A touch of relaxation...

This week has been a little different to the rest and I have had a welcome break from the backpacker life. Although when I got back into it I realised how much a have a love/hate relationship brewing with my backpack, (which is now fixed and back to full working order), and how I am becoming used to living out of this thing. Something I never thought I would say.

I got to spend the week in and around Morin Heights, north of Montreal and beautiful. My friends from home, Allan and Claire, scooped me up for the week and took me to Allan's family cottage up in the mountains. Well compared to the likes of Whistler and Banff these are hills, but big ones! The view from the decking stretches out for miles and there is an endless sea of teas and that gorgeous sound of silence.

We had BBQ's and fires, one of which to celebrate Claire's birthday. Fire obviously means marshmallows, you can't have a fire going and not have marshmallows, that would simply be criminal.

Out and about we swam in lakes and waterfalls making the most of the hot,hot weather and exploring towns which are little with charming character, far from the buzzing city life and town centres I've become accustomed to. No one is rushing past you, in fact no one is rushing, just relaxing and enjoying the life.

One of Allan's friends let us loose on his ATVs which is where I become Charlie's Angel Essex girl! OK I could pretend anway. So much fun to zoom around the dirt tracks looking hysterical I'm sure as I tried to get on in a lady like fashion in my frilly skirt.

Now as I write this I'm in Montreal. It's a gorgeous city with an easy to follow tube, sorry metro, making everything accessible. You can see everything from the Old Port, to cathedrals with lavish decor or shop,shop, shop - oh how I wish I could do the last option.

Last night myself and a few girls from the hostel decided to join the 'Bar Tour' or in English a pub crawl. Lots of drinks, giggles and dancing provided a good night and I even managed the task of getting onto the top bunk of a bed that sways every time you move or even just breathe.

One thing I must mention is that I have no flight now. Yes I booked Zoom and they've gone bankrupt. Typical. So I'm busying around trying to find another flight and apparently there are airlines offering half price tickets for Zoom costumers, but obviously when you try and call them you are stuck on hold for abut 20 minutes listening to some awful music that is on a loop, slowly driving you crazy and I'm sure I'll go to bed humming the tune like a mad woman with an airline obsession.

Tomorrow I'm back to Ottawa for the weekend; Ottawa part three as we went for an over night trip doing the week. Then off to Niagara Falls.

I'll speak to you from the falls.