Bonjour!
I’m back from a pleasant weekend in Quebec (actually, I was back yesterday), where I was re-awakened to some of le francais that I used to know back from my school days. It was a wonderful time reading signs en francais and listening to people talk, even if I could barely string together a sentence. And, perhaps the best part about Quebec is how many of the residents are able to switch to anglais if necessary. In fact, that was a common question among many of the interactions, francais ou anglais?
The single most interesting moment of the trip was at la musee de la civilisations, where, during the skin exhibit, I had an opportunity to view an open Egyptian sarcophagus, with the body undwrapped. The viewing actually satisified a morbid kind of curiosity I have had for years; whenever I have visited a museum that’s featured them, I’ve always wondered what it would look like inside. It did live up to expecations, I would say.
Unfortunately, the weather didn’t co-operate on le Samedi, where it rained. All day. Incessantly. And it was cold. But what can you do? So, I trekked on, with a giant red and white maple-leaf parapluie that I bought at a tourist shop since I forgot my own umbrella. On the plus side, I was asked if I was British, which both surprised and amused me. Maybe one day yet I’ll be a British gentleman.
I’ll post the photos sometime this weekend. And it’s likely I’ll post less frequently as well, as my thoughts are otherwise occupied this week.