2013/08/28: New York - Montreal

If you have only time (and/or money) to do a one-day train ride in North America, go from New York to Montreal (or vice versa). The train equipment is not really convenient (but you’re not disappointed as long as you’re normally using European trains and not to Amtrak’s comfortable Superliner cars), but the landscape is great! Travelling all along the Hudson River Valley from New York City to the northern end of the New York state, you see a lot of water, iron bridges, fog, old houses, birds, rocks, water lilies. I can recommend to travel through this fantastic scenery.
Having crossed the Canadian border, the landscape is not spectacular until you glimpse the skyline of Montreal at the horizon. Crossing the St Lawrence, you have a great view at almost everything Montreal is famous for - Skyline, Mont Royal, Olympic Stadium, Habitat 67, Biosphère. What you don’t see from the train window is Montreal’s Old Town, Vieux-Montréal. But it’s only a ten minutes’ walk from Union Station, and it’s worth going there. It has nothing to do with other North American citites (except for Quebec City of course). It is more French than most cities in France. High heels and low houses, cobblestone streets and street musicians. It’s a fantastic place to spend three hours waiting for the night bus. As I had the rucksack (and two small bags) with me, I often changed between walking and taking a break on a bench (the later the evening, the longer the breaks). Sitting on a bench, four locals came from behind and asked me if they can offer me some food. At least from behind I’m meanwhile looking like a homeless guy begging for food… After a short funny discussion they continued their walk. Friendly, English speaking Quebecers, wow! This runs agains all (also my own) prejudices. Nevertheless, I’m happy to stay in Toronto and not in Montreal for the next four months.