Awfully exciting!
On Thursday I ordered my first batch of bus tickets. Officially, Marji, Johanna, Joey, Jessie, and I are all set to go. Once I have another set of five I'll add on to this. It's finally coming together...which makes me so happy because I was growing nervous (*knocks on wood*). Here's what the bus schedule looks like:
-------------Trip to MONTREAL, PQ-------------
04/17/06 07:30am GLI-0275 * Depart NEWTON, MA
04/17/06 10:45am GLI-0275 * Arrive ALBANY, NY
04/17/06 12:01pm GLI-4008 * Depart ALBANY, NY
04/17/06 04:55pm GLI-4008 * Arrive MONTREAL, PQ
-------------Return Trip to NEWTON, MA-------------
04/21/06 08:00am VT-9124 * Depart MONTREAL, PQ
04/21/06 03:15pm VT-9124 * Arrive BOSTON, MA
04/21/06 04:00pm PPB-0727 * Depart BOSTON, MA
04/21/06 04:20pm PPB-0727 * Arrive NEWTON, MA
Apparently we get to spend some quality time in Albany, not unlike the time I spent in beloved Waterbury, Connecticut. Shouldn't be a huge problem, though, because we'll be in good moods and getting along really well, right? Right. As you can see, the bus take off at 7:30...early, I know, but we want to get there as soon as we can, of course. Because we have such a large party, we should be at the depot at least 45 minutes early (hush, you can sleep on the bus)...probably an hour (which the bus company recommends) just to be on the safe side. Please don't whine about the time...it'll be very worth it. And to make matters better, the family I babysit for is giving me the phone number of their friends who live in Montréal, just in case we find ourselves facing an emergency.
Many people (ahem, minors) have been asking me about how they'll deal with customs/the bar scene. The following information is from AAA ("Triple A," the travel agency), addressing both minors and legal adults entering and leaving the country:
"Passports
Passports to enter Canada or return to the United States are not required for native-born citizens of either country. However, proof of citizenship must be carried; a birth certificate accompanied by a photo ID will usually suffice. Proof of residence also may be required. Naturalized citizens should carry their naturalization certificate, and U.S. resident aliens must have an Alien Registration Receipt Card (Green Card).
Traveling with a Minor
Due to concerns over child abduction, single parents, grandparents or guardians traveling abroad with a minor should be prepared to document their legal custody and provide proof of citizenship for each child. Most common carriers, such as airlines, trains and buses, will demand proof and accept only the minor's passport or the parents' passport that includes the child. When the child is with only one parent, that parent should have a notarized letter of consent from the other parent or legal custody documents. In other cases, the minor (if traveling alone) or the individual with the minor, should have a notarized letter of consent from both parents (including a telephone number) or a custody document."
For those of you who don't have passports, I'm 99% sure that a driver's license will suffice. I'll keep searching for confirmation, but for the time being, I don't think you have much to worry about. For those of you who are under 18 and plan on hitting up the Canadian night life, reliable sources (ahem, Mathieu Corsi and my dad) claim that it shouldn't be a huge problem, especially if you pay off bouncers, etc. Matt says that when he was up there at age 16 he bought two beers at a bar without any ID. Then again, if you're nervous, a recommended precaution would be to have a friend of yours (over 18) "lose" their license and replace it for $13 (or something in that ballpark).
I have plenty more to say, as you could probably imagine, but that's all for now. Essentially, you'll need some form of official ID to enter and leave, and if you're still 17, you'll just need a notarized letter. Marj says her mom can notarize documents at work, so talk to her, or you can find a place in Westwood (I'm not really sure where...maybe town hall?). Leave a comment or talk to me if you have any burning questions!
Keep peeking in here for updates, my Canadian friends! Je vous aime.
-------------Trip to MONTREAL, PQ-------------
04/17/06 07:30am GLI-0275 * Depart NEWTON, MA
04/17/06 10:45am GLI-0275 * Arrive ALBANY, NY
04/17/06 12:01pm GLI-4008 * Depart ALBANY, NY
04/17/06 04:55pm GLI-4008 * Arrive MONTREAL, PQ
-------------Return Trip to NEWTON, MA-------------
04/21/06 08:00am VT-9124 * Depart MONTREAL, PQ
04/21/06 03:15pm VT-9124 * Arrive BOSTON, MA
04/21/06 04:00pm PPB-0727 * Depart BOSTON, MA
04/21/06 04:20pm PPB-0727 * Arrive NEWTON, MA
Apparently we get to spend some quality time in Albany, not unlike the time I spent in beloved Waterbury, Connecticut. Shouldn't be a huge problem, though, because we'll be in good moods and getting along really well, right? Right. As you can see, the bus take off at 7:30...early, I know, but we want to get there as soon as we can, of course. Because we have such a large party, we should be at the depot at least 45 minutes early (hush, you can sleep on the bus)...probably an hour (which the bus company recommends) just to be on the safe side. Please don't whine about the time...it'll be very worth it. And to make matters better, the family I babysit for is giving me the phone number of their friends who live in Montréal, just in case we find ourselves facing an emergency.
Many people (ahem, minors) have been asking me about how they'll deal with customs/the bar scene. The following information is from AAA ("Triple A," the travel agency), addressing both minors and legal adults entering and leaving the country:
"Passports
Passports to enter Canada or return to the United States are not required for native-born citizens of either country. However, proof of citizenship must be carried; a birth certificate accompanied by a photo ID will usually suffice. Proof of residence also may be required. Naturalized citizens should carry their naturalization certificate, and U.S. resident aliens must have an Alien Registration Receipt Card (Green Card).
Traveling with a Minor
Due to concerns over child abduction, single parents, grandparents or guardians traveling abroad with a minor should be prepared to document their legal custody and provide proof of citizenship for each child. Most common carriers, such as airlines, trains and buses, will demand proof and accept only the minor's passport or the parents' passport that includes the child. When the child is with only one parent, that parent should have a notarized letter of consent from the other parent or legal custody documents. In other cases, the minor (if traveling alone) or the individual with the minor, should have a notarized letter of consent from both parents (including a telephone number) or a custody document."
For those of you who don't have passports, I'm 99% sure that a driver's license will suffice. I'll keep searching for confirmation, but for the time being, I don't think you have much to worry about. For those of you who are under 18 and plan on hitting up the Canadian night life, reliable sources (ahem, Mathieu Corsi and my dad) claim that it shouldn't be a huge problem, especially if you pay off bouncers, etc. Matt says that when he was up there at age 16 he bought two beers at a bar without any ID. Then again, if you're nervous, a recommended precaution would be to have a friend of yours (over 18) "lose" their license and replace it for $13 (or something in that ballpark).
I have plenty more to say, as you could probably imagine, but that's all for now. Essentially, you'll need some form of official ID to enter and leave, and if you're still 17, you'll just need a notarized letter. Marj says her mom can notarize documents at work, so talk to her, or you can find a place in Westwood (I'm not really sure where...maybe town hall?). Leave a comment or talk to me if you have any burning questions!
Keep peeking in here for updates, my Canadian friends! Je vous aime.