Saint Laurent acts as a navigational divider. Whatever is on a street (coming from the north let's say) on the right of Saint Laurent is East, whatever is left of St Laurent is Ouest. In other words, 480 Laurier O. and 480 Laurier E. are two entirely different places.
Also, in songs and by some people, Saint Laurent is known as "The Main".
Anyway, was out with Jenifer another of mum's longtime friends (yesterday was Patricia, not the one from Calgary) today. That was exciting. The original plan was to go down St. Denis but we decided to hunt for the Tintin Shop so famously mentioned...kinda. So I googled it and got a store on Tintinologist.org that was located on Laurier (On the Plateau Mont-Royal). So, through the heavy rain we trudged as she had called earlier and had been told we should get off at Laurier métro station. We do that and go one way down Laurier. The numbers go up and a few blocks later, we go from 1024 to 1190---all of them 3-floor residences (the types with spiraly staircases...should've taken a photo...but it was windy, really windy. And rainy) so we opt to head west towards Mont-Royal and we trudge and trudge through the rain and wind, our feet soaking, our pants---trousers (she's british without the accent) wet wet. On many occaisions I suggested that if it's too far that perhaps we go back or take a bus to nearest métro but we trudged on anyways.
I swear, I'm making none of this up!
So we walk, after she recalled that we had to go past St Laurent perhaps where all the trendy shops and stores and restaurants were going west and that maybe that it was 1089 Laurier Ouest not East. So we continue in the rain along past Du Parc, an avenue mum and I went by on occaision, and up Laurier O.
We finally find it.
Celebration!
The store wasn't a Tintin-specialty store it was a BD-specialty store. There were merchandise from Barbarapapa (or something...I read it once or twice as a kid), Le Petit Prince merchandise (notebooks, bibs, stationary set, figures). A cute store. Maybe I'll work there someday...as a summer part-time job or something...ya know.
And then...I saw it, a little section filled with Tintin stuff. More than I have EVER seen in my life! Notebooks, stationary, pencil tins, prints (Big prints on the wooden type thing that was .5 inch thick that you'd hang in a livingroom), clear files, pencils, pens, erasers, t-shirts, figurines (shit, if they weren't 400$+ I'd buy one), keychains, a copy of the Tintin au lac des requins movie for 24$ (haven't seen that since I was...5 or 6), address books, MILOU plushies, towels, PJs---argh! So much merchandise! Oh and there were BDs, books, the EverysingledamncharactertohaveappearedinTintinEVER encyclopedia too.
So I look at all the stuff, was shocked, stared at the well-made figurines and statues of Tintin and Haddock (THERE WAS A HADDOCK BUST FIGURE MY WORD!--for.....600$?), the keychains were 12-15$ each so I didn't bother but wow. So I bought myself a Tintin wallet that was 50% off because one of the buttons was broken (pah, it makes it easier to open. Woo logic!) and a Tintin clearfile. I want to squee like a little child in a candy store, that was the iconic moment of my trip so far.
As we left, the saleslady said that they had the biggest selection of Tintin merchandise in the city. (The St Denis Tintin store---so there was one---closed apparently?) So I have a card and know how to get there next time. Muwahaha.
Then we headed to chinatown to a buffet for supper. Yum!
On the way back, I saw a pidgeon on the platform.
A pigeon.
Apprently they're quite common at Place-d'Armes station.
Oh! And I spoke lots of French today, aren't you all proud?! I am. While I was waiting for the bus, our bus the 106 stopped to drop off people and then zoomed off and around the bus circle and parked. A lady beside me started rambling and we randomly had a convo about the bus being silly and doing that. OH and we were on the métro and the stations were being named incorrectly (aka the automatic system thingy was on le fritz) so as we disembarked two ladies remarked about it saying "ben keskia avec ça?" and on my way out I said "Ça va confuser des personnes bientôt/plus tard, je crois" and they were like "Ouais, ouais". Hurrah! :D
Tomorrow involves random afternoon stuff and if it doesn't rain I'll trudge my laptop with me. I'm going ahead with stopping at the cemetary. On a happier note, I'll be hanging with my cousin tomorrow evening possibly. On a chippier note:
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGEANNE! =D <3
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