Auditions and Baltimore

Again, I got started too early getting to the airport, perhaps not a bad habit. I suppose that after all the time in South America, I am trained to be everywhere early. I have almost missed too many flights. I had checked online for the 747 bus, which happened to stop just a block away. The alarm went off at 7, I showered and changed in the increasingly smelly coed bathroom, and was ready to go before 8. Tara walked with me in the fresh but sunny morning to wait and say goodbye. I was at Dorval a little after 8, checking in and waiting a little later, and primed after a couple coffees and a muffin. Toronto was inefficient, but again I had plenty of time to sit and wonder. Once again, everything is so efficient and organized, it is almost too good to be true.

It was wonderful to be in Montreal again and wander around rediscovering places with Tara. I loved the years I spent there, and found all my old haunts intact and many new areas to explore. The Ste Catherine Ouest corner of downtown is full of shops, Crescent is still hopping with bars and restaurants and a race car festival closing off the street to cars for the weekend, McGill is bigger and more developed, St Laurent remains funky and has all sorts of intriguing character filled sections, St Denis is wild and energetic and Old Montreal is serene and stately. The port is transformed and I will have to return for a visit. I hope that Tara will find the city just as exciting as I do. She is offended by the French, which is entirely different than French French. It is entirely understandable after you listen some more, but she finds the twang unattractive. She felt that the locals were unfriendly when she spoke English, but perhaps because I am older, they are patient and kind with me.

I look forward to my next visit, which I hope is as soon as possible, perhaps with Maya.

Travel was smooth and easy and when I arrived in Baltimore. Maya and Eric were at Peabody preparing for her audition, so I took the Light Rail to Howard Street and Monument and walked to the music school to meet them for dinner. Maya was full of delightful news about her week, fearful about her audition, but happy to be done for the day. We celebrated with 'Cold Stone Creamery' ice cream (my favourite is 'Coffee Lover's Delight' which is full of almonds and Heath Bar Crunch) and card games on my bed and Bgrade movies on TV. Home again.