urban calligraphy :: v2 frolic

2010-03-14T10:27:00.003-04:00

So I'm sort of holding off blogging until I have Tumblr up and running and designed properly... which I almost do. I'm hoping to have it up by the end of today!

But I have one more important difference between Montreal and Toronto to add:
- in Toronto, barely anyone smokes, compared to Montreal. In Montreal, walking down the street it's like every second person is holding a cigarette.

Also, yesterday Lyndsey asked me for recommendations for a good brunch spot in Montreal. I listed off about 5 of my favourites and then realised how much I miss that city already!!

Observations - T.O. vs MTL

2010-03-10T19:26:00.003-05:00

So I've been here about a week and a half now, and I've got some observations on the differences between Toronto and Montreal.

- Montreal is definitely more the more charming city and feels more "European." I miss stumbling upon tree-lined squares and parks at every corner.
- Toronto feels more laid back and relaxed, not as pretentious or people-pleasing.
- Likewise, Toronto's fashion is more "street" and urban, more hipster and casually stylish, less designer and trend-conscious than Montreal.
- Montreal has a better system at bus stops where everyone lines up and boards the bus on a first-come first-served basis. In Toronto it can be a free-for-all.
- Toronto has defined city neighbourhoods, like Little Italy where I live. Or Kensington Market, or Cabbagetown, or the Annex, or Queen St West. And each neighbourhood has a distinct flair. (Okay, Montreal has its Plateau, and Mile End, and Westmount, etc. but the areas are certainly not as defined or as many.)
- Montreal is far better for purchasing alcohol. It can be found at the liquor store, the grocery store, the dep, the gas station, anywhere.
- Montreal has a giant park (Mont Royal), Toronto has expansive beaches (the Beaches, Woodbine).

I love both cities. Neither is better, both have their own appeal. And I'm so lucky that I get to live in both places! :)

2010-03-04T20:43:00.004-05:00

I am going to see Massive Attack in concert! This makes me so happy and excited you have no idea. They haven't been on tour in probably over 15 years, and I started liking them about 10 years ago and have wanted to see them live ever since. Now they're all of a sudden going to be in Toronto and I am SO going to the show!

It was really fate that this happened - I picked up a copy of NOW magazine while I was wandering College St this afternoon and was midlessly leafing through it while I was watching Little House on the Prairie tonight. The words "Massive Attack" caught my eye and when they were followed with dates and a venue I couldn't believe they were playing a show. Then I prepared myself for disappointment because I knew the shows would be sold out. But then realised that tickets didn't go on sale until tomorrow! I knew I HAD to get tickets, Sso then I did some sneaky research online and got a presale code and bought tickets tonight! WOOT! Yes, so stoked.

And another highlight of this magazine is my horoscope:
Scorpio: How would you make love - not have sex, but make love - with your sandwich, with the music you listen to, with a vase of flowers, with the familiar strangers sitting in the cafe, with everything? Your expertise in this art is now at peak.

Fan-freaking-tastic.

2010-03-02T17:47:00.004-05:00

I can see the CN Tower from my bedroom window.

And so I've arrived. Here I am living in Toronto. Since my train rolled into Union Station on Sunday afternoon, I've been having a lot of "WTF, I actually live in Toronto now?!" moments, but today it's sunk in a bit more and life feels more or less normal. Yeah, more or less. Minus a lot of things I miss from Montreal, but suffice it to say that I've learned that building a life in a new city takes a while! Everything will not be perfect right away! And so, I'm just enjoying this time exploring my new city and being on my own.

My first two days being here have been filled with a lot of errands and unpacking and settling down. I also had a job interview yesterday, which I think went really well - I left with the same feeling you have after you know you just aced a test, so I think that's a good sign! The weather has been undeniably gorgeous and sunny and it's been making me so happy. Yesterday I drank my morning coffee outside on a bench in the sunshine and the sun actually felt warm against my body. Spring, spring, I can't wait to greet you! Spring is a time of change and new beginnings. It's funny how I always seem to make life changing decisions around springtime.

I'm loving that my apartment is situated right in Little Italy. There are so many adorable shops and restaurants lining College St. And the fact that the street car stops right outside my apartment is pretty fan-freaking-tastic too. I can also walk to the subway in about 10 minutes and that will take me anywhere! The whole roommate situation is taking a bit of getting used to. I'm so used to living on my own, or living with a boyfriend. I've never lived with a girl roommate before, and I'm feeling a strange combination of releasing control over my living space and acting on my best behaviour.

Oh! And I can't end my blog post without talking about my amazing sendoff in Montreal! At work on Friday, there was a "surprise" screening goodbye party in the afternoon, and we ate cake and I got a card, and it was very lovely. I felt appreciated and happy and shed a tear or two upon saying goodbye. After work, a bunch of us went out for what turned into an epic night - first it was 2 games of laser tag, during which I re-confirmed that I suck so bad but it's so much fun! We then headed off to the pub to drink a couple beers (and tequila shots - oops) and watch the Canada Olympic hockey game. From there, I was feeling pretty jazzed and enthusiastically suggested we should go to a strip club! Took a little convincing but I lead the way, and off to the strip club we went! Then the night took a turn into titties, buckets of beers, and... lapdances? Yes, I had my first lapdance, and it was quite the uh, experience. Haha! Suffice it to say, that night, and the people I spent it with, was amazing.

And as a last tribute to Montreal, I love love love this "Montreal in 2 Minutes" video. My old neighbourhood, the Plateau, is shown between 1:37 and 1:58. I think it perfectly captures how I feel about that amazing city. Watch and love it with me.

Moooooving

2010-02-25T21:33:00.002-05:00

This is my apartment right now. And this is me looking way more happy than I am to be packing up all this shit. Ugh. But I'm feeling pretty organized and on top of everything. All my furniture is sold and is being picked up on Saturday, and I just have to cram the rest of my things into one more suitcase... that will be the challenge!

I'm having a goodbye party tomorrow night and we're going to play Laser Tag! How COOL is that?! I am way, way beyond excited. There's gonna be about 15 of us, so it'll be wicked. Dun dun dun I haven't played laser tag since I was like 13.

Last day of work tomorrow. It feels really strange. Saturday will be a busy day full of wrapping up loose ends, packing, cleaning, having people pick up furniture, visiting friends and saying goodbye, and then leaving my apartment. I'm staying overnight at Amber's house, and then on Sunday morning it's catching the early train to Tdot! Yowsa. It's all crept up so fast.

2010-02-23T22:12:00.004-05:00

Well, my Montreal days are ticking to a close - 5 days left. It seems bizarre that in a week, I won't be waking up in this apartment, won't be hopping on my bus to go to work every day. I've become very settled here, settled into routine - although never fully settled because I knew living in Montreal was only ever temporary.

I've been training my replacement at work, and it's exhausting. The first day I felt like I just talked non-stop for 9 hours, and now I feel like she knows everything and me being at work is rendered useless. For the last half of today, the minutes ticked by oh so slowly. I've done the pass-off and now I just want to get out of there!

I hate goodbyes so much. I'm so terrible at them. It's just tough. I've met some great people here - the people I work with, my friends. And so I'm kind of dreading all of the goodbyes I'll have to face in the next few days...

But, such is life. They'll only be temporary goodbyes. And you've got to say goodbye to say hello, right?

2010-02-21T10:47:00.004-05:00

This right here is a perfect Sunday morning. The sun is streaming through my windows, melting the dusting of snow outside, and landing in a perfect square on my duvet. I woke to no alarm, except for the morning light. Now I'm sipping a breakfast protein shake (hmm, that doesn't sound quite so romantic) and lazily cruising the world wide web.

What I did wake up to this morning was the sound of people having sex through the walls of my apartment. I'm always unsure how I'm supposed to feel when I hear people having sex. Amusement? Irritation? Turned on? I feel a mix of these three. And it makes me wonder about all the people who have heard me having sex. Weird.

I'm savoring this moment in bed because today is going to be a jumble of packing, cleaning, packing, and laundrying. I'm leaving Montreal in exactly a week today. So much to be done. I feel a bit melancholy, I wish I never had to leave anything behind. I love this city, this apartment, these people. But guaranteed, I will be back to visit definitely this summer and probably before. There is no period at the end of this sentence, it's more of an ellipses... (Yes I totally stole that line from Garden State!)

2010-02-18T22:58:00.003-05:00

Life is all about timing. For 3-4 years now I've wanted to move to Toronto, and for various reasons, the timing has never been right. It's funny how things have to happen in your life in order to let other things happen. (Wow, that's a vague thought, isn't it?) And now, it seems like all my stars are aligning. I just can't express enough how happy I am.

I updated the layout. I wanted something that expressed moving, freedom, drifting, transience. It's simple, but I like it. :)

Oh, and other random thought: job hunters do actually Google you. I spent the better part of my day today looking at resumes for filling my position, and my boss and I were Googling and Facebooking the candidates names to see what they looked like. So, here's a tip: make sure you have a job-hunter-appropriate Facebook profile picture. Just sayin'.

2010-02-18T15:45:00.003-05:00

Oh
I'm a wandering soul
I'm still walking the line that leads me home
Alone
All I know
I still got mountains to climb
On my own
On my own

Switchfoot - "Enough to let me go"

endings and new beginnings

2010-02-15T21:30:00.005-05:00

In 2 weeks I’m leaving Montreal. I had originally intended that my next move would be going back home to BC and then settling down in Vancouver after a month or two. But I’m not sure I’m quite ready to do that. I don’t know if I’m ready for that familiarity, for my crazy journey to end. I still feel like I have things left to discover, excitement to be had, new experiences in a new city waiting for me.

I know I can still have crazy adventures in BC, and that I’ll have to start my life over there again as well, but I have a mental block that worries me that everything might be too similar to before, that I’ll feel this driving need to move away again. It seems like once I go back to BC, the rest of my life is starting, and it’s time to settle down and get serious about my life and what I want to be doing. And I’m not ready to settle down just yet.

I don’t know, it’s hard to describe, but ever since I decided on the idea of moving back to BC at the end of February, I’ve been feeling a bit anxious about going back. Not unhappy in the fact that I don’t ever want to live there again, or see my family or friends (because I do, so, so much) - but dread in the way that I’m not quite ready to be there just yet. I’ve been talking to a lot of people over here about it, people that know me well, and people who don’t know me that well, and I know that I will end up there, just not yet.

So instead of flying back home at the end of February, I’ve decided to go live in Toronto for a little while. Maybe I just want to experience living in all 3 of Canada’s big cities! But I’ve always felt pulled to Toronto for a variety of reasons - the buzz of a big city, the cute neighbourhoods, the shopping, the opportunities, the someone I can’t seem to forget who lives there. I think I owe it to myself to at least try living there. Or at the very least take a little vacation breather there.

I spent last weekend in Toronto, staying in a hostel while I went to view a number of different apartments to find a good living situation. I found a cute apartment in Little Italy, where I’ll be temporarily subletting the bedroom of a girl while she goes traveling, and living with her roommate, who is also a 24-year old young professional, like me. I think living alone was a mistake I made when I moved to Montreal and hardly knew anyone. Living with a roommate is better because you automatically get to know someone, (hopefully) make a friend, and are more easily introduced to other people. The apartment itself is in a super cute area, with lots of shops and little cafes, and the street car runs right outside the apartment 24-hours.

Anyway, I have no expectations about what will happen in Toronto. I had a lot of expectations about Montreal and that resulted in me being rather unhappy the first month or two I was here. This time, I’m seeing this as just an adventure for fun - because why not? Life is about living, and that means I’m going to jump on this whim and not look ahead and not look back, just be, and just enjoy.

So, there it is. I’m feeling really happy and good about this next adventure. Although, I do feel a lot of craziness is running through my veins too!! I can’t really believe this is happening - how did I get this adventuresome and brave all of a sudden? I thought I was that shy girl who never wanted to take risks? I’m beginning to believe that she’s gone and that the real me is a go-getter and a risk-taker. It’s weird.

2010-02-13T09:43:00.003-05:00

The best convincing me to stay in Montreal:

"If I make you fall in love with me, would you stay?"
- Lyndsey's 19 year old brother

Hahaha.

2010-02-12T13:08:00.001-05:00

It’s funny how oftentimes you are unappreciated until you leave or express interest in leaving somewhere or something or someone... I’m finally, finally feeling like I’m being appreciated at work and it’s all because I gave my notice on Monday to say that I was leaving. In this past week, I’ve never had so much rallying for me to stay – from my immediate boss, from co-workers, from my high-up boss... It’s been unbelievable the lengths and negotiations everyone is going to try and get me to stick around. While I’m not going to stay, it’s been really nice to know that I’m finally appreciated and they consider me a really good fit to the company.

So. What to say. My emotions are zinging this way and that and it seems like I should be anxious or nervous about this next chapter in my life, but instead I just feel calm. I feel happy. Although, to be fair, I do feel an immense sadness about leaving Montreal and the amazing people I’ve met here, and I do have a tiny tiny voice in the back of my head saying that I should be staying for one more summer... But. Choices have been made.

Well, choices have mostly been made. I’m not sure I’m ready to settle down and start a real life back in BC just quite yet... More on that later after plans are more finalized. I feel like I have a little bit of crazy in my blood, I’m feeling a little invincible or something right now. Living in Montreal and creating a fantastic life here, it seems like I can do this anywhere. I can pick up and live in any city.

It’s a great feeling. Maybe that’s why I don’t feel anxious. I just feel content. Now let’s go find some more happiness.

2010-02-10T22:53:00.003-05:00

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes are happening! Don't really want to talk about that right this second though, so let's talk about NYC!

The drive is long. About 8 hours with little stops, because it's tough to bomb it right through. Saw "Westside Story" on Friday night - by myself, because no one else wanted to pay to see it - and it was fantastic. I love Broadway shows so much. They make me so happy and giddy! We also went to the MOMA that night and wandered through the dazzling lights of Times Square.

Saturday was a crazy in-your-face day. We did an NBC studio tour, wandered Central Park, saw the progress at Ground Zero, I bought a fake Tiffany's necklace and bracelet on Canal St in Chinatown, took the subway to SoHo and ate a cupcake from the delicious Magnolia Bakery. We also gulped down numerous teas and coffees in between, to try and keep our little hands and bodies warm from the insane cold! And mixed in was a little bit of shopping and drinks out that night!

Sunday was pretty much wake up, shop a little (hello Victoria's Secret!!), and get back in the car to drive back to Mtl! Lots of driving for one full day in NYC - but worth it!

I love NYC. I don't know how much clearer I can make it. That city is amazing. I never tire of it, no matter how many times I go, and I think I've now been about 6 times. This is a little something I wrote about how I feel about the city:

You just can't help but feel alive here. All the bustling people, all the shops, all the noise. All your senses are turned on full blast. And I love that sensory overload. I like the evasive glances from other solitary people on the street. Wonder what their story is, wondering what they're thinking. I love that you can be alone in this city and yet not feel alone or lonely at all.

2010-02-08T23:16:00.004-05:00

I <3 NYC

I promise to write a real post tomorrow night with news and photos from my trip to NYC this past weekend. Tonight turned into a busy evening - stayed late at work, had to get groceries, then went onto the set of the horror film Nick is producing and took some photos. And now I really need to go to bed! Bonne nuit lovelies.

2010-02-03T09:31:00.003-05:00

I went out to see a play put on by an independent theatre company last night, and it was surprisingly good. I think the key to watching independent theatre is to have no expectations because you never really know what is going to be thrown at you - could be good, could be terrible. But, I was pleasantly surprised last night!

Something I've noticed lately... In spite of how well I think I know myself and how much thinking I do about life and who I am and how things are, it amazes me when people will tell me something about myself that I had never before even considered. And once I get over my astonishment or want to brush their revelation off, they turn out to be right about something I thought I had all the answers for. And it becomes clear that that was the truth all along.

And this makes me realise that I don't have everything sorted out in my life, I don't have all the answers... but I don't want to have everything figured out. I want to constantly think and seek answers and seek knowledge and know that I don't know. I believe Socrates said something along the lines of "the unexamined life is a life not worth living."

2010-01-31T22:59:00.005-05:00

I spent the weekend up in Mont-Tremblant, which is a ski hill a lot like Whistler, for all you BC-ers. We stayed in a cottage peering over a frozen lake in a winter wonderland, wondered Tremblant village in the afternoon, and came back for cozy hot chocolates and movies by the fire in the evening. It was snowy and charming and magical. (And freezing cold!) I even had a real Quebec winter experience and ate maple syrup on snow! Yum. Perfect weekend.

This is my favourite photo of myself from the weekend... I love feeling the sun warming my face in winter... and look at that breathtakingly gorgeous view.

2010-01-29T20:11:00.002-05:00

Today for lunch, the boys at work were ordering in burgers. But not just any kind of burger, MASSIVE burgers. Well, I didn't know that at first, all I was told that these burgers were a Montreal staple and I had to get one. I open up my takeout box and it looks like there's a pizza cut in 4 pieces inside. But NOPE. It's a GIANT BURGER. Wow. I had to get it photo documented, so here are some crappy pics from my cell phone:

I wasn't kidding. Those fuckers are BIG.

2010-01-28T22:44:00.003-05:00

Feeling so much better from yesterday.

I love my weekly Skyping dates with my parents. It makes me so happy to talk with them.

I'm going to read Catcher in the Rye again in memory of JD Salinger, who died today. I barely remember that book, I think I last read it in grade 8.

Getting super excited to go up to Mont-Tremblant with Lynds this weekend. And then it's NYC next weekend! Where else can I go next?!

I like it in the city when two worlds collide.

2010-01-27T20:58:00.006-05:00

I've been having a really "off" day today. I woke up feeling really hungover-like, which was impossible given that I only drank 2 beers last night. So I chalked it up to just being tired, but that fuzzy-in-the-head and groggy feeling lasted way past the espresso I gulped down at work. I just felt grumpy and irritable and tired, and I even had waves of nausea and feeling faint. I didn't want to talk much or be my usual bubbly self, and it didn't let up all day.

I don't know why. It doesn't feel like I'm getting sick or anything. Maybe it's all of the emotions that are churning around in my brain right now combined with all the irritations I'm feeling at work. I am feeling a lot of emotions right now, and I'm feeling pressure from a lot of things and people and I'm feeling pulled this way and that. Decisions and changes are happening. And I'm always so concerned with making the "right" decision, with pleasing everyone.

Which brings up this: on New Years Eve I had one of many amazing talks with Caitlin, and she told me something like, "You know, Maresa, I can't believe you don't blame anything in your life or how you are on your parents." And I remember looking at her and feeling shocked and at a loss for words. I remember thinking of course I don't blame anything on my parents, why would I? Everything in my life and how I am is my responsibility and my doing.

But you know what? Who I am is half nature but also half nurture. I don't know why this never clicked with me before. Not that I'm looking to blame anyone for how I am, but I'm seeking to explain why. And it's because my parents put out the appearance that they're perfect. They have a perfect house, they have a perfect marriage, they make the right decisions, they never argue, they are always happy, they want me to be independent and perfect like them.

And so, here I am, concerned with making the right decisions, making sure I'm being independent, making sure to please them. I'm always cheerful, hardly ever show it when I'm in a bad mood, I make sure I have everything in my life under control. I try to make myself perfect too.

I want to stop feeling like I have to be in control of everything. I want to stop feeling like I have to make the "right" decisions. I want to do what I think will make me happy, and it may not be the best or smartest choice, and it may be impulsive and I may regret it later, but I can't keep trying to be perfect. I need to have days where I'm in a bad mood, and I need to feel like I can vent my bad mood feelings to people. I can't keep feeling like I need to please everyone.

I don't want to just feel things on the surface. I want to dive in. I want to feel the good and the bad. I want to get rid of the control. I want to be closer with my friends. I want to make irrational choices. I want to not be afraid of conflict. I want to find someone to love so much and feel like I can share all of this with them.

I just want to do whatever the fuck I want to do.

(Wow. Writing makes me feel a lot better.)

2010-01-26T22:59:00.002-05:00

So apparently my last blog post was not worthy enough for a blog entry, so here I am updating at 11PM when I should be going to bed, and I'm 2 beers deep from our hockey pool night tonight. Which, by the way, was a great success - we also completed our mid-season supplementary draft, so I now hope to soar from 5th place to 1st. Unlikely.

My new obsession is multigrain Life cereal. Holy mother effer it's tasty. I'm munching on some right now.

Strongbow cider doesn't exist in Montreal. Well, ciders don't really exist in Quebec at all. I mean, there's a few, but not many. I've been craving a nice Okanagan or Grower's cider (which I used to drink often in BC) for a while now, and last week I was on a hunt to find Strongbow cider. I went to 2 liquor stores, 1 grocery store, and 1 dep and couldn't find it anywhere! Actually, I couldn't really find a lot of cider selection in general, which made me sad. I ended up settling for Wild Vines flavoured wine-I-don't-even-know-what's-in-that-drink to drink last Friday night, which quickly brought my demise. Did not compare to a tasty Strongbow or Okanagan cider!

This blog post doesn't have a point. I'm going to bed now.

2010-01-25T07:59:00.001-05:00

Jean Paul Gaultier Evian water still tastes like tapwater to me...

Spin me round again

2010-01-24T13:07:00.003-05:00

I will never tire of listening to Clair de Lune by Debussy. I would really like to play the piano again.

Lazy Sundays. I actually got up at 8:30AM this morning to make it feel like my day would be super long... and to counter yesterday's lateness! I went out and got all my errands done this morning, and now I've brought a chair up to my window, and I am sitting next to the heater, looking out at the melting snow. Thinking and wanting to write.

I also want to bake. Nick and Karine gave me a belated Xmas present last week when I saw them - a cupcake cookbook! How perfect and cute is that... I am so excited to try out the recipes!

I can smell a hint of spring in the air... Feels like change coming.

Lazy Saturday brunch

2010-01-23T17:19:00.004-05:00

What a beautiful, beautiful day today. (Well, I'll confess that my day didn't really begin until 2pm because that's when I finally forced myself out of bed - a little too much fun was had and alcohol ingested last night at the dance party! Amber and I had ambitions plans of going for brunch at 11AM this morning, but that clearly didn't happen!)

I digress - it was a beautiful day, the sun was shining with clear blue skies - it's been much too long since we've had a day like that. Also it was very warm (only -5) and a perfect day to wander around! Amber and I ate brunch at Patati Patata, a tiny, tiny, 15-person capacity cafe with breakfast served all day and famous poutine. And cheap prices! My breakfast (egg, bacon, hashbrowns, beans, toast, fruit and coffee) cost $4.50! Amazing!

After our fantasticly late brunch, we wandered back down St-Laurent, stopping to check out vintage shops, jewelry stores, and Amber pointed out other amazing cafes and restos I needed to try. I've never had anyone do that with me - walk around and point out amazing places in my neighbourhood, and since she's lived in the Plateau for 5 years, it was so fun!

Montreal is such an amazing city, I never anticipated how much I would love living here. It has so much charm and appeal, more than I've felt from any other city in Canada... maybe it's the whole French thing too. Whatever it is, this afternoon I fell in love a little more.

2010-01-18T21:53:00.006-05:00

So in a span of 2 days, I've become extremely addicted to podcasts. I listen to a little philosophy podcast on my bus ride to work in the morning, a photography podcast on the metro home, and a French podcast while I'm cooking dinner. You can hear me repeating phrases like "Maintenant, j'habite a Montreal" while I fry up a grilled cheese sandwich.

These little things are amazing - how had I never downloaded any before yesterday? What a fantastic idea to have a wealth of knowledge so easily accessibly on any topic you desire to download and listen to wherever you like! I am a big sucker for lifelong learning - I'm constantly researching new topics that interest me, and reading new books, and with these podcasts I don't even have to go to the library, all I have to do is click "download" and listen to someone's thoughts and ideas!

I imagine this is what people felt like when the first radios were introduced. I feel like a big geek, but it's so awesome!

To further illustrate how excited I am about podcasts, here is an email exchange between Lyndsey and I today:

On 10-01-18 4:02 PM, "Maresa" wrote:
Seriously podcasts are wicked. You know I’m obsessed because I actually felt sad that I can’t listen to a podcast right after work because I’m going to this movie with you. That is pathetic. It’s called human interaction, Maresa, it’s better than listening to podcasts!!

On 10-01-18 4:09 PM, "Lyndsey" wrote:
Well if you’d like to go home and listen to some podcasts you can... otherwise you can listen to live podcasts, also known as conversations... between 2 people... you remember those, right?

What can I say - I'm hooked!!! :P

2010-01-17T18:51:00.004-05:00

Spent this afternoon drinking café au laits and eating amazing almond croissants at La Croissanterie Figaro. I love this little cafe, tucked in between tree-lined avenues in the Mile End area of Montreal.

La Croissanterie holds a special place in my heart because I used to live a few blocks away, and it was one of the first cafes in Montreal I ever visited. In fact, the girl I sublet my first apartment from recommended it to me, and on probably my second day living in Montreal, my dad and I went there for an early supper. I was immediately charmed by its European atmosphere and delicious food.

I have since spent many summer mornings on their terrasse eating their omelette croissant breakfast, or having afternoon café au laits, like today. Being there reminds me just how far I've come from being the wide-eyed fresh-off-the-boat girl in May to how I am now.

It is a lovely place to be.