my goding' or uttering the word 'henous'.....and I loved them! The time we spent there was a whirlwind from start to finish, but I instantly love the American's enthusiasm for EVERYTHING and for making the most out of every situation. Despite Matt Ball intially looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights, within 30 minutes of entering the flat we were showered, fed and beveraged and before I could blink we were speeding down the freeway into Boston for a night on the tiles! After a few teething problems with the US over-21 passport policy, we ended up in a classic US bar where I had the most destructive pee of my life. Going in the vile graffitied cubicle, I emerged and gently brushed the door frame, which to my horror completely fell away form the door and cascaded towards poor Michael at the wash basin. How Mike avoided serious injury I will never know as somehow he emerged in the middle of the frame!Luck of the Irish? We had a wicked night and headed home for cheesy nachos.....and that was just Mike's feet!!
Sunday 5th August
A late get-up (yes another one!) and
we were whisked away by Rory and Beth, the girl's parents, for a mexican lunch in a resteraunt on the Harvard campus. On the way we wandered through the sun-drenched Harvard campus, touched the Harvard statue's lucky toe and were regaled with tales of Rory's university pranks between MIT and Harvard universities. Lunch was fantastic, chorizo, blackened chicken and seafood enchilladas pour moi, accompanied by 2 marghueuritas the size of a goldfish bowl! This was very kindly courtesy of Rory and Beth, so thanks very much guys! One cantaloupe and kiwi icecream later we were speeding around the sights of Boston in the Maddy wagon, pointing out the old city hall,newbury and various districts of note. As it was a glorious day we then explored the MIT campus, walked the bridge and took a stroll by the river where there were yachts aplenty. The evening was fairly low-key as we watched the Bourne ultimatum at the local cinema while the three portion musketeers (aka Bally, Mike and Joe) groaned and moaned about the reprucussions of the Mexican-cheese overload of lunchtime! Sunday night saw Mike fall deeper into a relationship which had been threatening to evolve ever since we arrived in Boston....with Moxy the cat. It was obvious that they both adored each others company, and upon discovering Rory's penchant for a hard petting on his lower back, Mike proceeded to send Moxy into Yowls of ecstasy. Watch out for the video on youtube that lasts 10 minutes!!
Monday 6th August
We decided to explore Boston this time by foot, so we headed in by metro and then set about walking the freedom trail, which winds it's way around all of the historical sights of the American fight for independence of the....aarggh....1600s!!??I was listening honest! It was actually very interesting and a great work-out after so much travelling by coach. We had a sushi lunch, a first for me....the jury's still out!!We then wound past churches, quincy hall, the italian district, the marina and then ended up on a hill overlooking the city, sweaty and bedraggled by the muggy overcast weather and intermittent rain. So naturally we thought it would be a great idea to run up the 296 steps to the top of the observational plinth. It was not. I like to call it sushi revenge. Anyway it was a pleasant view and a real sense of achievment after completing the whole trail of approx 3 miles. 'Gee we did it honey!' exclaimed a largish gentlemen emerging from a tour bus munching on a hotdog. No sir, you did not. In any shape or form.
After getting drenched, laundried and then willingly drenched again with soap and water, we were rolled out in our best togs to Legal Seafood for a meal with the girls. Boy did we have a laugh. The portion musketeers tackled a lobster the size of Josey, my cocker spaniel, and looked a treat in their little bibs. I instead had the chowder which was AMAZING, and then crab cakes, scallops and shrimps which were a bit bland but fresh (Madeline apparently didn't want anything fishy....a bit of a problem I pointed out in a seafood restaurant dear!). It was a perfect end to a genuinely sublime three days where I never stopped laughing and stuffing my little chubby face....thanks so much girls for putting up with our odours and oddities and our abuse of your cat.....I think you loved it though! Where next guys....how about NYC BABY YEAH!!!!!
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madeline
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My god what are you going to do for tucker when the money runs out. I shall have to start a diet in readiness for the states