Layover in Montreal?!

We wake up to the constant chirp of the frogs - turns out the heavy rain fell all through the night and the ground has become saturated with water. Also saturated with water? Our hiking boots, which, though they were well sheltered on our deck, were right under a leak line in the canopy, and got dripped on ALL NIGHT. So begins the task of trying to dry them out before our departure for the airport.

The rain continues off and on all morning, which makes it that much easier to move on to next destination. Our bags are already packed, we are eating up the last bits of food in the fridge, arguing with the wifi to check in for our flight. We sit down with our host, Cécile, to chat over coffee while she graciously allows us to use her internet connection, and like that, our seats are booked. Time to load up the car and say goodbye to this beautiful little quiet corner of paradise.

On our way to the airport, we stop to wash the mud off the car - we've managed quite the build-up this time around, what with the trips up to La Soufrière and Saut de Trois Cornes, accompanied by the less desirable weather. We then try to avoid every single puddle for the rest of the trip, every large truck that might send a messy splash our way. DON'T GET THE PICANTO DIRTY AGAIN!

We get to see the brand new Terminal 2 at Pointe-à-Pitre airport, a small, round satellite off-shoot of the larger main building. It's bright and colourful, and filled with lots of nice comfortable benches, but besides a small duty-free shop, there is nothing. Food is limited to a few vending machines, and all around us, people are lunching on bags of chips and duty-free chocolate. Having experienced a similar situation last year, we thought ahead and packed bananas and baguette sandwiches, but are sad to not be enjoying a final rum punch with our lunch. At least we have a meal!

After an uneventful flight, we get to Montreal and HOLY COW! Is it ever COLD! Puffer coats are good, but when you drop a cool 30 degrees in one day, it chills to the bone! Of course, there is construction even at the arrivals gate, and so we are funneled outside to wait for our pick-up(Thanks, mom and dad!). So cold... Dropped off at our "Airbnb" for the night, we turn up the heat, take hot showers, and begin the arduous task of washing all our clothes for the next leg of the trip. An easy supper comes in the form of a bowl of pasta with tomato sauce, and after some much-needed fur beast cuddles, we curl up in the best bed ever for a good night's sleep.

Best shower and best bed EVER. Funny how most Airbnbs' can't get this part right, as it is such an integral part of the stay...