We're baaack
Jan. 18th, 2003 10:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sierciaAnd the trip was decidedly lovely, for a whole bunch of different reasons. (For those who missed it, this week Wiley and I, and our friends Shani and Matt took a 5 day trip to Mont Tremblant, about an hour north on Montreal. It was Wiley's 30th birthday present.) As both ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
scirocco and prunesnprisms have said, the village around the mountain base was charming, the condo was lovely and right at the mountain base, the restaurants and shopping were both fun, company was delightful. I even got out and tried skiing again, this time on snow blades. I rather liked them better - I was better able to control myself, but ultimately, the boots beat me, and I could only do a few runs. Anyone know of a brand/style of ski boots that won't kill someone with over-sized calves?
I'm writing down the long detailed version of the trip too, but I'll cut it, since it's going to be long.
Sunday:
Miss Shani came over, and we went shopping for supplies. We got makings for chili and lasagna, and food for breakfast, lunches and snackies. Then I came home, made lasagna and chili and packed. Played with Miss Widget, put her to bed, then tried to relax while Wiley got the car all packed up. Carrie came over, and we went over all the details, and her plans for Miss Widget.
Monday:
Got up early, finished loading the car and then snuck out of the house before Widget woke up, which was probably easier on all of us. Drove through the remarkably light traffic to the rendezvous point. We were so early, we stopped at Target and found an entertainment center that we liked. Back in the car to meet Shani and Matt, who were early too. Hit the road, stopped for booze in NH, and drove until we got to Burlington. We stopped for a quick lunch at Friendly's and made for the border. Border crossing was completely mundane, and we were in Canada. Not surprisingly, it looked pretty much the same.
The road we were on was a one lane "state" route (I guess you'd call it a provincial route), much like say, Route 2 once you get into Western MA. It was snowing lightly, but nothing too serious; the roads didn't seem particularly slick, although we hit a few significant squalls. We followed the resort directions which had us skip the interstate and stay on the back roads, this was fine until we got behind a school bus. Eventually we found our road, hopped onto it, and ran smack into Montreal traffic, which blew goats. It wasn't even quite 4 when we hit Montreal (even Boston doesn't have rush hour that early), and it was just about 5:00 when we made it out. With only 75 miles to go, we thought we were in the clear, except that it was snowing north of the city, and the roads got hillier and curvier as we went on, so we were going more and more slowly the closer we got.
Once we got there, we found that we lacked directions to the actual hotel (having imagined that there would be signs). After a few wrong attempts, we stopped. Wiley went to look for a map, and I found an employee to accost. He pointed to our hotel (all of a three minute walk, as we would later find) and gave us very confusing sounding directions for getting to it. We found it, finally, and got ourselves checked in. Unloaded the car, and Shani and I unpacked while the boy stashed their gear in the ski locker, and parked the cars. The condo was niiiice... Two bedrooms, each with their own bath with big giant soaking tubs. The kitchen was well equipped for basic level cooking, with a good sized table for eating at, then a sitting area with a comfy couch and chair and big TV. Also a balcony, which we didn't use very much, but which overlooked the base for the Gondola lift.
I popped the lasagna in the oven and started it to baking while we unpacked and got settled in. We watched part of Lilo and Stitch, then ate. Wiley and I went for a walk around the village after - it was lovely. Breathtakingly cold and snowing, so there was almost no one out and about. We peered in shop windows and window shopped, looking for a good restaurant for dinner on Tuesday. When we got back, Matt and Shani had retired for the evening, so we watched the end of Lilo and Stitch and then went to bed ourselves.
Tuesday:
Woke up when Wiley got up to head out for the slope. I tried in vain to sleep longer but just couldn't. So, I got up, had some coffee, and stared out at the hill for a while. When Shani got up, I decided to go hit the exercise bike for a bit, so wandered down to the workout room, then came back and showered. Shani and I went out and wandered, doing some "sightseeing". We decided on a dinner spot, and found the "sugar shack" store, that had the most delightful treat - maple taffy on snow (They take warm maple syrup and pour it on a flattened piece of snow. Wait 45 seconds and roll it onto a stick.) Very Little House on the Prairie, and very delicious.
After wandering for a couple of hours we headed back to the condo for some lunch and visited with the boys, who had come in to eat and warm up. After they went back out, we settled into comfy spots, and crafted while we watched Persuasion. The boys came back before the movie was quite over, and the three of them headed back out after they had warmed up from skiing, while I stayed in and finished the movie. They came back (bringing me another maple taffy) and we all got ready to go out to dinner, for fine French food. And the food was yummy, and we had a good time - the restaurant was delightfully empty when we got there. I had a yummy salad and then cassoulet, which I think I want to learn how to make now (honestly, I think I can improve on the restaurant's version) and a good maple dessert.
We went back to the condo and headed for the outdoor hot tub. Disturbed a couple that was probably hoping for some privacy, but oh well. We had a lot of fun goofing around out there. It was so cold that you had to be careful grabbing the door handle on your way back inside - wet hands wanted to freeze to it, just like a tongue would. I love outdoor hot tubs when it's that amazingly cold outside. The bys were playing around on the weight machines, and bench pressing and leg pressing as much as they could. They leg press machine went up to 400 pounds, and I was able to manage that weight just like they were. Granted, they could have probably gone higher, and I was near my maximum, but still, I like being able to keep up with them. We came back in and watched American President and I stitched some more, and relaxed.
Wednesday:
Once again, woke up when Wiley did, and didn't fight it this time either. Went and hit the exercise bike, then settled in with Mansfield Park. The boys came in for lunch about halfway through, and when they went out, we did too - we had to procure a Maple Sugar pie for dessert, to go with the chili planned for dinner (this time we resisted the maple taffy). Then we came back and watched the rest of the movie. It wasn't so good, but I stitched more and more through it. The boys came back in and we decided to go out for appetizers and beers at the brewpub before coming home to get dinner. That was pretty good, although some of the food was not what we expected. Matt ate this big mess of a dish called 'poutine' - essentially french fries, topped with a savory gravy, and cheese. And there were nachos and beer, and life was good. Then we came home, and ate chili. After that, Wiley and Shani went down to the hot tub while Matt and I stayed in and watched West Wing (Was that a heartbreaking episode, or what?) Then there was pie, and vegging out and sleepytime. Maple Sugar Pie proved to be a touch too rich for my taste, but I think everyone else liked it.
Thursday:
And again, woke up when the boys did (this was a bad trend for the week). Settled in with Shani to watch the very long A&E production of Pride and Prejudice and stitched some more. The boys came it just as we were starting because Matt had taken a good fall. They warmed up, headed out and we continued with our movie. When they came back in for lunch we decided that we would try skiing as well. This would be attempt 4 for myself (my 2 downhill, and 1 cross country attempt prior were all uniformly bad experiences, so this is something of a stretch for me. But after watching people skiing out our window all weekend, I wanted to try it again). And, since we figured out how to steal the lift tickets off our boy's jackets, we'd only have to pay for the rentals to try again, since they were going to be helping us, not going out themselves. That combined with a half day rental being less than $30 CAD, it seemed worth it to try.
So, we headed down to the rental place. Our first stop was bad bad bad. They had two different boot styles, and neither of them fit me properly. One could barely buckle around my calf, and the other, while it would buckle, was making my feet fall asleep just standing in the store. So, the guy in the shop says that if we go down the hill, there's another rental shop there that carries another style of boot that might fit me better. How's that for heartening? So we hop the gondola down the hill to the other shop where we at least find boots that fit better. I decide to get snow blades instead of skis, on the hope that they would be more manageable. Headed back up the gondola, and over to the baby slope.
Of course, by the time we got over there, my feet were crying in pain, and I only managed two runs before I could no longer feel anything in either leg below my knee. I made Wiley go fetch my shoes, then watched while he tried to learn how to ride backwards on the baby slope, and Matt worked with teaching Shani how to ski. Took some pictures of them all, and then when my legs (and my psyche) felt a little better, got back into the boots, and tried it again. I only managed three trips down before needing to stop again, but by the third time, I was feeling like I was finally starting to get it. Wiley was great and hugely patient and helpful, and I think I'd like to try it again, at least one more time. I think though, that I either need to wait until my calves shrink a little more, or I'm going to have to suck up and buy some boots of my own that actually fit, since those rental boots damn near crippled me.
We returned the rental gear, and treated ourselves to maple taffy for being such good sports about the whole thing, then went back to the condo. Wiley and I partook of some hot tub time, then fooled around with the weight machines a little more, where I found I could bench press 120 (with a lot of effort and strain). We came back upstairs and cleaned up, and split up for "date night" outings. Wiley and I went for more fine French food at a little wine bar in the village. Our waiter greeted us in French, and when Wiley answered him back in French, he assumed we both spoke French. I must have looked like a deer in headlights when he asked me a question in French, because he looked surprised when I couldn't answer him, and he apologized to me.
I had another delicious goat cheese ornamented salad, and a filet mignon that was to die for - topped with melted blue cheese, and served with roasted root vegetables. Instead of a true dessert, I got a cheese plate instead and ecided to go for the extravagent four cheese option. When I ordered it, our waiter said "Well, I have a few questions. First, do you mind blue cheeses?" I said no, and he laughed and said "Then I have no more questions." I wonder what I would have gotten asked if I had said yes. We'd already split a bottle of wine with dinner, but I had to have a glass of port to go with my cheese. So, in general, we ate too much, got a bit tipsy, then walked home in the falling snow, fantasizing about the predicted 5 centimeters turning into a blizzard that would force us to stay in Canada. Went back, commenced packing, planned Friday with Matt and Shani, then hit the hay.
Friday:
Got up at the butt crack of dawn yet again, got the rest of our gear packed up and ready, and checked out. We headed back to the village for breakfast, having decided the night before to eat at the creperie in town on our way out. Had yummy breakfast, took one last gondola ride, and picked up a few more things. We hopped into our respective cars and headed home. The mountains we drove through were beautiful, and much faster this time, as there was no snow to contend with. Montreal traffic sucked again (this time, no where near a reasonable rush hour).
We crossed the border again with no trouble (I was a little surprised, but I'm not going to complain). We took a different route home, coming into the US in New York, and crossing over a bunch of islands on Lake Champlain to get into Vermont just north of Burlington. It was beautiful too, with the lake all frozen on both ides around us, and the mountains of Vermont rising in the distance. We stopped a few times for pictures, and enjoyed the drive immensely. Then we picked up the interstate and zipped towards home. There was a stunning sunset over the mountains as we crossed into New Hampshire, and then we were back at the State liquor store. *sigh*
We made it through Boston quickly and even caught the zipper lane on the south shore. We made it home by about 7:30, where Widget was vibrating waiting to see us. No, quite literally - I walked in the door, and she started waving her arms and bouncing up and down, and would hardly stop moving for a hug. It had only been a few days really, and she seemed so different. She can (mostly) say the alphabet now! I was amazed.
So, yeah, it was a great trip. I'm glad I tried skiing again, and I think I'll actually try it for real sometime soon. The boys reported that the skiing conditions were excellent for all three of the days that they were out there. After a while I barely noticed the face freezing cold. It was wonderful to not have anywhere to be at any certain time, and to have no work bothering me, and no Widget dictating the rhythm of my day. I think that all four of us got along for the whole week with no real sour notes, and I was so relaxed by Thursday night - I can't remember the last time I was that relaxed. It was, of course, good to get home, but I really wanted to stay up there. Tell me I need to stop thinking about wanting to buy a condo there. Please.
Randomly, I was surprised that everyone there was speaking French. I'm not sure if I thought that French was more confined to Quebec City, or if I just kept forgetting that we were going to be in Quebec Province, or what. It caught me off guard when we stopped at a gas station, and kept surprising me (weird, and dumb, I know). It definitely made it feel more like we were in a foriegn country, which made it a little more fun. Once again, made me feel supid for not speaking anything more than English, and made me want to learn another language well enough to converse in it. As if I have the time, or the brain for that.
scirocco and prunesnprisms have said, the village around the mountain base was charming, the condo was lovely and right at the mountain base, the restaurants and shopping were both fun, company was delightful. I even got out and tried skiing again, this time on snow blades. I rather liked them better - I was better able to control myself, but ultimately, the boots beat me, and I could only do a few runs. Anyone know of a brand/style of ski boots that won't kill someone with over-sized calves?I'm writing down the long detailed version of the trip too, but I'll cut it, since it's going to be long.
Sunday:
Miss Shani came over, and we went shopping for supplies. We got makings for chili and lasagna, and food for breakfast, lunches and snackies. Then I came home, made lasagna and chili and packed. Played with Miss Widget, put her to bed, then tried to relax while Wiley got the car all packed up. Carrie came over, and we went over all the details, and her plans for Miss Widget.
Monday:
Got up early, finished loading the car and then snuck out of the house before Widget woke up, which was probably easier on all of us. Drove through the remarkably light traffic to the rendezvous point. We were so early, we stopped at Target and found an entertainment center that we liked. Back in the car to meet Shani and Matt, who were early too. Hit the road, stopped for booze in NH, and drove until we got to Burlington. We stopped for a quick lunch at Friendly's and made for the border. Border crossing was completely mundane, and we were in Canada. Not surprisingly, it looked pretty much the same.
The road we were on was a one lane "state" route (I guess you'd call it a provincial route), much like say, Route 2 once you get into Western MA. It was snowing lightly, but nothing too serious; the roads didn't seem particularly slick, although we hit a few significant squalls. We followed the resort directions which had us skip the interstate and stay on the back roads, this was fine until we got behind a school bus. Eventually we found our road, hopped onto it, and ran smack into Montreal traffic, which blew goats. It wasn't even quite 4 when we hit Montreal (even Boston doesn't have rush hour that early), and it was just about 5:00 when we made it out. With only 75 miles to go, we thought we were in the clear, except that it was snowing north of the city, and the roads got hillier and curvier as we went on, so we were going more and more slowly the closer we got.
Once we got there, we found that we lacked directions to the actual hotel (having imagined that there would be signs). After a few wrong attempts, we stopped. Wiley went to look for a map, and I found an employee to accost. He pointed to our hotel (all of a three minute walk, as we would later find) and gave us very confusing sounding directions for getting to it. We found it, finally, and got ourselves checked in. Unloaded the car, and Shani and I unpacked while the boy stashed their gear in the ski locker, and parked the cars. The condo was niiiice... Two bedrooms, each with their own bath with big giant soaking tubs. The kitchen was well equipped for basic level cooking, with a good sized table for eating at, then a sitting area with a comfy couch and chair and big TV. Also a balcony, which we didn't use very much, but which overlooked the base for the Gondola lift.
I popped the lasagna in the oven and started it to baking while we unpacked and got settled in. We watched part of Lilo and Stitch, then ate. Wiley and I went for a walk around the village after - it was lovely. Breathtakingly cold and snowing, so there was almost no one out and about. We peered in shop windows and window shopped, looking for a good restaurant for dinner on Tuesday. When we got back, Matt and Shani had retired for the evening, so we watched the end of Lilo and Stitch and then went to bed ourselves.
Tuesday:
Woke up when Wiley got up to head out for the slope. I tried in vain to sleep longer but just couldn't. So, I got up, had some coffee, and stared out at the hill for a while. When Shani got up, I decided to go hit the exercise bike for a bit, so wandered down to the workout room, then came back and showered. Shani and I went out and wandered, doing some "sightseeing". We decided on a dinner spot, and found the "sugar shack" store, that had the most delightful treat - maple taffy on snow (They take warm maple syrup and pour it on a flattened piece of snow. Wait 45 seconds and roll it onto a stick.) Very Little House on the Prairie, and very delicious.
After wandering for a couple of hours we headed back to the condo for some lunch and visited with the boys, who had come in to eat and warm up. After they went back out, we settled into comfy spots, and crafted while we watched Persuasion. The boys came back before the movie was quite over, and the three of them headed back out after they had warmed up from skiing, while I stayed in and finished the movie. They came back (bringing me another maple taffy) and we all got ready to go out to dinner, for fine French food. And the food was yummy, and we had a good time - the restaurant was delightfully empty when we got there. I had a yummy salad and then cassoulet, which I think I want to learn how to make now (honestly, I think I can improve on the restaurant's version) and a good maple dessert.
We went back to the condo and headed for the outdoor hot tub. Disturbed a couple that was probably hoping for some privacy, but oh well. We had a lot of fun goofing around out there. It was so cold that you had to be careful grabbing the door handle on your way back inside - wet hands wanted to freeze to it, just like a tongue would. I love outdoor hot tubs when it's that amazingly cold outside. The bys were playing around on the weight machines, and bench pressing and leg pressing as much as they could. They leg press machine went up to 400 pounds, and I was able to manage that weight just like they were. Granted, they could have probably gone higher, and I was near my maximum, but still, I like being able to keep up with them. We came back in and watched American President and I stitched some more, and relaxed.
Wednesday:
Once again, woke up when Wiley did, and didn't fight it this time either. Went and hit the exercise bike, then settled in with Mansfield Park. The boys came in for lunch about halfway through, and when they went out, we did too - we had to procure a Maple Sugar pie for dessert, to go with the chili planned for dinner (this time we resisted the maple taffy). Then we came back and watched the rest of the movie. It wasn't so good, but I stitched more and more through it. The boys came back in and we decided to go out for appetizers and beers at the brewpub before coming home to get dinner. That was pretty good, although some of the food was not what we expected. Matt ate this big mess of a dish called 'poutine' - essentially french fries, topped with a savory gravy, and cheese. And there were nachos and beer, and life was good. Then we came home, and ate chili. After that, Wiley and Shani went down to the hot tub while Matt and I stayed in and watched West Wing (Was that a heartbreaking episode, or what?) Then there was pie, and vegging out and sleepytime. Maple Sugar Pie proved to be a touch too rich for my taste, but I think everyone else liked it.
Thursday:
And again, woke up when the boys did (this was a bad trend for the week). Settled in with Shani to watch the very long A&E production of Pride and Prejudice and stitched some more. The boys came it just as we were starting because Matt had taken a good fall. They warmed up, headed out and we continued with our movie. When they came back in for lunch we decided that we would try skiing as well. This would be attempt 4 for myself (my 2 downhill, and 1 cross country attempt prior were all uniformly bad experiences, so this is something of a stretch for me. But after watching people skiing out our window all weekend, I wanted to try it again). And, since we figured out how to steal the lift tickets off our boy's jackets, we'd only have to pay for the rentals to try again, since they were going to be helping us, not going out themselves. That combined with a half day rental being less than $30 CAD, it seemed worth it to try.
So, we headed down to the rental place. Our first stop was bad bad bad. They had two different boot styles, and neither of them fit me properly. One could barely buckle around my calf, and the other, while it would buckle, was making my feet fall asleep just standing in the store. So, the guy in the shop says that if we go down the hill, there's another rental shop there that carries another style of boot that might fit me better. How's that for heartening? So we hop the gondola down the hill to the other shop where we at least find boots that fit better. I decide to get snow blades instead of skis, on the hope that they would be more manageable. Headed back up the gondola, and over to the baby slope.
Of course, by the time we got over there, my feet were crying in pain, and I only managed two runs before I could no longer feel anything in either leg below my knee. I made Wiley go fetch my shoes, then watched while he tried to learn how to ride backwards on the baby slope, and Matt worked with teaching Shani how to ski. Took some pictures of them all, and then when my legs (and my psyche) felt a little better, got back into the boots, and tried it again. I only managed three trips down before needing to stop again, but by the third time, I was feeling like I was finally starting to get it. Wiley was great and hugely patient and helpful, and I think I'd like to try it again, at least one more time. I think though, that I either need to wait until my calves shrink a little more, or I'm going to have to suck up and buy some boots of my own that actually fit, since those rental boots damn near crippled me.
We returned the rental gear, and treated ourselves to maple taffy for being such good sports about the whole thing, then went back to the condo. Wiley and I partook of some hot tub time, then fooled around with the weight machines a little more, where I found I could bench press 120 (with a lot of effort and strain). We came back upstairs and cleaned up, and split up for "date night" outings. Wiley and I went for more fine French food at a little wine bar in the village. Our waiter greeted us in French, and when Wiley answered him back in French, he assumed we both spoke French. I must have looked like a deer in headlights when he asked me a question in French, because he looked surprised when I couldn't answer him, and he apologized to me.
I had another delicious goat cheese ornamented salad, and a filet mignon that was to die for - topped with melted blue cheese, and served with roasted root vegetables. Instead of a true dessert, I got a cheese plate instead and ecided to go for the extravagent four cheese option. When I ordered it, our waiter said "Well, I have a few questions. First, do you mind blue cheeses?" I said no, and he laughed and said "Then I have no more questions." I wonder what I would have gotten asked if I had said yes. We'd already split a bottle of wine with dinner, but I had to have a glass of port to go with my cheese. So, in general, we ate too much, got a bit tipsy, then walked home in the falling snow, fantasizing about the predicted 5 centimeters turning into a blizzard that would force us to stay in Canada. Went back, commenced packing, planned Friday with Matt and Shani, then hit the hay.
Friday:
Got up at the butt crack of dawn yet again, got the rest of our gear packed up and ready, and checked out. We headed back to the village for breakfast, having decided the night before to eat at the creperie in town on our way out. Had yummy breakfast, took one last gondola ride, and picked up a few more things. We hopped into our respective cars and headed home. The mountains we drove through were beautiful, and much faster this time, as there was no snow to contend with. Montreal traffic sucked again (this time, no where near a reasonable rush hour).
We crossed the border again with no trouble (I was a little surprised, but I'm not going to complain). We took a different route home, coming into the US in New York, and crossing over a bunch of islands on Lake Champlain to get into Vermont just north of Burlington. It was beautiful too, with the lake all frozen on both ides around us, and the mountains of Vermont rising in the distance. We stopped a few times for pictures, and enjoyed the drive immensely. Then we picked up the interstate and zipped towards home. There was a stunning sunset over the mountains as we crossed into New Hampshire, and then we were back at the State liquor store. *sigh*
We made it through Boston quickly and even caught the zipper lane on the south shore. We made it home by about 7:30, where Widget was vibrating waiting to see us. No, quite literally - I walked in the door, and she started waving her arms and bouncing up and down, and would hardly stop moving for a hug. It had only been a few days really, and she seemed so different. She can (mostly) say the alphabet now! I was amazed.
So, yeah, it was a great trip. I'm glad I tried skiing again, and I think I'll actually try it for real sometime soon. The boys reported that the skiing conditions were excellent for all three of the days that they were out there. After a while I barely noticed the face freezing cold. It was wonderful to not have anywhere to be at any certain time, and to have no work bothering me, and no Widget dictating the rhythm of my day. I think that all four of us got along for the whole week with no real sour notes, and I was so relaxed by Thursday night - I can't remember the last time I was that relaxed. It was, of course, good to get home, but I really wanted to stay up there. Tell me I need to stop thinking about wanting to buy a condo there. Please.
Randomly, I was surprised that everyone there was speaking French. I'm not sure if I thought that French was more confined to Quebec City, or if I just kept forgetting that we were going to be in Quebec Province, or what. It caught me off guard when we stopped at a gas station, and kept surprising me (weird, and dumb, I know). It definitely made it feel more like we were in a foriegn country, which made it a little more fun. Once again, made me feel supid for not speaking anything more than English, and made me want to learn another language well enough to converse in it. As if I have the time, or the brain for that.
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(no subject)
Date: 2003-01-18 08:16 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2003-01-18 10:25 pm (UTC)I must have looked like a deer in headlights when he asked me a question in French, because he looked surprised when I couldn't answer him, and he apologized to me.
Wow, it IS indeed a tourist place, because you won't get treated with such things as apologies in Montreal. As far as I'm aware, and my experience has confirmed it, the entire province is mainly French speaking, except for Montreal, although the default here is French, even to a certain extent in the anglophone neighbourhoods.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-01-18 10:37 pm (UTC)