J’aime Montréal!

I spent a long weekend wandering the cobblestone streets of Montreal, French conversation tickling my ears, as my senses came alive to the world anew. For the eyes: the works of the designers of both the Empire State Building and Central Park; for the tongue: my first tastes of crepes and Poutine, the best sweet and savory comfort foods; for the fingertips and the skin: the caress of a fur tapestry adorning the walls of my hotel, the rough textures of the old city, the cool, crisp air of impending fall; for the nose: the first scent of wood smoke from a distant fireplace.

But happiest of all were my two ears, seduced by the sounds of French, its linked words and phrases, its nasal, guttural undertones, its alien, strange-sounding lilts and rhythms, the way it made every speaker more attractive and provided a beautiful soundtrack to every experience.

There’s a comfort, I realized, that comes of being in a foreign land. Stimulated by so many new sensations, the everyday noise of conversation and commerce, with little context or comprehension, turn into the lyrics of an ongoing song. The ads and graffiti are a decoration or a communication, my choice. Paradoxically, I found it truly relaxing. At lunch, I could eavesdrop if I wanted, focused on deciphering a few words and phrases, or I could drift into my own thoughts. Without the effort of trying to make sense of everything amid the noise, a quiet descended within. I could hear myself. And I came home refreshed, as if I had been in a land far, far away. Which I guess, in a way, I had been.

Want to see more? The entire gallery can be found at:  http://tinyurl.com/3mtv5kh