Last night, we stayed in Trois-Rivières, QC. This morning, we visited Paulette King, the sister of my dear friend Audette — and what a wonderful visit it was!

She kindly gave us a tour of the building where she lives — a senior living complex that truly has it all: a hair salon, a small shop, a dining room, an activity room, lovely outdoor spaces, and more. It’s clean, beautifully maintained, and Paulette told us the residents are very friendly.

Then we went up to her apartment, which was spacious and full of light — such a nice place to live! The highlight of our visit was when she played the piano for us. She’s a talented musician, and hearing her play was pure joy.

We’ll post some video clips on Facebook and YouTube tomorrow.

At lunchtime, we met up with a couple of friends I connected with last summer at the Festival de slam poésie en Acadie. Paul and Solange are wonderful people who are deeply passionate about all things artistic and creative. They proudly told us about their children, who also work in the arts — in theater and writing.

Together, we visited several art galleries featuring intriguing installations and works by graduating students from the local university (or college). It was a truly enjoyable afternoon strolling through the streets of downtown Trois-Rivières — a clean, charming city with beautiful buildings. It struck me as a place where life feels good.

We walked all the way down to the St. Lawrence River. I always find being near water so peaceful and uplifting.

After some heartfelt goodbyes, Martin and I hit the road to Montreal and found our Airbnb without any trouble. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s clean and has everything we need for a comfortable stay. It’s right in the heart of downtown, and the price is very reasonable.