Montreal walks in winter

Hello Hive friends. I have not posted in a while so I will touch base with a wednesday walk by @tattoodjay.

It is still Wednesday here in Montreal. In one hour it will be Thursday.

I have been uninspired by the pain in my wrist, after I have sprained it. I fell at work when I reached to disarm the alarm for the first time. I forgot there was a step and crashed hard. I didn't go to a doctor. I just endured the pain and didn't take time off. It still hurts. It was black blue and yellow. It was swollen like crazy. It hurts now as I type, but I miss Hive so here I am. Things always heal eventually.

Five weeks back.

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This is actually 2 walks. I will start with a jaunt in my neighbourhood 5 weeks ago. To the left is the building the I live in with the big truck next to it. There is actually a sidewalk in between. You just have to use your imagination.

That weekend around Valentine's weekend, there was a snowstorm.

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It was reported that there was record snow in the province, since recorded weather history. It was quite annoying. I can't stand this white stuff.

This particular weekend it started to come down while I was at work at the restaurant. It was evening. I glanced outside through the window in the front of the restaurant. It looked liked a state of emergency. It seemed like the type where military get involved.

We all thought it was a possibility that we could close early and have a break. No such luck. Only a few cancellations and several walk ins without reservations, kept us as busy as a regular day. We joked about how the people of this city will do anything for a good time.

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The only reason Marc and I walk anywhere in winter, is to get to a destination, which is always a grocery store. The essentials must be purchased.

Even though the city benches were clear, it would be too uncomfortable to sit squatting, so as not to plunge our feet into the snow.

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The sidewalks were barely clear. It was quite tiring to walk trying not to slip and tumble.

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The temperature was around -10C and the wind chill was extremely maddening.

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I am thoroughly unimpressed with Canadian winters. I wonder what life would have been like if my Canadian father would have let my mother and I stay to live in Bangkok where I was born.

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Children are grateful for the snow. It becomes a wonderland and playground for them. Of course they all wear snow suits. Adults only wear those suits, if they go skiing.

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The snow trucks pile the snow, where ever they can, in huge mounds. There is also a place somewhere by the docks where a lot of collected snow is dumped.

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Here in the city, cars need to be moved at certain times and days for snow removal. It can be difficult for many to move their vehicles, as well as find a parking spot elsewhere.

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We had a car when we first moved to the city. It got towed so many times. I finally had someone take it to the scrap yard. It was in poor shape anyway. I thought I would have to pay the guy to take it. To my surprise, he handed me 300 dollars. I had to contain my excitement. We were always broke in those days.

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Yesterday

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Five weeks after the storm we have sidewalks that we can walk on, without climbing piles of snow.

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It has been between 3C and 7C lately. To some folks here, it's practically summer. I still feel chilled and annoyed.

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The largest mounds of snow are gone but the city is ugly and grey.

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The benches which were once snow deep are now free and clear. It's way too cold for me to sit anyway. I need to keep moving.

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As I left the apartment this day, I saw a couple of little threatening snow flurries. That was it. I still will not let my guard down. Winter never ends here.

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The area here is lined with row houses.

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Behind many of them are the iconic Montreal spiral stairs. I think it would be quite dangerous to rush down in case of emergency.

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The row houses that have the same look, often have their own coloured doors,and trims. You may tell a friend that comes over to your place, that you live in the blue door, or the yellow door.

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It will be officially spring in a few days, but the only thing that seems to have greenery, are the evergreen trees.

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The plants and trees have a few tiny buds on them. They may or may not survive, depending on the weather to come.

For now I'll cross my fingers that we won't see another snow storm. Anything is possible here at this time.

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Thanks for joining me on my tour around my area. I hope that those of you who live in warm climates really appreciate your surroundings. It baffles me that people from those places want to live here.

They say the grass in not always greener on the other side. I beg to differ.