On the road...again.

Last summer my family and I loaded up the sedan, strapped my brother to the roof and drove cross country (well half of it).

-Our first stop was Edmunston NB, there I attempted my best French while ordering dinner. The waitress, like most francophones, gave up and started speaking to us in English. Just so we're clear, my French was better. Afterwards we went go-karting. I hate driving. Really hate driving. Did I mention I hate driving? It was not the most enjoyable experiance. My father and brother matched my one lap to their four.

-The next day we piled in the car and drove to Quebec City. Along the way we stopped for gas and snacks. My brother decided that because it was summer he would eat a popsicle whenever possible. Unfortunately for us, he's the world's pickiest eater. This began many road-side stops in attempt to find a popsicle he liked.

-When we got to Quebec City, my family went off to do some shopping in Old Quebec. Ever since being in Quebec I had been craving a poutine. For those who have not had the privilage of eating a poutine, it is a plate of fries covered in melted cheese and gravy. I had not been to Quebec in a number of years and when I entered the restaurant their board was covered in a variety of poutines whose combinations seemed a little out of place. After struggling to explain to the girl I wanted a plain poutine we got in the car just before the rain. That evening at dinner, my brother began another tradition. Chicken strips at ever meal. I kid you not for two weeks straight, lunch and dinner...and possibly breakfast.

-A day later we headed to Ottawa.  Again we were followed by the rain. We walked around aimlessly fighting through the rush hour of business workers. The following day we visited the Parliment Building and the War Museum. My trip was complete, not because I witnessed some of Canada's most important war artifacts but an original Andy Warhol painting and a sketch from Project Runway.

-Then we headed to Toronto, stopping along the way in, yes you guessed it, the saga to find a popsicle. We stayed with my cousins and drove downtown to do some shopping. Afterwards we waited three hours to make it to the top of the CN tower. Mothers with large strollers quickly became the baine of my exsistance.

-The next day we spent dodging between cars at the border crossing. When we arrived at the gate, as luck would have it we ended up with an officer who thought he was "The Man". My mother had recently lost a lot of weight and looked nothing like her passport picture. Finally we were let through and on our way. My brother insisted on stopping at an Army Surplus store in downtown Buffalo. We drove for a while and quickly became lost. I'm not one who is normal fearful for my life but when a middle class family from Nova Scotia finds themselves in a NY ghetto, I wasn't entirely sure we would make it out alive. To add to this fear we spent the night in possibly the scummiest hotel in Syracuse. Momma hen didn't sleep a wink and the old couple nextdoor to us didn't even stay the night.

-We spent the the next two days driving through Vermont and New Hampshire. Stopping occasionally for a popsicle or a restaurant with chicken strips. Finally we arrived in Maine. My mother shopped every outlet in the state and I finally got in a few good swims considering this was the first hotel with a pool.
-On the last day we drove 12 hours straight from Kittery to Nova Scotia. After that, three hours to  University is nothing.

This trip was really a great experiance and I truely feel that it brought our family closer together even if we lost a day of travel do to the popsicle episode.