Beginnings

Day 1 - Every project has to begin somehow and usually that is with an idea.  This particular idea has been taking shape for some time.  To my great surprise, it came back to me today with so much insistance, I decided it was high time to try it out.  Instead of postponing it to some other distant future as I have done so often before, I felt the time was now.
I first got this idea when I was thinking of visiting my cousins in Ontario.  I thought I could take the train there and stay a few days with them.  It's been awhile since I've seen them and they are growing up so very fast.  Then I thought it would be really neat if on my train ride back, I could take them with me and show them Montreal.  That's when the challenge first presented itself: how best to showcase the city.  What are the best places to see?  What is quintessentially "Montreal"?  And the startling answer was: I'm not sure!
So at first I was thinking of the idea from the point of view of a tourist.  That is when I realized that I am still somewhat of a tourist.  How embarrassing!  I didn't grow up here, but have been here some years, so you would think by now I would know the city.  Apparently not... A tour of the metro somehow seemed logical to me to get me to a variety of places and a hopefully representative view of the city and what it has to offer.  I thought how nice it would be to keep up with people when they talk about such and such a street or restaurant instead of feeling sheepishly ignorant.
Thus, the project is not just fun, but useful.  It is good to have something to do before my vacation is up.  It also gives myself something to look back on.  Instead of saying to myself "What did I do this summer?" or "What was the highlight of my summer?" and coming up blank, I will have something pleasant reflect on.  This is especially important to me since my calendar has been mostly blank for the past 3 years or so.  My life had to come to a halt when I was diagnosed with a debilitating illness.  A year ago, a project such as Around the Metro in 41 days would've been physically impossible for me.  Now that I am on the mend, getting out will help me on my continued road to recovery.  With this adventure, I might make up for some of the time I've lost. 
As for the blogging aspect, this was the last turn my idea took just today.  I never pictured myself as a blogger (and I'll have to see how I do).  It occured to me that blogging would be a nice way to commemorate my project.  I would be able to keep photos and souvenirs of my adventure in one place.  So my blog will primarily be for my use, but if someone else reads this from the sea of unending blogs out there and gets some enjoyment out of it, I'm glad.
So here we are: 68 metros, 41 days - GO!