Another city, another free airplane wash on the way in. The weather was nice for most of our 2 ½ hour flight, but there was a large band of heavy rain & thunderstorms sitting right on the US / Canada border as we approached. We had to deviate about 40 miles East of our course to get around the worst of the rain, but we finally made it in around 1pm.
Canadian customs was a breeze –we cleared without seeing anyone. We just called the 800 number and reported our arrival. We had to split up into two cabs for the 30 minute ride to the hotel. None of us had lunch yet and we were getting hungrier & grumpier by the minute.
While I was getting us checked in, Michele went to find the restaurant, so we could get a late lunch. Justin came back and said they had a table, so we followed him into the elevator, but he couldn’t remember what floor. While we were thinking about it, the elevator went up, so we had to get off and catch another one down. Meanwhile, Michele was calling me saying she was back in the lobby, but Roland had disappeared. It was like some weird comedy routine getting our group back together again!
Finally, we found the restaurant –actually, it was the bar. The kids weren’t allowed to sit in the bar, so we sat outside on the terrace. We were just about on our last nerve by the time we got the chairs shuffled around and sat down. After sitting for a few minutes and getting a drink, everyone started to feel more relaxed. We had a lovely view of our magnificent hotel, the Chateau Frontenac and the river below. And then, it started to rain…
I wondered where we going to eat now? Maybe take the food up to the room? But, the server was very nice and opened up a private room just off the bar where we could sit and have lunch with the kids. I thought the food was good (club sandwich), but Brandon & Justin’s pizza had a meat & tomato sauce. Justin loved it, but Brandon & Cameron said it tasted like chili and didn’t eat.
After lunch, we got the bellman to bring our bags up to our rooms. He mentioned that there was a music festival this weekend and that the Black Eyed Peas would be performing tonight. The kids would love that, for sure! Sandy went down to check with the concierge to see if we could get some tickets.
Meanwhile, there were some street performers in the square just outside our window and the boys enjoyed watching them dance & do stunts like sword swallowing & fire eating. We put on our swimsuits and headed to the pool for a little while and then came back to the room for a quick power-nap. The phone rang after we got in and the concierge scored 4 tickets for the big show.
About 6:30pm, we went out to dinner and had a great meal at an Italian restaurant. Brandon was especially happy that the pizza didn’t taste like chili. After dinner, we walked back to the hotel and then came the tough part: deciding who was going to the show. After discussing it a bit, Justin decided he was too tired and didn’t want to stand around all night, so he stayed with Roland, Sandy, & Megan, while Michele, Brandon, Cameron & I went to the show.
It was a short walk uphill to the citadel area. The crowds thickened as we got closer until we finally were herded through the security & ticket check and got inside. It was PACKED! They said that over 200,000 people were there and I believe it . We walked and walked until we finally found a little spot where we could stand behind some folks in chairs so the kids could see the stage & big TV screens. The opening act was finishing up and we had to wait about 45 minutes for the Black Eyed Peas to start. It was a fun show and Cameron & Brandon were having a great time dancing and singing along to all their hits.
We left a little early to beat the crowds, walked back to the hotel, and fell into bed. We have no firm plans for tomorrow. I think we will just walk around the city and see what we find.
Canadian customs was a breeze –we cleared without seeing anyone. We just called the 800 number and reported our arrival. We had to split up into two cabs for the 30 minute ride to the hotel. None of us had lunch yet and we were getting hungrier & grumpier by the minute.
While I was getting us checked in, Michele went to find the restaurant, so we could get a late lunch. Justin came back and said they had a table, so we followed him into the elevator, but he couldn’t remember what floor. While we were thinking about it, the elevator went up, so we had to get off and catch another one down. Meanwhile, Michele was calling me saying she was back in the lobby, but Roland had disappeared. It was like some weird comedy routine getting our group back together again!
Finally, we found the restaurant –actually, it was the bar. The kids weren’t allowed to sit in the bar, so we sat outside on the terrace. We were just about on our last nerve by the time we got the chairs shuffled around and sat down. After sitting for a few minutes and getting a drink, everyone started to feel more relaxed. We had a lovely view of our magnificent hotel, the Chateau Frontenac and the river below. And then, it started to rain…
I wondered where we going to eat now? Maybe take the food up to the room? But, the server was very nice and opened up a private room just off the bar where we could sit and have lunch with the kids. I thought the food was good (club sandwich), but Brandon & Justin’s pizza had a meat & tomato sauce. Justin loved it, but Brandon & Cameron said it tasted like chili and didn’t eat.
After lunch, we got the bellman to bring our bags up to our rooms. He mentioned that there was a music festival this weekend and that the Black Eyed Peas would be performing tonight. The kids would love that, for sure! Sandy went down to check with the concierge to see if we could get some tickets.
Meanwhile, there were some street performers in the square just outside our window and the boys enjoyed watching them dance & do stunts like sword swallowing & fire eating. We put on our swimsuits and headed to the pool for a little while and then came back to the room for a quick power-nap. The phone rang after we got in and the concierge scored 4 tickets for the big show.
About 6:30pm, we went out to dinner and had a great meal at an Italian restaurant. Brandon was especially happy that the pizza didn’t taste like chili. After dinner, we walked back to the hotel and then came the tough part: deciding who was going to the show. After discussing it a bit, Justin decided he was too tired and didn’t want to stand around all night, so he stayed with Roland, Sandy, & Megan, while Michele, Brandon, Cameron & I went to the show.
It was a short walk uphill to the citadel area. The crowds thickened as we got closer until we finally were herded through the security & ticket check and got inside. It was PACKED! They said that over 200,000 people were there and I believe it . We walked and walked until we finally found a little spot where we could stand behind some folks in chairs so the kids could see the stage & big TV screens. The opening act was finishing up and we had to wait about 45 minutes for the Black Eyed Peas to start. It was a fun show and Cameron & Brandon were having a great time dancing and singing along to all their hits.
We left a little early to beat the crowds, walked back to the hotel, and fell into bed. We have no firm plans for tomorrow. I think we will just walk around the city and see what we find.
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