My Absolute Best Friend Forever, had just recently moved to Montreal...
So, obviously it was a great time and great opportunity to go see
what this Montreal was all about!
... And of course, I'm off to get my Britney Fix!
Aand...!!!
Can I tell you how
it only took me only 72 hours to fall in
love with an entire culture?
I'll admit.. My
French is .. Well my French is non existent.
I have always been shy of the pronunciation of such a delicate language, and quite frankly, it threw me on a learning curb bilingually.
I have always been shy of the pronunciation of such a delicate language, and quite frankly, it threw me on a learning curb bilingually.
My French teacher
was never the cutest...
She was old and
mean... every time.
I'm not sure where
they found these woman.. Perhaps the army.
So I apologise to my
French readers that may take offence to the fact that I know absolutely nothing
about your beautiful language. I also apologise for until now, I never knew just how
beautiful this culture really is.
And even though I did
date a French man for 4 years, I honestly did not pick up a word of it.
Though, can I tell
you, that this French did not at all even sound the same as the beautiful
language I am hearing during my visit to Montreal.
Valley French,
Sturgeon French, it really is not the same.
All over Ontario I
have never heard French spoken or sound like this, its definitely not as polite or even
whimsical in any way, as it is here!
The accents in
Montreal were so soft and pleasant, and just so beautiful!
So feminine, so
dainty, so polite!
Perhaps the
difference in what my ears are hearing, and how they receive the language here is due to its softer spoken flow. Suddenly French is a
lot more easy to understand. The influence
of our mainly English communities and the hard Canadian accents,
throughout Ontario, including my own, may have something to do with why it sounds so different here.. Well, to me, at least.
... And because of this, I catch myself covering my mouth as to hide my rough Ontario accent as I order even my daily coffee.
Everyone walking
down the street is smiling to themselves... And it appears that people are
generally happy here. I really wanted to just walk up to everyone and ask them
what was making them so happy?
The people who
service you here, always tell you your order is pearrfeccct. Which actually means
perfect but sounds so cute when pronounced pearrfeccct.
This wonderful customer
service, the mannerisms and the accents are absolutely lovely, a touch of class. There
responses feel like you have just received a hug from the gingerbread man, or
more so, some sexy lil gingerbread lady, you could just hug, poke and tickle
the French talk right out of her. Ok.. perhaps that's a little too far... ..
The words they chose
to learn and use to talk to me in English are so much more endearing than what
I'm used to in Ontario. The grammar is gorgeous.
You really have no
idea how much I love that every where I go my order is always... " Perfect
", spoken so beautifully. It was oddly, probably the best part of my trip!
Chick pea salad -
Perfect
Oatmeal - Perfect
My Coffee - Perfect
Umm Miss/ Sir, could
you tell me that again.. It really is just Oatmeal but since it's so perfect
and all.. It really makes my day!
And I think it
really does make these items that much more perfect.. Like its been sealed with
a French kiss...
So I'm down town,
wondering around with my Starbucks Hot Chocolate - Notice the 2015 new age
spelling of my name.. I cant help but
wonder if this has anything to do with Caitlyn Jenner. Very cute though, I will
have to admit.
Not one person has
walked into me or threw me. Every one is
very polite, and again, not to repeat myself, but the service is just fabulous.. I really must be far from home.
Where did this
culture come from? It is not the same as Toronto at all, why are people not
trying to walk through me??? What are all of you smiling about? I'd like to sneak up and ask you all this out of curiosity, but I don't.
It's just not the
same as any part of Ontario at all - Though I realise I am no longer in
Ontario, I am in Quebec, never the less, it's just exquisite.
NOW,
Don't get me wrong,
I do love Toronto, as I love Ontario. In fact one of my favorite cities in
Ontario, happens to be Sudbury, another little gem I will soon Blog about...
But I also love this beautiful culture in which I have just had the pleasure of
discovering! Montreal you are indeed a breathe of fresh air.
I managed to get
around ok, I stayed in the Hotel Espresso located conveniently downtown,
walking distance from everything. The hotel had is good traits, and not so good
traits.. Again the wonderful cheery service was what made this Hotel a really
great energy. I will definitely stay there again, they have an Espresso Machine
at the counter I could just die for! It really helped me out with some of my
late night editing!
When I was lost
people helped me, I mean they really took the time to help me! ... Pulling out
Google Maps and asking other pedestrians to help. They all stopped, they were
all helpful. I found where I was going and everything was good.( Quirky Little
Tidbit: Nobody in Montreal knows where the Bank of Montreal is if it was across
the street from them... Um.. I find this a slightly unusual and also a little
funny.)
SO BASICALLY TO SOME
IT UP..
Positive energy
creates positive energy! And Montreal is just full of that positive energy!
So to contribute to
this great energy, I needed to find a convenient store, and when I did, I also
bought the man with his hands out a pack of cigarettes and tossed it in his
hand when I walked by.
Don't judge me, he
was already smoking.. I do, do random things that some of you mat find odd..
Just now he didn't
have to worry about where he was going to get his next one from, and the smile
on his face was everything.
His Thank You (in
French, so Merci), it was so cute. So cute that I think I am now just falling
in love with French, falling in love with Montreal!
Finally waking up to
Montreal and it's absolutely gorgeous culture... Blessed. I'm simply not
spending enough time here!
Though I understand
nothing, but trying excitedly to learn,,
I'm doing ok with
mostly hand gestures, street signs and basic public words like deppaneaur.. I
was excited to recognise this and to even say it in my head! So cute.
"Yay the
deppaneaur!" .. Especially because I was looking for one.
This happened to a
couple of various words, they also made me happy. Beyond Cuteness !
I managed to pick up
"En pettite en peuate" wich means a little bit. However I have
nothing I can relate it to.. But I am now excited to keep learning. Yes, lol..
First sentence down!! Don't correct my spelling there.. I know, I know.. That's
not going to be right.
Shopping the
downtown boutique's were super adorable. Boutiques are all high fashion and a
real breath of stunning.
I recognise none of
the stores, and rarely see this type of fashion in Toronto - Some kind of
Luxurious Feminine Chic! So you can bet your butt I will be back here to cover
Fashion Shows! Montreal Fashion is my new style inspiration.
Almost every store
here is called a boutique! Again, could you imagine just how much I love that
too?
Oh Montreal you are
growing on me!
Can you please stop
with this cuteness overload!
The architecture is
big beautiful and clean, and I just love how Chandeliers and fancy lighting
shine through the Boutique and Restaurant windows, it really lights up the
streets with that aura of High Class.
A class I'm going to
miss dearly, as I cant wait till I see you again Montreal!
And this time I will
stay for a much longer visit!
Xoxo Kit Von!!!
Currently Celebrating a New Domain Name!!!
You can now find all Keeping Up With Kit Von at EcoBlonde.com
