Our second trip into Canada was not as interesting as seeing Niagara Falls - It will be the most memorable! This time when we entered Canada - it was in a car verses our first entry and exit being in the motorhome. As we approached the customs - no military (contractors). I asked to have our passports stamped for coming into Canada as a reminder. We were planning on visiting Montreal, Quebec, and Ottawa. Well so much for the best laid plans of mice and men. The lady customs agent says with the most serious of faces and says you will have to go in to the immigrations counter. Once they are done with you remind them to ask for the stamp. OK, this is different - but rules change. So we go in - there are six individuals sitting there. four woman and two guys. There is an immigration counter but no one is there. The gentleman at the other end says may I help you? I informed this guy that we wanted a stamp for our passports. He said, we would need to wait for the immigration guy. They are all sitting in their seats like good little puppets socializing with each other. I was informed to have a seat and the immigration guy would be with me. Mean time sits down as I pase back and forth - I've just been sitting for three hours driving there. Joan finds out that this guy next to her has been sitting there for over an hour. He has a business appointment in Montreal. After forty minutes and no one to the immigration counter still socializing with the occasional two minute conversation. I go up and ask to speak to the supervisor. This Capt comes up as somber as the grave and asks if he can help me. I informed him that we were only here for a couple of days and only wanted a stamp on our passport. He informs me that it is a slow process and he only had the one person. This is where I wanted to ask if he knew what cut training was - I didn't! I asked him if I could have his bosses information. About this time the immigration guy shows up and says that he is ready to help me. I found out later that the guy who had the business appointment went back to the states.
Now the fun really begins! I explain to this guy that we just wanted a stamp in our passport and that we had reservations at a resort and we were just passing through for three days. Now remember that Joan & I are experienced individuals in age and traveling. The guy stops me and then starts asking questions about if we had been in Canada, when and how long for. We told him about our trip through Niagara Falls. OK this guy has been matrix trained. No deviation here. After the first round of questions he says we can sit down. About fifteen minutes he calls me up and starts to explain to me that people (Oh wait, Joan walks up since she wants to know as well. He informs her - madam we are having a private conversation and would you have a seat! You know how well that went on). So the guy continues to explain to me that people get their passports stamped that way they claim that they are residence. I live in Florida - Why would I want to live here - their people come to Florida to live. Then he changes gears about terrorists. I tried to explain to him that we understood and that previously when we traveled it was automatically done at the check points. I'm retired from the Air Force and had vacationed throughout Europe. OK, he has me sit down again. We are called up again and the questions asked previously are asked again with some new questions about what I freely had given. And that they didn't know us and that they had to make sure. Mean time we watched commercial individuals walk in walk to the counter. Two minutes later they walk out with no one ensuring what they are bringing in is what they say it is. (Remember Civilian Contractors guarding our borders). To end this portion we waisted two hours there!
So now that we are two and a half hour behind schedule. We start heading towards Quebec. Out Wyndham time share says it is in Quebec. Not that it is in Quebec Providence which incorporates - Montreal, Quebec, and Ottawa. No welcome center - so we head towards Quebec. Finally on the other side of Montreal we find a welcome center. The short version of this conversation is that Wyndham had the wrong zip code and information. The town wasn't even on the map. So, we now had to back track through Montreal rush hour traffic (the traffic didn't bother me - but the trying to find the place in the mountains and dark did). We finally found the resort - pretty nice - not up to the Wyndham standards (RCI). All and all it wasn't bad. The restaurant was still open when we arrived. Definately a four our five star. The problem was that it was French food. When Joan & I were in Monty Carlo back in the 70's we went out to dinner there - it cost $150 and two hours later I was starved again. The food is very rich - to rich for my meat and potatoes. We had some soup and to our place.
OK, so now we are a day behind schedule. The next morning we have a nice breakfast and head to Quebec. Joan wanted to ride the carriage around the old town. That sounded pretty good. It is a four hour drive to Quebec. Buy the time we arrived it was 1230, not bad. The problem is that Joan can't walk to far and the carriages are in the center of old town. So I drive and drive - no place to park and the town is filled with people off of the ship docked there. We did see a lot but not as much as we would have liked to see. I'm sorry Joan!!!
We made up for it on our ride back. I took the river road back and as we came through these small towns you could tell they were Catholic! I have very rarely seen such beautiful church's! These churches weren't just beautiful they were exceptional. Once I get back and able to post our pictures you will be able to see what wonders these churches are. Most churches have one steeple - these each have two.
When we travel, I try to take the secondary roads - even with the motorhome. She ends up going through some very narrow roads. Fortunately this time we had a car. I have to ponder about that. With the Class A motorhome we sit up so much higher we have more of a commanding view. The car may be more maneuverable - it's a tuff desission one you will need to decide for your self.
I didn't tell you that part of this trip to the north was too see the changing of the leaves. Well it has been in the 90's in Canada as well. It finally dropped down to the forty's last night and it is raining out side of our motorhome at present - great heater.
Well till next week as we head to Bangor Maine and St Johns Canada - Have a great weekend and week ahead!!!
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