Week One in Mont Tremblant

I have now been living in Tremblant for just over a week so I've had time to settle in, explore a bit and meet a few people. My general impression of the area is that it is very beautiful, has a great range of outdoor activities available and lots of events going on to keep things interesting.

The landscape around the base of the mountain is very picturesque and, in a way, reminds me of Scotland. The lakes (rather like Scottish lochs) and the large population of trees make for scenery that is not so unfamiliar to me. Cycling along off-road tracks here reminds me of cycle rides in the north of Scotland on family camping holidays when I was younger.

One of the things that remind me it's not Scotland is the wildlife here. Since arriving in Canada I have seen all kinds of new creatures: chipmunks, black squirrels, American red squirrels, beavers, grackles, red-winged blackbirds, Canada geese and white-tailed deer to name a few. The one animal I don't enjoy seeing is the mosquito and there are a lot of them at the moment. I'm still looking out for raccoons, bears and moose!

In the past week I have been introduced to so many new people. For once, I'm impressed at how many names I have remembered - usually I forget the minute I'm told. Already though, I'm bumping into these people in the shops, on the bus and in the streets which just goes to show that it is a pretty small community up here. On the other hand, it is a real hub for tourism and I am looking forward to the first Ironman event at the end of June which the region is already preparing for. Signs and marquees are being built and if it's a sunny weekend then the multi-use path is absolutely packed with groups of cyclists and runners. It makes for a great atmosphere.

I like the blend of American and French that gives Mont Tremblant a familiar yet foreign feel. Yes, I am definitely still finding the Quebecois a struggle to understand, but I have found a few people comprehensible and I'm working hard in my French lessons to tune into the accent. I love that the French language is being kept alive amongst the sea of English and I really admire the bilingualism of so many residents here. Quebec has such a unique culture and it is wonderful to be able to experience it first hand.

So far I've been spending most of my time exploring the towns (Mont Tremblant resort, Old Tremblant village and St Jovite) and the cycle trails that connect them. I've established a favourite supermarket and found a cute little bookshop but I know there are so many more shops and restaurants to be tried over the summer. Also still waiting to be discovered are the hiking trails up the mountain itself, the beaches (tiny and crowded as they may be), further-away cycle routes and, if I'm needing anything else, the numerous golf courses. So I'm not worried about running out of things to do.

One thing that is of slight concern is the weather. Over the past 10 days it has been very varied - there's been sun, rain, thunder, 5°C and 20°C. The cold I can deal with but on sunny days I have been absolutely melting. And burning. And it's only going to get hotter so I've stocked up on sun-cream and I'm hoping for some fast acclimatisation!

Other than that, my accommodation is very luxurious compared to the other places I've stayed while travelling. My bedroom's almost as big as the entire three person self-catered apartment I shared in Val d'Isere. I am looking forward to starting work at the Luge tomorrow afternoon and I hope it's as fun as it looks!

#Canada #travel #summer #tremblant