When our Contiki bus pulled into Montreal for our cross-Canada tour in 2022, my plan was to take a Contiki break.

I’ve been to Montreal a handful of times with friends and work, so I felt quite comfortable there. And the group’s plan was to do jet boating, then go to a cabin north of the city for drinks and dancing. Activities I wasn’t super keen on, so I opted out.

Montreal was a safe space for me to wander comfortably on my own, so I was going to take that opportunity, before we left for the West Coast and I was completely out of my element.

Before I’d go and do my own thing, we took a photo at the Mont Royal lookout, and then I joined the group on a Mile End Food Tour. Montreal has some great eats, and it was nice to go on a walking tour of a new end of the city, and get some delicious bites in the process!

I spent the rest of the evening on my own. I grabbed a drink at Tommy Cafe, had some dinner, and walked along the river. It was such a beautiful summer day; it felt so peaceful to take it slow instead of rushing off to the next activity.

If you’re an introvert on a group trip, I highly recommend taking some time here and there to yourself to come up for air.

The next morning, the group came together again and we hopped on the bus to Niagara Falls.

I’ve been to Niagara Falls a few times in my life, but it was so magical to be there with 40 people who had never seen this wonder before. A number of people decided to zipline on the Falls, but I’m scared of heights, so I hung back and watched my friends fly through the air.

A lot of forming Contiki friends is being in the right place at the right time. I was with my roommate and new bestie, Sophie, who were chatting to some others, when we all decided to go to the Rainforest Cafe for dinner.

*Group photo at the Rainforest Cafe (July 2022)*

If you’ve never been to a Rainforest Cafe before, it is an experience. The food is not great, but that’s not the draw. The family restaurant is full of animatronic animals and rainforest soundscapes, and every one in a while, there’s a thunderstorm.

*Nachos and slushies at the Rainforest Cafe (July 2022)*

Eight of us ended up having dinner together, sharing laughs and becoming Contiki friends. A few of us decided at that point that we wanted to try IHOP for breakfast the next morning before our final Niagara Falls activity.

Listen, we don’t have IHOP in Canada. But Niagara Falls is on the border, so a few American restaurants have crossed over in that area. And I wanted to share crepes and pancakes with our international visitors.

Finally, it was time for the Niagara Falls activity that I was super stoked for: a cruise right up to the Falls themselves.

It was something I’ve always wanted to do but never got around to on trips here with family or friends. So I’m glad we all got to do it together, as a group of strangers. We were given our ponchos and tickets, and we piled onto the boat.

*The best view of Niagara Falls (July 2022)*

And it was SO much fun.

The boat ride approaching the Falls was filled with anticipation. As we got closer to the Falls, the view was beautiful – you see the waterfalls and the rainbows shining through the misty air.

And then suddenly you’re in that mist. And the mist becomes droplets. And everything not covered by the poncho is soaking wet.