"Toronto, Montreal, Quebec, going east toward the coast".... Big cities didn't interest us that much, but 400 years of history, architecture, and culture is hard to ignore. It's too easy to just drive by, and that's the worst thing you can do. The highways are crowded, the major roads are like our interstate system. Going through Toronto was bumper to bumper at interstate speed, with tractor trailers(30 wheelers) and crowded interchanges. So, we'll pick a suburb nearby and camp(Walmart), take the train back into the city and spend the day.We first saw Toronto, Ontario from the south, 30 miles away, across Lake Ontario from 4 Mile State Park in New York. Our R/Vs are parked in Owasa, about an hour east of Toronto by train. Across the highway from Walmart is the train station. A round trip ticket is less expensive than fighting traffic in and out of the city with no place to park. Now were in a modern city, looking at what we couldn't see because of the horizon. Central station is two blocks from the waterfront in the heart of the financial district. We walk busy sidewalks with high rise waterfront condos and world bank headquarters, great restaurants and tourist traps. The concert halls, sports arenas, and industry are all tied together with one way streets and construction. Everything is clean, no panhandlers, no trash, no sign of economic slowdown. After lunch at a waterfront cafe and sightseeing were glad to take the train and relax on the way back to the R/Vs.
Montreal, Quebec was a little different, an island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River. We made camp just northeast and started out at Mont-Royal. A beautiful park now, it's history and the cross at the summit goes back over 360 years. The first Mount Royal Cross was placed there in 1643 by Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve, the founder of the city, in fulfillment of a vow he made to the Virgin Mary when praying to her to stop a disastrous flood. Today, the mountain is crowned by a 103 ft high illuminated cross. Not far from the park is an overlook. From here we have our first view of Olympic village and stadium. As we descend the summit we see St.Joeseph's Oratory Mount Royal. A Roman Catholic Basilica. What started as a small chapel is now a beautiful cathedral, with a breathtaking dome and landscaped plaza. We spend almost two hours climbing the steps and walking the courtyards up to the sanctuary. The remainder of the afternoon is spent driving through the city and around the Olympic Village. So much history and things to see, the day goes by fast. 
Way different, Quebec City is like a different country,(not Canada) maybe somewhere in Europe. Except the locals were friendly, most spoke little English, and French dominates. We camped on the south side of the St. Lawrence, it is time for us to start into New Brunswick soon, but first a few days in Quebec. This area where the St. Lawrence river narrows was a natural for a permanent settlement. Around 1550 Jacques Cartier built a fort and old Quebec history lies behind the fortifications that surround the city. It was fought over for the next three centuries, as it continued to flourish in beauty, government, architecture, and population. After a good nights sleep and an early start to the ferry, we crossed the river into Old Town. A short walk up steep stairways started a long walk around the city. I'm stilled surprised how much we covered, Chateau Frontenac, the governors terrace, around the fort, in and out of the "gates" to New Town for great lunch at a french restaurant. On through the narrow streets past plaques of statues and stone buildings. Tomorrow we move on to Riviere' de Loop, our last stop in Quebec, province. More soon Skip and Linda 
