FollowDear Montreal, I heart you!
i don’t know how it can be that we only now discovered each other, Montreal, but i think we are kindred spirits. never have i met a city that has done everything right and yet has a bit of a naughty rebellious streak. it’s quite fascinating and a fairly familiar concept to me. after all, that is what Lola kind of is. “just the right amount of wrong”
with your history aligned with France, you speak your own version of French even though you were eventually ruled by England. i tres adore the fact that French is your first language. it makes you so attractive. but i also like that you don’t make me feel stupid that i really don’t know much French myself. i don’t get any “pouah” for not knowing. merci beaucoup for that!
i loved learning that you are the only place in the world that never banned Absinthe. SUCH. A. REBEL. and not too long ago you made it a law that when a couple gets married, a woman CANNOT take the man’s last name as her own. it’s AGAINST THE LAW. or how about the fact that once you were super religious but then you went and decided that you’d have a quiet rebellion against religion and now you have the least number of people who attend churches. churches are actually now being repurposed for other things like museums and condos.
yeah, i think it’s awesome, too, that you recommend your local cuisine, poutine – a dish made with french fries, topped with brown gravy and curd cheese. sounds decadent, right?! and, you think it tastes the VERY BEST at 3am. because, yep, you’ve been out all night drinking and partying it up. i’m in LOVE with you that this is a normal behavior.
or how about the fact that most look for shelter in the frigid winter weather. but not you, Montreal. you like to throw parties in the freezing cold and wear loads of layers & puffy ski gear. you take a bad situation and make it good…every time!
finally, and most importantly, i love your swear words. sorry, people, but i think swearing is kinda funny and when i requested knowing some Canadian French swear words it just sealed the deal on my love for Montreal. did you know that many of Montreal’s swear words are based on religious objects? see if you recognize any similarities. first of all, they call swears SACRES – which to most means “sacred or holy” but not to Montrealers. it means naughty swear words.
here’s a few common swear words in Montreal:
- câlice (calice) – “chalice”
- sacrament (sacrement) – “Sacrament”
- tabarnak (taberacle) – “tabernacle”
they all pretty much mean the same thing and depending on how you say them determines the severity and meaning. basically, it’s their version of damn or f*ck. there’s a whole lesson to be learned here and i’m thinking i need a return trip to visit you, Montreal, just to become better versed in your swearing. and, anyway, it’s easier than learning French altogether.
Montreal, i gotta say, i had such a great time with you. i was so welcomed and felt so at home. it was like a long-lost friend bringing me in. i feel, Montreal, that you and i share similar senses of humor and that alone is a reason to love a place. see, there’s even a Montreal Lola!
truly, i do want to thank the InterContinental Montreal staff for being so welcoming, Montreal Tourism Board for arranging tours & extending invitations & Igloofest for partying it up with me. AND, Anita from Travel Destination Bucket List for inviting me up to Montreal in the first place. you said i’d love it there & were you ever right! i mean it when i say that i feel we are kindred spirits and i look forward to seeing you all again soon.
Can we get Absinthe in Toronto? I have never tasted it! HHMMMM???
i’m not sure…probably. i haven’t been to Toronto before! maiden voyage in June!!
I love the fact that it is ILLEGAL for a woman to take a man’s last name in marriage. Perhaps I need to have a little fling with Montreal myself. You don’t mind sharing, do you? 😉
Leah Travels recently posted…What’s so Great about Europe anyway?
Lola – so glad you were able to come and live it up with me in Montreal! Montreal is such a fun place that needs to be shared between people and with people! I had a ball. Leah…might I propose a summer fling! So many festivals…so much fun to be had! Only to happy to organize another outing!
Anita Mac recently posted…Celebrate: FriFotos from around the world
Anita – I. AM. SO. TOTALLY. IN!!! missing Montreal & you.
i know, isn’t that interesting?! Montreal is full of contrasts like this and that’s one of the reasons i really loved it. it is definitely a place that has it’s own spirit and embraces individuality!!
AND, I am ready for tomorrow!! I adore you, Lola, and I’m sure I will fall equally in love with Montreal.
Erin Marie recently posted…Celebrating Around the World.
Erin, did you love it? wanna go back this summer?? they want a bigger group to come up and see what Montreal’s all about in the summertime. OUI??
That’s a pretty solid endorsement (especially when that Leah girl chimes in 🙂 )!
Erik recently posted…New Zealand- Chapter Twenty-Six: Cape Reinga & The Spirits of the North (pt.1)
LOVED it!!
I have a lot of love for Montreal – I was hoping to go back this year, but looks unlikely. A seriously interesting city, with that bit of a je ne sais quois. So pleased you loved it!!
@mrsoaroundworld recently posted…Love skiing, LOVED Verbier
thanks Mrs. O. maybe we can plan a trip back there together. agree with the je ne sais quois!!!
Love this, and those trivia facts are so cool. Montreal looks like an awesome city. I’m hoping to go there this summer.
Alouise recently posted…Visiting The Backstreet Cultural Museum in New Orleans
i hope you get to go Alouise. i don’t know why it took me so long to go myself but i can tell you this, i’ll be getting back there ASAP. it is such a cool place.
I’ll be heading to Montreal after TBEX Toronto, can’t wait to see what the city has to offer, as it’s Lola recommended!
Although I’ve heard differing accounts on the not knowing French thing, and have been told by a few folk that Montreal citizens can be fairly rude and refuse to speak English to you even if they know it. Maybe they just couldn’t resist your charm? 😉
Tom @ Waegook Tom recently posted…Korean Sashimi: Doing It Raw
i’m quite sure that Montreal IS smitten with me Tom. i mean, i’m pretty irresistible 😉 i didn’t encounter one single rude person and i’d bet you won’t either. i found it an incredibly friendly city!!
Makes me want to go back to Montreal. I had such amazing food there.
chinamatt recently posted…Observing Beijing
Every time I go to NYC I plan on taking the train up to Montreal and I still haven’t done it!
Kate @30Traveler recently posted…4 Quirkiest (And All TV-Themed) Things I’ve Done From My Bucket List
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