Saturday July 22 – Montreal to Quebec City

After breakfast we went for a walk around the old city. It was really quiet, barely any cars, and this was around 8.30am! 

This freight train went on.... and on... and on... and on....  We reckon it had to have been at least 2km long

Our ship - Maasdam, of the Holland America Line

Our bags were collected at 9.45am while we were out, and we returned to the hotel in time to get on the bus and leave at 11am. The bus took us to the ship, via a long route because the ship was at the new terminal (opened just today!) while Gary and our driver Mike headed for the temporary dock where they’d been told the ship would be. Great communication! Still, saw a bit more of Montreal.

We went through the boarding and security process, then up to our stateroom (181 on the 9^th deck, right-hand side). It is a little cramped but comfortable. We have our own balcony. 

We went to the restaurant for lunch, then met Gary at 2pm for an orientation tour of the ship. 

Atrium - three decks

There is a sliding roof over this pool area

unusual apartments/condominiums

Lesley lost her white hat sometime after lunch (she still had her bag and it slipped out from its place under the flap). She reported it to the Front Desk, and also the cabin steward. Bummer! L Favourite hat. L Hope it is handed in. L We then had a lifeboat drill, should anything go wrong on board.

Waiting for the drill. All these deck chairs had to folded back up again, of course!

The ship sailed just after 4pm so we went back up to the top deck (two above our deck) to watch it manoeuvre in a half-circle (miss hitting the dock) to head downstream. 

we missed - by quite a margin, as it happens!

We were wondering if the St Lawrence River was still a little flooded – there seemed to be water in low-lying areas. We booked a table for 10 (the only tour members who were around boarding when we did) for 7.45pm – a bit late but with a table so big that was the only time they had. This is for tomorrow night too, and we extended it for Monday night as well for the formal night. Dinner was nice, and the company and conversation good. Shower and bed.