And I don’t think I’m exaggerating. I left Montreal yesterday after extending my stay by a couple of days because the family I was house sitting for went away for the weekend- it’s a big Quebecois holiday here. Or rather it’s a French holiday that the people of Quebec have adopted. I don’t know anything about it, that was what I read bleary eyed before I fell asleep in a parking lot -in my car- just outside of Quebec City last night. Maybe it’s the strange anxiety that’s accompanied me on this portion of my trip- suddenly a province (provincial? that sounds like an insult) holiday threw me into a tailspin, I was going farther north, would be disconnected from people, everything would be closed, I’d be alone, my French is very weak and definitely doesn’t go far in Canada, but it felt like Armageddon was scheduled to strike and I was expecting to be the only survivor. So I went to Wal Mart and bought tampons, chips, and chocolate. And then found out I locked my keys in my car- again. This time the window was low enough that I could just reach my hand in, thank god. But this would be the third time in 3 months that this has happened. Also, I spilled an entire bottle of water on the driver’s side seat of the car. And my phone was in the seat. And they day before that, I sloshed some water onto my computer keyboard. What’s happening? Am I trying to destroy all of the equipment I depend on? Is this stress? Who am I?
Anyway, I woke up to a very bright morning that started very early. I felt pretty gross, there was melted chocolate in my lap and I was sitting on a plastic bag on a soaked seat. I started to drive the 1 hour that was left to this magical spot called Ile d’Orleans. Though I did not know of it’s magic and in fact was sort of not excited about getting here. I stopped in Quebec City to take a lovely and beautiful walk on the St. Lawrence with hardly anyone out and I think maybe that got my head straight. It was 45 minutes to the island and I felt like I landed on a combo Southern France (never been)/ Northeast US (Maine)/ Martha Stewart slice of heaven. This might not sound good the way I’m describing it. But it is. It was exactly what I needed, I mean I’d convinced myself the world was ending but here there were wineries and cidreries (that’s cideries for those that don’t speak French), and pick your own fruit, and fruit stands, and all the cute things. And they’re open! I’m not alone. And there’s even wi-fi at this amazing little campground. The only downfall is that I don’t have my camera- but I do have a phone. With the tiniest bit of storage on it. And I’m seeing some amazing things. Never mind all the things I described before, it is also the land of people sunbathing in 60 degree weather. I feel like I’m in a tiny, funny, Siberian or Eastern European village. They are in hot tubs, they wear great hats, they smoke hookahs. It feels surreal- and I’m sure I look like an alien to them in my sweater and too short pants and boots.