DRIVING FROM NEW YORK CITY TO FRANCE

Last weekend we drove to France from our home in New York City.  No, we don't have an Amphicar that can transform into a boat to drive across the Atlantic.  We are swapping homes in Montreal.


"Why does everyone speak French here?"  my kids want to know.  We are in a different country, I explain, and it really seems that way, with all the signs in French, the poutine at the greasy spoon diner on the corner and the brilliant Bixi rental bike program that lets me grab a bike at hundreds of locations around the city for just $5 a day.


Montreal is my favorite home exchange city.  The home we are using is about 2,000 square feet.  It has a small courtyard with a grill as well as two balconies off the bedrooms.  My children each have their own bedroom.  There are many benefits to home exchange, but there are drawbacks too, as we found out on our second day here.