We were all booked for a 10 day trip to Paris, FRANCE.
Paris chocolate walking tour selected, extensive pastry research done, an invitation to dinner with a Parisian friend, old but still valid metro tickets in wallet, animals in the kennel, car parked in long term parking and standing at the check-in counter at the airport when we find out our flight is cancelled!!
...something about a storm....what storm??
Within minutes the airport shut down, there were no more flights that day, the metal gates were closed at security, everyone in a uniform had disappeared. I checked my watch, it was only 5pm!
Note to self: never, never, ever, use Ithaca airport!
The short story: We cancelled Paris....(way too complicated, that would make this the long story) After a stop in town for dinner (no food in the house) and back at home with suitcases still in the car we sat side by side with computers on our laps, looking at possible alternative destinations.
It turned out that everything we considered involved considerable inconvenience - the perfect solution eventually showed itself....we would drive to Quebec, Canada and enjoy the closest thing to France without involving an airport. Up early the next morning, hit the road and within five hours we were seeing French and showing our passports to border control.
cross the St Lawrence River with it's 1000 Islands
choices - East and to the French!
a short stroll down the road, on the hunt for patisserie, but not so fast, this town might be bi-lingual but they still love their cup of English tea - with strawberry shortcake on the side.
We arrive in Ottawa and are awed by the architecture.
at Kingston, where mums cousin, Camellia lives.
still operated by hand
riding on the canal - frozen in winter and becomes a public ice skating rink.
must go back and experience that.
finally, a French patisserie -a huge bowl of hot chocolate and a Palmier
a Museum of Civilization
off to Montreal....
