Bon Jour Montreal! Tre jour … Quebec! (première partie)

I can officially add Montreal and Quebec to my list of “visited” places. AND what an experience it was.  Luckily, my mom (my regular traveling partner) and I had the opportunity to travel with her longtime friend Carol and her husband, Tommy.  It only contributed to the laugh factor even more.

After boarding the bus – with 30+ senior citizens – we began our trek up to the Great Wide North.  Smooth remakes of EVERYONE’s favorite tunes (such as Charley Pride, Sinatra and Patsy Cline) boomed via stereo – as we took in all the sites of Upstate New York.  Lake George was lovely. Absolutely lovely. I’m in-love.  It essentially has EVERYTHING I could possibly want in a vacation: Hiking, log cabins, quaint shops, History and SAILBOATS !!!

Lake George

We spent two nights in Montreal – a city which is quintessentially a perfect blend of new world- hipster and old world whimsy (that one’s for you, Carol and Harriet). Though I was desperately wishing I would have taken French in high school – I navigated the shops and restaurants with relative ease.

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Bus Etiquette/Facts Top 10 (First 5 … anyway)

I learned a lot about taking bus tours from taking this trip.  I was also granted a rare insight as to how the Pre-Woodstock generation travels …. in style.  Here are some helpful tips that I both – witnessed AND PARTOOK in whilst traveling ….

1.) Complain – about EVERYTHING – but just loud enough for your near-by bus neighbors to hear. They’ll usually tell you you’re absolutely right – and you’ll feel better about your useless yapping.

2.) ONLY get off the bus when “Gromice” the Froggy mascot is hanging on your side of the bus.  Failure to comply to this rule – MAY have you drawn and quartered in the streets of your final destination.

3.) Don’t bother the bus-driver (that you will be spending the week with) – for her free WIFI password.  You don’t want to clog the network   by surfing the net – along with the other 40 bus passengers that AREN’T surfing the web.  She won’t give it to you anyway.

4.) Make a joke about using the bus bathroom every 25 minutes (this works best if you have a UTI infection like I did).  There is nothing people like more than seeing someone 40 years younger than them – peeing more than they do.

5.)If you can’t beat ’em join ’em.  When they jam out classic tunes over the speakers – SING ALONG.

 

The Frost’s Take a Trip-cation: Introduction

I finally have a moment to sit down and blog. It’s been (as always) a hectic couple of weeks – but I finally have had some time to go through our vacation photos.

As a child (and teen) Nick and his family have taken their annual family vacation to the Outer Banks, North Carolina.  As a child, myself,  I was alway super envious of large families that took vacations together.  Though I have a ridiculous amount of fond vacation memories with my mom and dad (I’m an only child) – I always secretly hoped that we could take an extended family trip to Disney or a cruise to an exotic locale. We talked about it – every Easter and Thanksgiving – but it never came to fruition. Time went on, awesome “trips” were to be had but an extended family vacation was never taken.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge

Chesapeake Bay Bridge – Selfie

That’s why – when Nick’s (awesome) parents gave us a week vacation with the family in the Outer Banks for Christmas – my feelings were conflicted. Positive Side – I FINALLY was getting my extended family vacation – with Nick’s amazing family and was super stoked.  BUT NOT SO POSITIVE SIDE – as Nick pointed out – it was going to be a (vacation* ) not a (trip*).  Sitting on the beach – all day – in the hot sun – doing nothing – made me a little  apprehensive. Unfortunately for my husband  I’m a walking, talking paradox. I love the outdoors, nature, sitting around and reading.  I love munching on snacks and snoozing on the couch.  BUT – I’m not a fan of doing that on vacation. Oddly enough – I’ve always been “get up and go” kinda girl when I go away. I suppose my folks are to thank for that little trait. From the time I could walk – we were “on the go” every summer.  Disney, Hershey, Williamsburg, Washington D.C., Fredricksburg, Gettysburg (The F.V), Waterloo Village, New Hope, Italy, Ireland, Canada, Busch Gardens … the list goes on and on.  There wasn’t a summer or “trip” we took where I didn’t see a museum, battlefield, amusement park, castle, or historical village. Exhausting – well … now that I think about it – yes. It must have been – ridiculously tiresome for my parents.  But – my father  – well he loved it and I loved it – knowing he loved it.  He instilled the go, go, go vacationing fever in me – and for all it’s worth – I just can’t shake it.  So Nick being the most amazingly understanding man alive and feeding his never-ending Libra need to create “balance” gave me my first (of I’m sure many) of the most memorable trip-cations I’ve ever had!!!!

Stay Tuned for:

  • The Frost’s Take a Trip-cation: Impromptu Delaware Car Show
  • The Frost’s Take a Trip-cation: Chesapeake Bay Crossing/Almshouse Farm at Machipongo
  • The Frost’s Take a Trip-cation:Currituck Heritage Park/Arthur WHO?!?!

 

**Trip – (according to the Sage Nicholas J Frost) – an experience in which one travels and engages in many activities such as sightseeing, tours, day trips etc

**Vacation (once again according to the Sage Nicholas J Frost) – an experience in which one travels with the sole intention of resting and relaxation