Happy Sunday... Yesterday was cold, crisp and sunny, perfect for a tour of the harbour! Again, lots of history, good tour guide on board... Then off to the TD Garden... Yes, the Toronto Dominion Bank is certainly gaining ground in the U S northeast... Have been watching TD stock, they are doing quite well... When I first got to the Garden, walked all around the level, taking in all the pictures, memorabilia, felt great to be there... Carolina was in town... I had great seats, very nice people sitting next to me... Boston won in o/t, 3 - 2... I am experiencing something of a hat trick... When in Toronto went to a game between the leafs and the oilers, leafs won, can't remember the score, sorry, then in Montreal, the Minnesota Wild were in town, Habs 6 Wild 2, yesterday Boston won, so may have to merchandise my luck, ha! Anyway, the fans sure went away happy... From there explored Little Italy, old town Boston, cobble streets, the works! Found a good restaurant with a long lineup, for the life of me, can't remember the name, but you can't argue with a lineup, had probably the best pasta since my adventure began... Since I was on my own, invited 3 people to join me, a young male student from Korea, 2 young ladies from Boston (the one is living in L A, but here visiting), we had an Int'l table... After eating, wandered into a pastry shop having my 1st ever Canolli, sp? w/expresso, anisette, felt very Italian, for the moment, ha! There was a tree lighting close by in Fanieul Sq, hope that is the correct spelling... It is a Canadian tree from Halifax, N S... The story is, heard this during a tour of Halifax Harbour, in the early 1900s, two ships blew up in Halifax harbour, lives were lost, etc, bad, bad marine incident... Well, our neighbours in Boston were 1st to respond, helping immensely... Halifax has been sending a huge Christmas tree to this city every year since... The tree lighting is a big deal and what Canadian wouldn't attend? I was proud to be there amongst the throngs, good practise for Times Sq., huh? Home to the hotel and a quiet rest of the evening... Tomorrow, Boston Philharmonic matinee... Hope everyone is well... 'til mañaña (just found out how to do that - small minds, huh?, ha!) h

Reporting from Boston... This is a beautiful hotel! It is the oldest (longest running) hotel in north america... In the dining room is where JFK proposed to Jackie, also where his bachelor party was held... Very many Kennedy connections, that's for sure... It is an interesting weekend, to be sure, to be here... Lots of items on T V and the media commemorating the 50th anniversary of JFK's death... This a m made arrangements for transportation to NYC first priority... Will be travelling via Amtrak on Monday to begin my 37 day residency, can't believe it is here so fast, really enjoyed my time in eastern Canada... I purchased a ticket for the hop on/hop off bus... It was a perfect activity for today because it has been showering off and on all day... I really enjoy history, anecdotes and the like, ssoooo much history here, wow! I love Boston!!! Got off at the Cheers stop, no one knew my name! ha! I still can't believe I was there... Do you know what I had? Boston baked beans, were yummy! Last night in the hotel restaurant, had Boston Clam Chowder and for desert, Boston Cream Pie... This hotel (or the chef at the time) is the inventor of Boston Cream Pie as well as Parker dinner rolls, who would have thunk? Walked back to the hotel, enjoying the view of all around, so much history... Right beside the hotel is the very first church, grave yard, all is overwhelming... Back at the hotel, there is a scotche tasting bar so tasted a couple of my favourite - Glenmorangie... Very interesting... An early night, going on a harbour tour tomorrow, then to a Bruins afternoon game, so a little T V time will do it... 'til next time, lovin' Boston! h

This is going to be my last day in Quebec and have arranged a tour... I was picked up at my hotel, then we were off... It was a 3 hour plus tour on a crisp, clear day... All around the city, old town included... We also saw bldgs from 1967 Expo as well Olympic Games in '76... I just love tours, so much info, history, showing us different parts of the city... My fav. was Notre Dame, absolutely amazing... So many of the bldgs we saw were the first built in Canada, overwhelming! Celine Dion was married in Notre Same... After the tour, took the Metro over to Schwartz's, for some Mtl smoked meat... A very popular place, @ 4:30, lined up out the door... Gotta' tell you, not my kind of sandwich, 2 - 3 inches of sliced pastrami, too much for me... The young fellows sitting next to me at the counter, each had 2 sandwiches, oh, to be young again... When I was paying, the cashier told me if Celine and Rene (he owns it) call by, they usually p/u the tab for all in the restaurant, cool, huh? Back home to my little room for an early night, tomorrow is a travel day by Greyhound to Boston to stay at Omni Parker House, Hotels and Resorts... Stay tuned from Boston... h

How time flies?!? As tomorrow dawns, my Canadian eastern adventure draws to a close, it seriously saddens me as this adventure has far exceeded my expectations... On Monday, after mailing yet another box of clothes, momentos, etc., back west to Judy, Nicole drove me back to Montreal... I know I am repeating, but so enjoyed my time with Nicole and Brent, a fabulous family, made me feel very much to home... I am happy in this hotel, Montreal Downtown Hotel Europa, very central to everything... The reason I am telling you the name, I know some of you are following the b & bs, hotels, etc... The day progressed to be a frustrating day, interesting people in Montreal, they, or some of them, are wound way too tight, don't even think it has to do w/language, enuf said... This city is very different from Quebec City even tho' both cities have "old town"... Very much cosmopolitan... Tuesday was a cold, crisp, sunny day, perfect for investigating old town, successfully trying the metro (sky train/Canada line)... It is pretty easy, straight forward... I love the cobble stones, narrow roads, winding their way thro' old town, lots of restaurants, souvenir shops, etc., all with the Christmas feel... I went in Notre Dame Basilica, fabulous, took 40 years to complete the interior, awesome! I even saw the odd flake of snow - super! After an afternoon of investigating, had worked up a thirst, ha! so went to a sports bar for some pre-game food, and wine, of course, before my 1st ever Montreal Canadiens game @ Bell Centre... The Wild (Minnesota) were in town... Even tho' this is not The Forum, they have tried their best to transfer all the nostalgia and history, they have succeeded, really enjoyed reading all the plaques, seeing all the pictures/momentos... The game was successful for The Habs, Go Habs Go... Habs 6, Wild 2... Everyone went home happy... That's it for today... Keep smiling'... h

Just to let you all know... If you emailed me last night or today and I don't answer, my webmail was down... It is up now... h

Nicole arr'd. in the a m and we headed out to Ormstown... As we travelled thro' Montreal, I enjoyed seeing the city in the daylight, sunny, mild day... Really good seeing her once again... Nicole very kindly had invited me to her house for the weekend, great to meet Brent, hubby, as well as visit with Meredith (daughter), also met their youngest daughter, Daphne at lunch after we arr'd... I met Nicole and Meredith in St. John's, Nfld, we were all staying at the same b&b... In St. John's, Nicole and I spent a lot of time together, hitting it off right away... Meredith was attending a conference, so Nicole had the time to investigate the city with me... I have really enjoyed visiting with them, a really great family... Brent still works, a vet. with the provincial gov't., Nicole took early retirement from a gov't job, and is enjoying life very much... Ormstown is a town of appr 3500 pop., deep in ag. country, mainly crops of corn... Nicole and I walked thro' the town, originally settled by the english, now both french and English... I envy their life, seem to really enjoy, as well as living in a lovely home... Very nice people, have certainly made me feel welcome... It is so good to be enjoying a weekend off from traveling as well as getting my laundry done... Tonite, Sunday, am being allowed to cook, so am really looking fwd to that... Guess what I have suggested? yep, mac 'n cheese, comfort food, hope I haven't forgotten how, yikes! stay tuned... h

Happy Sunday, everyone... Friday was a travel day, enjoyed the countryside while traveling to Montreal with Via Rail... There was even a special rate, aside from being senior - yahoo! By the way, Donna and Dan, passed by cranberry fields, they had been harvested, thought of you, hope harvest went well in Richmond... Also, was traveling in corn country, lots of corn fields, both harvested and unharvested... After registering @ The Quality Inn, went out for a walk, very mild, no precipitation, but very much rush hour... I know it sounds weird but could have sworn I was on Georgia St. in downtown Van... Mtl does not resemble Van at all, just a weird moment, I guess... Found an Italian restaurant, oh, that even carried my favourite wine - sweet, then back to my little room... I am looking fwd to exploring the city, hopefully even take in a habs game... My friend, Nicole is coming to pick me tomorrow morning to drive me back to Ormstown ('bout an hours drive) for the weekend, looking fwd to seeing her, once again... to be continued... h