Land of the maple leaf
Canadians are nice people, I’ve never met an unpleasant one. Which makes a recent news story even more shocking. There was drama on a long-distance Greyhound bus a few weeks ago as it travelled through the prairies, when a passenger attacked the stranger sitting next to him with a knife – and then beheaded the man. The coach slammed to a halt and the driver urged the rest of the passengers to get out. The knifeman climbed down carrying the head and dropped it at the driver’s feet.
I spent a day in Canada last month; changing planes from Chicago to London, I missed my onward connection in Montreal. I sweet-talked Air Canada into re-booking my next flight the following evening. So, a free night in an airport hotel, a voucher for a free dinner, and a whole day to enjoy this wonderful French-Canadian city.
And it was very French, although the accent was amazing (I’ve been told French-Canadian programmes broadcast on French TV often have subtitles!). French and American words were often used together – lovely if you’ve forgotten a word in one language but can remember it in the other. Lots of history to enjoy – as Montreal was the entry point for many of the immigrants who sailed up the mighty Saint Lawrence river in the nineteenth century. Great food, friendly people and a destination to return to before too long. But maybe I’ll give the long distance buses a miss.