we've got another stamp in our passports

first of all, happy birthday sis.

today is saturday so we must be in montreal. had a slightly traumatic journey yesterday as the hostel guy was only going to be there for us to check in until 11pm but the US coach service proved itself as reliable as the British lot by having lots of delays and we didn't arrive in montreal until 11.20pm. we were having visions of having to pay for a night in a top hotel instead (and half wishing that we had to) but, as it turned out, pierre was still there and waiting for us, bless his soul.

we have found that things usually work our way. the other night we went for a proper meal in everett near boston where we were staying. it was a fab night. there area is heavily brazilian and so we went to one of the local restaurants and listened to nando and san tiago playing their chunes. they looked and sounded a bit like a brazilian version of savage garden but, as we were on our 'olidays, we didn't mind. they even did a request for us. but the hilarity turned to concern as we got back to the hostel and found that our key didn't work to let us back in. stressed we were, especially cos i needed a wee. we sent the dever up the fire escape to see if she could knock someone up but that didn't work. panic was about to set in but then, like an angel sent from god above, a man in his pyjamas appeared on the stair case and we knocked at him and he came to let us in. he was in a bit of a daze and, when we asked, he couldn't remember why he'd decided to come downstairs. i am certain we have a little guardian angel watching over us, sending men in pyjamas.

the stay in boston was rounded off by a delicious seafood meal. you all HAVE to go to the union oyster house. it's well touristy (it's on the freedom trail round boston) but with good reason cos it's so fantastic. i don't normally get excited about food but we all voted to have had the best meal we've ever had. (this, however, could also be due to the fact that we had already had 2 pints before the meal and hadn't eaten properly in what felt like weeks).

so we got the bus to canada yesterday. although 8 hours long, the journey went through beautiful countryside which made it a joy. the landscape in new hampshire and vermont reminded me of bolton abbey in the dales, though on a much larger scale. then there were blue mountains in the distance and occasionally it broke out into rivers with reeds in, just like in gentle ben. how fab.

we're loving the montreal aswell. we're staying in some boho area called mont-royal and it's chockablock with independent boutiques and bars. we're having to restrain ourselves a great deal but i've bought a lovely summery beach dress - a bargain at 15 quid. the place reminds us of a kind of larger version of headingley in leeds. we've just been sitting in the park and eating lots of fruit. shall be hitting the bars tonight, no doubt.

canada is currently winning in our which-country-out-of-america-and-canada-do-we-like-the-best stakes.