Over the last few days I’ve been struck by a curiosity: there are no crips in Montréal. Well, very few anyway. During the course of a UK day, I usually see four or five fellow disabled people; but everyday here I am lucky to see one. At first, I thought this was a coincidence, but now I am becoming convinced there’s a good reason for it. In short, this city is a bugger to get out into if you’re disabled. It is absolutely abysmal. The pavements are split and cracked, making for a rough ride in the chair. There are steps [b]everywhere[/b] – up to most restaurants, shops, public conveniences, to the elevators into the underground city (of which there are exceedingly few) and so on. This is not to say everywhere is inaccessible – places like the Biodome and the Botanical Gardens are well adapted for wheelchair users, but the city [i]propre[/i] is dire. Moreover, upon arrival, I thought I saw more staring kids than in most other places; I put this down to pure paranoia initially but am now sure of it. It’s not just kids, too. It’s adults. Staring enough to make me want to poke their eyes out. They really should know better. Thus, I should warn my fellow cripples not to come here without two fairly fit (and strong) P.A.s – they will be needed if you want to go anywhere. I needed assistance to cope with the many flights of stairs and escalators: one person carrying me, one my wheelchair (plus a third to carry Matt’s bags – Ed). If one is entirely non-ambulant, it would simply be impossible. The city is rather stressful from that perspective. People walk straight in front of you as you roll along the pavement (though this is true of almost any major city – Ed). They do the pedestrian equivalent of cutting you up. I regret to say, this is one city I won’t soon come back to.

Nevertheless, it must be said the city is beautiful. We took a boat ride on the St Lawrence this morning. It was fascinating to discover a bit of the river’s history as it is a main artery into the Americas along with the Mississippi and the Amazon. It was a main supply route into Canada and the US. I would like to discover more of it, but this will have to wait: I have more of this region explore. I only hope the remainder is more accessible.

I really like the Biodome and the Botanical Gardens. It is often remarked that we British are a nation of gardeners and garden lovers. In this respect, I am very British as I find gardens peaceful. It probably wasn’t as big or as grand as Kew, but it was a very pleasant place to spend a few hours away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The cabby who took us there was a pretty cool guy, too. However, so far my favourite place has been the Olympic Tower (la Tour Montréal – the tallest leaning tower in the world – Ed). It has a very impressive view of the city and beyond (both from the top and in the funicular on the way up – Ed). It looks very futuristic, as if it was part of a star ship – even about thirty years after it was built. There are great places (and people – Ed) in any city – that is why I like to travel. But the fact remains that this place isn’t up to standard for disabled people and that is a great shame.

(Editors – Matt’s bro (taking dicatation) and mum (correcting grammar))