Wednesday – Hmm, can’t remember what happened on Wednesday. It was possibly the day that I stayed in Burlington and had a look around the shops in which case it was the day that I bought a very nice shirt in a second-hand shop. Obviously, when I say very nice I mean 80% stretchy polyester, fitted, with big pointy collars as opposed to most people translation of the same concept. Maple fudge was also possibly purchased today if it’s the day I think it was and that is very very nice indeed. No Mooses.
Thursday – Lake Placid – A beautiful drive up to Lake Placid of Olympic and killer crocodile fame. Pretty little town totally based around snow sports which is a bit incongruous on another day that feels like high summer. No Mooses on the way there either. Most of the fun is in the drives just watching the incredible scenery unfold around you and seeing the impossible to describe colours of the Sugar Maples as they go into Autumn mode. “Very pretty” is as close as I get.
Friday – Canadia – Off to Montreal with Andy and Jess today but no Oscar. (He speaks very rudimentary French so wasn’t interested). A quick couple of hours in the car coming up through New York State across the islands (Little Hero and Big Hero) with my jaw on the floor again. No moose though. I have become very good at identifying Moose country. Just so you know, Moose country is marshland type places near forests and the crucial thing that identifies it is that there is NEVER a moose in it. Then over the border after a 20 minute wait and then I’m out of the US into a French bit of North America. Canadialand.
It’s very odd to just be in the US and suddenly be in a place where all the signs are in French. I’ve already been confused by the road signs in Vermont that point to Montpellier and St Albans all in one sign, so suddenly feeling like I was in France was all part of the surrealness, (or is it surreality?) of this trip. Went into old Montreal which feels ridiculously European. Wandered around for a bit then stopped for a crepe. That is always going to be funny no matter how many times I say it. Everyone speaks French and the place feels very laid back as a city in comparison to Manhattan. I think pretty much everywhere in the world probably feels laid back in comparison to Manhattan. Went for a walk down to the port area by the river and saw some very whacky structures on the other side of the water, one huge wire looking globe and some really crazy apartments in a block that looked like something from Planet Of The Apes. Then more wandering in the sun (like a summers day) around the old part of town before a promenade up to St Catherines which is the main shopping area and then a stop for a beer in a bar where you could smoke at the bar, allelujah! The Red Sox were on the tv stuffing it to errr… another team in the play offs which made everyone feel good. Everyones crazy about rounders here, which is nice. After we finished our drink, the Red Sox true to form threw away their lead, scared everyone silly, and then managed to win at the last minute. Last time they won the National Rounders championship was in 1492 apparently so they are due another go.
Food in a Polish restaurant with a piano player playing jazz versions of Beatles songs, and not just Beatles songs but the Ringo ones. Class. Reminded me of the interview with Lennon at the height of the Beatles fame when he was asked whether he thought Ringo was the best drummer in the world and replied that he wasn’t even the best drummer in the Beatles. He he.
Thing about France is, when you walk around the cities, everyone seems pretty stylish and attractive in that French way. I have a new theory that the reason for the high quota of goodlookingness and welldressedness in France is that anyone who dresses badly there or has been touched with the ugly stick is immediately shipped under cover of darkness to Canada. Sad but true. And I’m sure I’m wrong. I don’t think there’s any Canadians reading this though so I can say what I like… or is there?
After that a trek back across the border via the duty free shop. I’ve got Moose Nuts, but the cream should clear that up. Some good questioning from the border guard, asking what I was doing here and how I was supporting myself, to which the answers are obviously “having a laugh for 3 months travelling all over the states to see people I like with no responsibility whatsoever.” and “I am independently wealthy for the moment thanks to an incredibly lucky house buy 5 years ago.” “You on the other hand are sitting in a small hut on a Friday night having no fun whatsoever.”. Guess whether I said any of that in real life….
Saturday – Chilling out and bought new luggage to replace the case that was kindly trashed by the customs people in Newark and then stuck together with sticky tape with a note saying sorry but it was part of their anti-terror work and there was no financial recompense available. Thanks. Bought some vegetarian salami for a sandwich on the plane… mmmm… and Jess cooked some excellent Thai food and Andy and I went out to a funky band bar and had a beer and then I discovered that I am possibly allergic to Shitake mushrooms despite loving them. Boilk.
Sunday – I’m now sitting in the departure lounge at Burlington airport eating a vegetarian salami sub, which isn’t at all bad but possibly would have benefitted from the addition of a bit of lettuce, mayo and salt and pepper, with Dexy’s Midnight Runners playing through the airport PA system for no apparent reason. Bet they’d switch it off if they’d seen those pictures of Kevin Rowland in a dress and suspenders that promoted his last offering… in fact that’s ruining my appetite. Delta have oversold my flight which was due to leave at 10:50 with a layover in Cincinatti and so have asked me if I minded terribly if I switch to North West Airlines (NWA who Ben likes so now I’m going to listen to NWA on me Ipod cos I can and it amuses me). My new flight is direct to Detroit and gets there much quicker so I’m not doing a great deal of minding currently. Did just find out however that my new, nice, hard Samsonite case (a bargain from Costco at about 50 quid) adds 10 pounds to the weight of my luggage which means I just had to pay 25 dollars to get it on the plane. Thanks again US customs for trashing my old bag.
Goodbye Oscar, hello Alvie.
