Just 4.5 hours north of the Berkshires awaits the province of Quebec. My husband, David, and I hadn’t ventures north in a few years. We also figured the border would not be a problem; however, in our minds it loomed large, albeit in a symbolic way. With absurd declarations of a 51st state and threatening tariffs from Washington, I felt somewhat uncomfortable and hoped to be an ambassador, even on a small level of peace. Embarrassed as I had been while the Vietnam war was one and I’d be out of the US.. Fortunately since David and I speak French, we felt we could “fit in” better. It worked and people would simply ask from where we came. The Québecois accent though would be a challenge to adopt!

Montreal Cloisters???

Reminiscent of Mexico is the large predominance of religious buildings: churches, chapels, monasteries, candles and the presence and chanting of Benedictine monks at an abbaye.