I've ever heard elsewhere.

Either these people are from Beantown or very good at mimicking the accents and knowing the local expressions. I'll have to look up the group and find out more about them.

Anyway, that was pretty funny.

One evening a very refined lady came and and said imperiously:

"I'd like a caatin of Caaltin."

(1monster) "I'm sorry, Ma'am?"

(Refined Lady) "A caatin of Caaaltin!"

(1m) "I'm sorry, I don't undersand."

(RL, getting irritated) "A CAAATIN OF CAALTIN! CAAALTIN!!!"

At which point, she pointed to the cartons of cigarettes displayed behind the counter.

And I gathered that "caatin" was carton and Caaaltin was Carlton cigarettes.

She was a regular customer for a couple of years after than, but she never was in any way friendly (unlike most Bostonian I've met) and she always exaggerated that caaatin of Caaaltin pronunciation when I was at the register.

I've had similar awkward experiences due to Boston accents.

Many people probably think that Maine and Boston accents would be much more similar than it actually is.

accent.

I had a friend who was from Maine (RIP Betty). Thirty years away and her Down Easter accent was just as clipped and strong as if she'd moved down yesterday.

There is a lot of variation through the state. Lots of funny local expressions too.