Montreal, QC

Bonaventure / Gare Centrale: We were only about twenty minutes late getting into Montreal, so that gave me ample time to head to the pharmacien to get some Pepto-Bismol. I think things will be okay.

I got in the line at Gate 14 when a VIA Rail employee named Paul asked to see my ticket, then directed me to be first in line at Gate 13. Well, the way my luck is going, I looked askance at the gate number, but wandered over to stand behind the line-up rope, all by myself.

A few moments later, Paul was rushing by and gestured that I should be standing on the other side of the rope. I laughed and called after him, "I'd be lost without you, you know."

Shortly thereafter, Paul joined me in my line-up of one. "So," he said, "can I get you anything? Coffee? Flowers?"

"Oh," I replied with a laugh, "flowers! Then I can tell my husband that the first man I met in Montreal gave me flowers."

"Uh-oh!" he laughed.

Well, that was the beginning of a running joke and a beautiful twenty-five minute friendship.

We chatted about the new Renaissance cars, and where we were from, how busy the station was, and he gave me some directions on how to get to the métro station tomorrow. The flower-theme was referred to enough that I explained it to the lady who had joined me in line.

Just before Paul let us down the stairs to Train No. 57, he ran across to the VIA desk and grabbed a small white piece of paper.

Coming back and opening the gate with a flourish, Paul wished me a pleasant journey. "And," he said, pressing the white piece of paper into my hand, "I didn't forget your flower."

Sure enough, there was a hand-drawn tulip on the piece of paper.

I love VIA Rail.