We finally made it. Canada. We've been trying to go for the past 3 years or so. But, you know, Covid! We were banned. We were not welcome. We were so sad. However, to be fair, we weren't welcome in New York either!
All we wanted to do was go camping. Or rather, glamping--in Canada. We wanted to take Fiona (our travel trailer) and Chanel (our dog) and camp along the eastern coastline of the US and Canada. Well, this year, we made it. We packed up Fiona, threw our dog in the Expedition, and away we went.
We decided to spend 2-3 nights in each location and get to know each area better. Stopping first in Niagara Falls, we camped close enough to enjoy the surrounding area. We love Niagara-on-the-Lake and spent the day with our dog--eating and shopping. We are so happy that most of the little shops are dog friendly, we take her everywhere, and she's well-behaved. However, she's developed a bad habit. She now sits prim and proper in front of each wrap station expecting a treat for her good behavior. I don't know if we can change that particular behavior. She even did it at border control!
As we proceeded eastward, we then went to the Kingston area, then on to Montreal. We hadn't visited Montreal before and were excited to check out their famous old downtown area. I'm sure it was quite nice at one time; however, now the "boutiques" are nothing more than tourist shops full of souvenirs, so not really my "cup of tea."
Finally, we were on our way to Quebec City. I love old Quebec, and I also love all things French. That's one thing I can say about the Quebec province--it's so French! Once over the Canadian border, we started seeing signs in both languages. When we arrived in Montreal, all signs were in French, with many people speaking both languages. However, it took more work in Quebec City to find English speakers. I loved it. From then on, it truly felt that we were in a different country. The food, the shops, the architecture-- everything was wonderful. We drove out to Ile d'Orleans one day. I felt like I was back in Napa Valley, where everyone spoke French. The vineyards and orchards were beautiful. We drove around the island, stopping at fruit stands and getting coffee. The weather was perfect, and I could practice my French as no one on the island we encountered spoke English.
We both agreed to revisit Old Quebec and Ile d'Orleans one day and spend longer than 3 days! More like 3 weeks!
As we camped our way toward home, we stopped to visit the parliament buildings in Ottawa. They were gorgeous. In my opinion, they rivaled what we've seen in London. Absolutely wonderful.
Was it worth the three-year wait? I think so. It made us appreciate our country to the North. It made us realize how much there is left to see and visit. We are truly travelers and explorers. We love different cultures and cuisines. And, once on the road heading back home, we were already planning our next big adventure.
Glamping for us is perfect. Imagine taking your "tiny house" with you everywhere you drive? We have our coffee maker, smart TV, comfy bed, and a great shower. All the comforts of home--that we pull behind our huge Expedition. Talk about first class! Most nicer campgrounds have wonderful laundry facilities, and we can take our dog and plan our stays--just how we like it. It's perfect for us. I just wish there was a bridge to Europe; wouldn't that be awesome! So, while we travel North America, we are all set. And, when we do our European travels, we just have to get over missing Fiona; we know she'll be waiting for us when we get home.
