Tossed and turned last night just couldn't get to sleep the WIFI here is disgusting goes off line every few minutes or when you are in the middle of an email. Trying to book accommodations for the first night in Montreal is wearing my patience out but I finally got there with a Hotel in the same district I hope as where we are staying in an apartment for the following two nights. It was frustrating booking online through Booking.com with the WIFI connection dieing when you click on “Book now”.

Seeing I couldn't get online I caught up with the blog hopefully when we get to Montreal I can download all my document saved days and photos into Travelpod with no problems. You might say we have been off line since leaving Brampton nearly a week ago everyone will think we are dead or we have killed each other But Phyllis knows we are alive as we spoke to her and John when we were at Barry's Bay. I should say we tried to speak to each other the connection was very poor the video was blurred and we could only hear parts of what we were saying. Like playing Charades.

This morning Phyllis Skyped while I was trying to find accommodations in Montreal and luckily the WIFI connection was good and we could talk. When Phyllis calls it is morning in Canada and she always thinks I have a cold but my voice in the morning sounds a bit throaty.

Richard is now awake and I made coffee for us and went back to bed we talked about finally having the first night in Montreal booked and hopefully being able to get online to book Quebec and send an email to the Owner Catherine about the poor WIFI connection, the radiator heaters and stools don't want these deducted from our $300 up front damage fee.

Very lazy this morning finally got up showered, dressed and while having breakfast there was a knock on the front door and it was Catherine to welcome us. This was great so we told her of the problems and she also had the same problem as us with the WIFI she said she had Rogers Communications out and was told everything was okay. The other delicate problem was our payment for the apartment had not gone through Paypal to her account so I solved that problem quickly. On her mobile she can do banking transactions so I paid her there and then problem solved and she will give me an invoice tomorrow or the day we leave. Catherine is a very nice lady and owns all the eight apartments in the building and is currently renovating them one by one. Ours is in the process of being done the next job is taking out a wall to make way for a bigger kitchen including space for the washing machine and dryer (like they do in England).

The morning is going too quickly Catherine showed us some place to see before she left to paint one of the apartments. Packed our lunch and flask looked at the maps we pick up yesterday from Econo Motel down the road and mapped out our sightseeing for the day everything seems to be off or near Rideau Road where the apartment is.

Obstacle course with the roadworks and a gentleman saw us with the map and pointed us in the right direction as he walked with us. He was going downtown to sign a Condolence Book (Driver of a coach bus just drove in the path of a train killing himself the train driver and other people on the coach). Boy can he talk and it was hard to get away from him glad when Byward Markets
entry came up on the other side of the road. Thanked him for helping us crossed at the lights I saw a Factory Outlet where a Optical Lens shop was we went in as Richard wanted to see if in two days they could replace the prescripton lens. The price was $130.00 but their factory is in Toronto the lady gave Richard a name of a local company in Rideau Mall who might be able to help but the lady there knew the sunglasses were Oakley's and only they do their own lens. Well
Richard thought he would try next we found Rogers to get another $20 prepaid for my mobile.

  Back to our sightseeing Byward Markets is home to local farmers, food vendors, restaurants, creative artisans and beautiful boutiques selling their distinct (sometimes expensive) wares to locals and visitors alike. Really it is very much like our markets (Fremantle and Wanneroo) but on a grander scale. Walked through a french restaurant with lovely cakes and pasteris before going to the Centres toilets Richard wanted one of their cakes. Me being a horrible Mum said no, possibly later. Found the Information Centre there and picked up some brochures of sights to see plus the lass was helping and mapped out the sights to see.

  Crossed over Sussex Street to Major's Hill Park beauful park above Rideau Canal and Ottawa River. From here we could see Fairmont Chateau Laurier on Rideau Street, Parliament Hill across the canal, national Gallery of Canada and Nepean Hill near Ottawa River with Peacekeeping Monument at fork in road near the gallery and on Sussex Street the magnificant Notre-Dame Cathedral Bascilica.     All these I took photos and video of. Seeing the park was so beautiful we had lunch and coffee there while people-watching. Walked through the park down along the Rideau Canal over the Ottawa Locks which lower the levels of the high canal (river was once a waterfall here) to the Ottawa River.    Up the steps at the bridge to Parliment Hill (neo-Gothic architecture) the heart of Canada's demoncratic government. Lots of police cars here at the moment there are three demonstrations going on with the First Nation wanting better rights, a priest against gay marriage and the last group angry about the democratic government all have placards. Stopped for a rest and cup of coffee on the grounds in front of Queen Victoria statue enjoying the views before talking to a policeman in his car about the speed limits in Canada. Told him we try to do the right speed but the other cars push us along and the speeds accelerate up to 130km or more. He said they try speed traps but word gets out very quick and everyone goes slow.

Strolled round the back of Parliament along the Ottawa River the views are so beautiful and there are so many old buildings with the short time we didn't go in any buildings. Very uneducated when it comes to look inside and tour museums, art galleries or government buildings one just goes brain dead on tours and fall asleep. We like scenery very naughty we have seen so many buildings in Europe that they all become the same.

Getting tired now from walking so we decide to head back down Rideau Street to Tim Horton’s for Richards Boston Cream Bun and my muffin before going back to the apartment and dust of roadworks in front. Loaded the front loading washing machine had to get Anitas help apparently we worked out it doesn't completely fill with water but it washes the clothes. Anita came back later to check and I said everything was working okay and the clothes were in the Dryer.

While the washing was on richard had a sleep, I washed my hair then started dinner. Being naughty I used the rice and tin corn in the cupboard for dinner and spices on the grilled chicken legs what a lovely dinner.

I gave up with the WIFI and doing a blog we relaxed and watched a movie on TV before I took a little sleeping pill for a good nights rest and it worked. I hate pills but when you are overtired stressed from a WIFI connection and cannot book accommodations in advance online you need a pill.