Final Day in Montreal, Return Home, and Spending Report

Monday, June 1-2, 2018--Montreal to San Antonio

Friday was another hot day in Montreal, but with raised humidity.  I brought too many winter shirts thinking it would remain in the 50s and 60s, but now it has been in the 80s for several days.  When I was here in mid-September in the 1970s, it was COLD, so I assumed the cold-to-cool weather they were having in late April/early May would likely continue all the way through May. 

There was nothing of importance left that I wanted to see or do, so I went downtown and exchanged my final few Canadian dollars for US dollars at a money exchange office (Universal) that gave a great deal--just a few cents difference between their rate and the rate on xe.com and with no service charge.  Then I explored two more areas I had missed previously.

I wandered the Square St-Louis area and a part I missed previously of Rue Prince-Arthur, a pedestrian district of restaurants and clubs extending westward from it.  This is an area of immigrants, but it didn't seem to be as vital as it had been described.  There were a number of empty storefronts on the pedestrian street.

So I headed to Avenue du Mont-Royal, and this is where I found the immigrants.  I don't know if it was the beginning of something special happening only for the weekend or something that happens on this street every weekend.  But in addition to the many immigrant shops, there were stalls set up on the street for many blocks selling all kinds of things.  Among them were food stalls selling wonderful looking items at very good prices.  How I wished I had known about this before exchanging my money!  But I enjoyed seeing it all and thinking about how I would appreciate this event on the street if I lived in Montreal.

Back at the apartment, I texted my landlady to tell her I would be leaving at 5:10 in the morning.  She rushed up to say good-bye and asked if everything had gone well.  I reported to her that her knives were dull.  It's a common problem with Airbnb apartments; owners never think to check nor to sharpen them regularly.  I asked if she had a sharpening rod, and she brought up an old handheld stone sharpening item that her father, a carpenter, had used.  I sharpened the knives for her showing her how to do it, since she was going to pay to have someone do it. 

My new travel computer allows me to use Android apps.  And the Netflix app now allows people to download films for viewing offline.  So I downloaded 3 videos for watching during my travels home.  I finished eating the food I had in the kitchen except for some boiled eggs, salami, and cookies I planned to take to the airport and eat as a breakfast before going through security.  I bathed and shaved and then went to bed at 10:30 still feeling hot and muggy.
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The alarm went off at 4:40.  I left the apartment at 5:10.  I walked to the metro station arriving at 5:35.  The first metro train of the day arrived at 5:40.  I got to the station where I would transfer to the airport bus at 5:53.  I was second in line waiting for the airport bus expected at 6:07.  By the time the bus arrived, the line was very long.  The driver announced there was no room for luggages.  I asked if I could stand with my bag between my legs.  He looked at my bag and let me take it on the bus because it was small (a true carry-on size).  I was so lucky.  He let one other man in line with a bag the size of mine bring it on, but as the bus pulled away, everyone with a large bag was left standing there waiting for the next bus 20 minutes later.  I had to stand for the trip.  A young woman wanted to offer me her seat (which I refused), so I guess I truly look like an old man now!! 

My flights went well.  In Houston, I ate at Subway between flights.  We got to San Antonio early.  Sue was waiting for me in the employee parking lot.

This is the first trip I have ever carried my luggage as carry-on.  I'm surprised that it went so well.  I've always had free checking for my luggage, and I've always thought how lucky I was not to have to fight for space above.  But I was lucky both going and coming back on this trip and could store my bag just above my seat.  It makes me feel better about using carry-on luggage for future trips where I do not get a free baggage allowance.
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Spending Update

Much of the spending for this trip (accommodations, car rental, and gasoline) was shared with Wes.  As I reported earlier, we traveled about 3,600 miles, so gasoline was a BIG expense.  We were putting about 35 Canadian dollars ($27 US) worth of gas in the tank every day, so that raised the daily average for spending quite a bit.

My spending (separated from Wes' and also including those that were only mine after he returned) came to a total of $1860.14 (not including airfare) for an average of $71.54 per day over the 26 days.