Yesterday, we drove down from Montreal to Rouses Point, New York State, to visit an old friend and have lunch together. I had utterly forgotten how close the US border is for us and how easy border crossings still are for us. At the main crossings, the lines can be rather long. The driving took about an hour, considerably less than a trip to Rawdon. We took a back road across the border and down to Rouses Point to avoid a significant crossing.
Rawdon – The Perfect Day Trip From Montreal
Rouses Point is a charming village in upstate New York, known for its picturesque location along the shores of Lake Champlain. This scenic community exudes a tranquil ambiance, offering residents and visitors alike the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the lake and the surrounding Adirondack Mountains.
It is steeped in history, with several historic landmarks and buildings, including the picturesque Rouses Point Train Station. With its small-town charm, stunning waterfront views, and proximity to outdoor recreational activities, Rouses Point is a delightful destination for those seeking a peaceful escape and authentic New York beauty.
It was a perfect day for a drive, and while all those leaves had changed and were falling, the landscape was still lovely. It was odd to remind ourselves to pull out our passports the evening before. I don't think we've had to have our passports when driving in a car across the border for over 15 years. New paragraph: living overseas, particularly in Europe, you simply went from one country to another without being stopped.
Border Crossings
In 2007, my then-business partner and I were doing a presentation in Russia. She suggested that I fly over to meet her in Berlin, where we could make some plans.
Because her passport was still with the Russian embassy, waiting for her visa, she also asked if we could drive together to Brussels, where she had another business meeting. The reason was simple: Driving from Germany into the Netherlands, we're still part of the EU, and then she didn't need to have her passport with her.
I could just as easily fly home from there. In fact, I got a very cheap flight for one euro plus fees. I think the final cost was under 20 euros.
I remember many times just driving across the border between Canada and the USA using only my driver's license as identification. There were even a couple of times we crossed the border without any customs officers. Times have changed, and that is no longer the case.
