Once in a while, you might go to a different country. You will know that you are in a different country by the startling lack of your native land's flag, and that fact that they will no doubt be speaking a different language.
On Wednesday, I did just that: I went to Montreal Canada. As I may have mentioned, we have family there, and we go there a lot, mainly for the food, shopping, and more food. Since this is not a food blog, I will talk about the shopping:
One of the highlights of our hotel's location, is the fact it is just across the street from La Baie (The Hudson Bay Company). It's basically the equivalent of the giant Macy's in New York City, only everything is in both English and French, except for when it is just in French (which is most of it).
It has eight floors, and is so big that once my entire family got separated from each other on different floors, and it took us most of an hour for us to convene back together. There is a level for shoes and designer clothes. A level for kids and babies. And a level full of kitchen appliances and bedding and a man who will make you coffee from a fancy-shmancy coffee machine, and give it to you for free! Free, I say!
There are multiple escalators that go up and down, and you can never really tell which direction they are going until you get on one. Even then, you're not really sure what level they are taking you to. The entire setup is very entertaining, and it would all make a great place to hold a "Biggest Loser" relay race.
But nothing takes the cake quite like the first floor of La Baie. Imagine going thru the revolving doors (and then going around in the doors again, and again, and again, until too many people are staring) and seeing a perfumes kiosks as far as the eye can see. Dozens and dozens of fragrance bottles, and dozens and dozens of ladies selling fragrances. As you walk down the main aisle, you are accosted by at least ten women brandishing bottles of smelly stuff. You are curious- the bottles are colorful- and as you stop by a counter you will have this conversation:
Saleslady: Bonjour Madame
You: er, Bonjour.
Her: Souhaitez-vous pour essayer le nouveau Yves Saint Laurant Opium Noir? [do you want to try the new Yves Saint Laurant Opium Noir?]
You: ...Oui
Her: avez-vous quelque chose sur déjà? [do you have anything on already?]
You: ...
Her: Do you 'ave anyzing on already?
You: Oh! no, I don't.
This will happen several times, because these ladies don't really take no for an answer. By the time that you get to the handbags at the other side of the room you smell like someone from the Biggest Loser relay race knocked over an entire display, and you were at the wrong place at the wrong time.
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| image from their website |
