Summer 2013. Two acquaintances, Philippe and Isabelle, meet, by chance, while strolling on the sidewalks of rue Sainte-Catherine.
Philippe: Well, if it’s not Isabelle!
Isabelle: Well, if it’s not Philippe!
Philip: How are you?
Isabella: Yes. A bit in a rush. I do my last shopping, before going on vacation. Such a trendy vacation. I can’t wait!
Philip: What are you doing?
Isabelle: Listen to that! Saturday, we take the plane, destination Paris. You can see everything there is to see there. The next day we fly to Rome. There sweet life ! Then plane for Athens, the time to see the ruins. Plane to Berlin, to see the wall that no longer exists. Plane to London, to put on the big fur hats. Stopover in Brussels, to eat a fries. Return to Paris to catch our plane to Montreal. A great week of vacation!
Philip: Wow! The jet set!
Isabelle: Put it on! We’ll have enough Air Miles to do Tokyo-Beijing-Rio-Tahiti next year! And you ?
Philippe: Me, it will be quieter.
Isabelle: Where are you going?
Philippe: We are staying in Montreal. We’re going to rest.
Isabelle: Come on, Philippe! The planet ! Be planetary! You have to go see the planet! It’s too beautiful, the planet! Don’t stay in your pothole! Travel shapes the young ! Déguédine, before being old!
Philip: Do you think so?
Isabella: Yeah! At least go to Acapulco. They have good prices, at the moment, because it’s too hot. At worst, you will stay in your room, there is air conditioning. But don’t stay here! Open your horizons! Take off!
Philippe: You may be right. I will think about that. Picked up my money for me. You give me the taste. Happy travels!
Isabelle: Happy holidays, anyway!
Ten years later, summer 2023, Philippe and Isabelle meet again, by chance, while strolling in the pedestrian Sainte-Catherine street.
Philippe: Well, Isabelle!
Isabelle: Well, Philippe!
Philippe: Do you often come to the area?
Isabelle: At least every ten years.
Philip: What’s up?
Isabelle: I’m going on vacation tomorrow. Such a trendy vacation. I can’t wait!
Philip: Where are you going?
Isabelle: Nowhere! I explore my city. From Senneville to Rivière-des-Prairies! Four quarters a day. Everything by bike. Camping in potholes. It’s not the choice that is missing! To feel like tourists, we will speak French in the west of the island and English in the east of the island. We will put lots of photos on Instagram, without comment. Sometimes people will wonder if we’re in New York, sometimes if we’re in Paris, sometimes if we’re in Ukraine. In short, we’re going to get lost in Montreal, and with all the detours, it won’t be complicated! And you ?
Philippe: Well me, I followed your advice, I picked up my money, and I’m leaving for Sydney!
Isabella: Sydney? Sydney, Nova Scotia, I hope! Are you going on a cycling expedition?
Philip: No, no. Sydney, the kangaroos. In Australia !
Isabelle: How are you? Sailing ?
Philippe: No, by plane!
Isabelle: Well no, Philippe! The planet ! Think about the planet! Travel distorts the planet. Don’t you like the planet?
Philippe: Well yes, I love it!
Isabelle: Well, if you like her, you better go see her! It’s like our parents during COVID. You watch them on the internet, foreign countries. Plane rhymes with pollution. Think about your ecological footprint. You’re going to have a dinosaur footprint. You know what happened to the dinosaurs!
Philippe: Well, what am I going to do?
Isabelle: Rediscover Montreal!
Philippe: I have been rediscovering Montreal for ten summers…
Isabelle: Run to Gatineau first.
Philippe: It’s hot to run to Gatineau.
Isabelle: Exactly, if it’s hot there, it’s because nobody pays attention to the planet.
Philippe: You may be right. I’ll think about that. I’ll try to get my money back.
Isabelle: Perfect, that! Well, I have to go, I’m expecting four deliveries from Amazon Prime. Happy holidays, anyway!
Philip: You too!