jeanives: More about Windsor

We spent the last few days of this trip in another under-appreciated city, Windsor, Ontario,

with dislocated (did I mean relocated?) friends Sally & Alan. Windsor has had a hard time of it in recent years especially since the 2008 crash and car manufacturing meltdown. But it is recovering and there are signs of prosperity and even in the blackest of days it was putting on a brave face. Like Saint John, it’s a working town with iconic attachments such as Windsor Salt, Hiram Walker’s Distillery,

and the big 3 car companies. And believe me those car companies are BIG. The plants take up acres and acres of space. S&A managed to organize a private tour of Chrysler’s Windsor Assembly (no photos allowed) for us and it was impressive. We whizzed around for an hour in a “jitney” inside the 40 acre plant which opened in 1928 (modern and spotless). It’s in the middle of town mind you but the property is 123 acres. They assemble 1400-ish vans a day including the new Volkswagen Routan. Our guide, Luke, says a new built plant would be less than half as big because the production style and robots takes up less space. Those robots are fun to watch! Three or four may work together and it’s like watching a ballet, or the Musical Ride the way they interact. Luke also said “in two years this plant has turned around like I would have never thought possible”, referring to the positive worker attitude and team feeling.

It was Doors Open weekend in Windsor so we visited Walkerville Brewery home of the 64 ounce refillable Growler which Brian managed to get through single handedly and Willistead Manor home of one of the Walker sons.

On Saturday S&A took us to the Renaissance Festival in Holly, Michigan, about an hour away from Windsor, across the border. We had no idea what to expect other than Emily said lots of people dress in period costumes. We were stunned. It’s a HUGE carnival/faire. The costumes covered a lot of eras, but never mind, people were into it. Food was pasties and turkey legs, rides were manually operated, games of chance were archery and knife throwing, competitions were jousting and fencing. And there were thousands of people!!! The whole thing is crazy and I would go again in a minute.