Friday 19th August 2022.
This morning was a local adventure for the grandparents and little one while the adults in the room went to see some of the sites (or maybe have a sleep). We return to the park where we went yesterday, but this time we are fully prepared for not only the sandpit and play area but also the splash pad - as it is very hot and sunny. We are in the play area by eight thirty in the morning!
First of all Eric and the little one have it nearly all to themselves, then the playgroups and childminder gangs started arriving, in crocodile form, or in one case a push along bus for six children under two.
Having found a few new friends a happy few hours was spent in the sand and on the play equipment. By ten o’clock we thought it was probably hot enough to risk going in the wet area. With the littlest one changed into suitable gear, and shoes off for the grandparents, there is lots more fun had with the water fountains.
Of course, the fountains come on intermittently and someone who was not suitably dressed was caught out standing under one of them and got thoroughly soaked - at least it is warm enough to dry off quickly.
We return to the accommodation for the boy’s afternoon nap.
Another adventure waits this afternoon, a trip on the metro to one of the islands in the St Lawrence river, where there is the Biosphere, woodland, beaches, all sorts of other entertainment and hopefully a walk back to the metro along the Jaques Cartier bridge.
The weather is extremely hot so we try to keep to the shade as much as possible. Walking through the woodland we suddenly realise that we are being bitten by the insects. A stop to put on some repellent-although it’s a little late for that now!
The Jaqueline Cartier bridge is one of the iconic sites of Montreal and there is supposedly a dual purpose walking and cycling track along the side of it. We find our way onto the bridge, but the dual purpose path is not quite what we expected, there are mostly cyclists and scooter people using it. We do notice one or two others walking, but we are in the minority, being passed by bicycles going a zillion miles an hour - think it must be a commuter route. The traffic on the other side of the path is also very very busy and noisy. Luckily, although it is steaming hot there is a pleasant breeze blowing on the bridge. Views across the city and up and down the river made it worth the effort.
A cafe beckons the the other side, plus some delicious almond and apricot vegan biscuits. The metro is not far away and we make it ‘home’ to a pre-prepared chilli.