I'm having trouble accepting the fact that the fabulous vacation of life is over. It's funny, with each passing day that I'm back, the experience grows more and more wonderful in memory. But we can't live in memories, and my first instinct is always to plan another vacation. I distinctly remember us saying that we should forgo a cruise next time in favor of a resort and stay put kind of vacation. Now, I find myself checking different cruises and pricing. We should probably try a gay cruise. They actually had a "friends of dorothy" meet and greet on board the ship, where we turned out along with a nice young man from Seattle. The others aboard stopped by and poked their heads in and moved on. Chickens. It was a nice idea though. Instead we made friends with our dining partners who are both well known in the Christian music industry. After the first dinner, I thought they'd move to another table but instead they came back and talked about the hairdresser uncle, beloved member of the family.
That paragraph was lousy and all over the place. So the bluesy post vacation thing is upon me. We walked the entire city of Rome in a day, so yesterday I figured I'd find out how much of Montreal I could walk. Pretending I was on vacation and exploring, the walk was marvelous as I admired the architecture, the musicians hustling for money, the huge sidewalk sale on St-Laurent street (scored three dress shirts originally $125 for $15 apiece), the bands practicing for the Fringe festival, the First Nations pow-wow where artists carved stone and bone while others sang rounds on stage, the new patio at Starbucks in the village. I sat there and people-watched for a while. The city is trying something new this year, they're closing down the street to cars for the whole summer. All the restaurants and cafes have been permitted to build temporary patios out into the street. It's going to be THE place to hang out this year. So I was mollified a bit. Vacation isn't over, it's only a state of mind accessible any time (except I suppose while chained to your desk at work.)
I'm having trouble accepting the fact that the fabulous vacation of life is over. It's funny, with each passing day that I'm back, the experience grows more and more wonderful in memory. But we can't live in memories, and my first instinct is always to plan another vacation. I distinctly remember us saying that we should forgo a cruise next time in favor of a resort and stay put kind of vacation. Now, I find myself checking different cruises and pricing. We should probably try a gay cruise. They actually had a "friends of dorothy" meet and greet on board the ship, where we turned out along with a nice young man from Seattle. The others aboard stopped by and poked their heads in and moved on. Chickens. It was a nice idea though. Instead we made friends with our dining partners who are both well known in the Christian music industry. After the first dinner, I thought they'd move to another table but instead they came back and talked about the hairdresser uncle, beloved member of the family.
That paragraph was lousy and all over the place. So the bluesy post vacation thing is upon me. We walked the entire city of Rome in a day, so yesterday I figured I'd find out how much of Montreal I could walk. Pretending I was on vacation and exploring, the walk was marvelous as I admired the architecture, the musicians hustling for money, the huge sidewalk sale on St-Laurent street (scored three dress shirts originally $125 for $15 apiece), the bands practicing for the Fringe festival, the First Nations pow-wow where artists carved stone and bone while others sang rounds on stage, the new patio at Starbucks in the village. I sat there and people-watched for a while. The city is trying something new this year, they're closing down the street to cars for the whole summer. All the restaurants and cafes have been permitted to build temporary patios out into the street. It's going to be THE place to hang out this year. So I was mollified a bit. Vacation isn't over, it's only a state of mind accessible any time (except I suppose while chained to your desk at work.)
15 comments:
Sometimes the most surprising, pleasant discoveries are made at home!
If one couldn't remember their vacations there wouldn't be any use of going on one. It is the great times you bring back with you that makes it all worthwhile. Anyway Torno, there's no place like home. Ed
Your Montreal is beautiful-- you should see what downtown Austin looks like. Not even the wavering heat thingies can transform it. I love it here anyway.
I was so inspired just reading about your vacation I decided to walk around Toronto - we must have been in synch. However, my trip didn't last as long as my neighbourhood was not the most exciting place. Sounds like a great idea about Montreal has about the patios this summer!
It's a good idea for any of us to walk around our own towns and see it like a tourist might. Of course, in my case, there'd be a lot of trees and shots of the river because quite frankly, there isn't a whole lot to look at over here. I should try though. It could be a Staycation.
-Rox
Oh man, now I wish I had made plans to come out and visit. Argh.
I don't want to walk around my town like a tourist right now. I want to stay in an air conditioned hotel and drink Mojitos.
Very nice pictures of Montreal. I find that in my city too. If you take it frame by frame it's a very beautiful city.
But looking at it from above it just merges into one.
I have also been curious about gay cruises.
Maybe what we need is a gay *bloggers* cruise...but we need to find a shipping line with reliable internet access and photo uploading capabilities, of course!
I haven't been away on a vacation in the ten-plus years I've lived here on the Cape--my vacas are generally stolen mornings or afternoons that feed my soul and help me appreciate all the reasons why there's so much traffic here in July and August.
Always enjoyed walking around Montreal...what a fantastic city it is. Still like Ottawa better(tho you aren't there), but Montreal's great!
Ah the vacation hangover, I know it well. You live in a beautiful city, enjoy the summer while it lasts!!
You live in an amazing city. Montreal is fabulous and it seems like you've got a great summer ahead...
Thank you for thinking of us and sharing your vacation, I know I have enjoyed your trip through your pictures and commentary. I wonder if you both suffered any "jet-lag" coming back?
I also, like the idea of taking another look at the city where each of us resides and see it as a vacation spot. I'm sure there are plenty of things to see and do looking at it from a different perspective.
My city is too hot to explore right now. Although this is a fine time to do it. We had our annual flower festival last weekend, and everything is cleaned up, the plants are in bloom, we've got our best frocks on. But it's still too hot to go outside.
The cruise I was on in January had a Friend of Dorothy meeting on the second-to-last evening. I went. There was one couple there. I was going through gay withdrawal by then and really needed a good gay boy chat and/or hug. Didn't get either. These guys were looking for other gays, not a fag hag. Eh. I would love to go on a gay cruise, myself. Would I qualify?
I thought I had heard that Norwegian Cruise Lines is known for having "Friends of Dorothy" events while on cruises, introducing G & L folk to other like-minded G & L folk for activities and get-togethers.
It's awesome you can walk around so much in your city. That's one of the things I hate most about where I live right now: I have to drive almost everywhere. With the exception of my tiny corner of our area, it's one giant suburban wasteland.
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