Close to paradise

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adventure, Canada, challenges, cultures, desires, Emotion, Family, friends, Happiness, Holidays, Home, longings, memories, nostalgic, Paris, seasons, Summer, travel, Vancouver, Winter

Four years ago Paris was my paradise. I loved wandering the city’s enchanting streets, buying the exquisite foods and joining in on the Joie de Vivre. I loved the coffees on small sidewalk patios, the nocturnal walks home after a night out, hell, I didn’t even mind ascending to my 7th floor room. But after two years I got too vexed by the constant tardiness and general arrogance of the French*, the dragging bureaucracy and the erratic climate of my 7th floor heaven. Paradise started crumbling down.

Nearly two years ago I created a similar setting in Montreal. I noticed I fitted in better in this liberal and “small” city, rather than the always crowded and ambitious Paris. I had gathered a group of like-minded people around me, with whom I enjoyed the crafted beers and ciders, the yam fries and poutines, and the creative vibe of the city. But with the snowfall a dark cloud came down with it. I’m not made for wonderous white winters like they have over there. Time to move on.

In Vancouver the proximity of water was very appealing, just like being surrounded by mountains. But I didn’t connect with the Vancouverites. Till this day I don’t know why. It wasn’t untill I went to Victoria on Vancouver Island that I figured out what I’d been searching for in a place to live. The laid back mentality and kindness of the island people, the relatively old city (for Canadian measures) and the food culture, made me feel at ease right away. Unfortunately it only lasted for a short time, since my departure from Canada was approaching and I also wanted to see the Rockies.

Another pleasant surprise was waiting for me there. Nothing special happened there, but the daily life chores. Still being in vicinity of massive mountain ranges, rapid streams and hallmark towns, made it an opulent lifestyle.

My summer job in London felt like a pit stop on the way to the everyday day life that was waiting for me in the Netherlands. Except that I’ve made some close friends that will last a lifetime, otherwise the memories will.

Now I find myself wandering the streets of Amsterdam with my own personal travel guides; the friends i’ve made who help me explore this multifaceted city. Luckily they take me beyond the obvious tourist traps, though even I find myself in the Red Light district on occasion (because one of my close friends lives there).

Point is; I’m happy with the places I’ve passed on my way to where I am today. I probably won’t be staying in Amsterdam forever, occasionally I feel an urge to pack my backpack and leave all materialistic goods behind. Who knows someday I will act on it again, there are still a great deal of places to go on my bucketlist…

 

*Friends not included, of course.

Springtime in February

Tags

adventure, Canada, challenges, cultures, Emotion, entertainment, Family, friends, Happiness, Holidays, Home, new job, seasons, travel, Vancouver, Weather

The last few years I’ve taken some steps out of my comfort zone, but I don’t think I have ever felt so challenged before.

Being pulled back by funds, my Vancouver trip started off with a nerve-wracking, week-long job search on Craigslist and along stores, worsened by a major jet lag, instead of exploring the new vibrant city.

In the core of my body emotions were at war: worry, stupidity, curiosity, but also awe. Awe for the beautiful mountains that surround Vancouver. In awe for the warm, yet wet, weather. and in awe for the hospitality and unexpected help from strangers.

Now I am settled (but still a bit jet-lagged?!!) I get to enjoy this city. Vancouver is a big city, but the quality of life is high (and expensive) and it’s surrounded by mountains and green. The weather is great. It’s known for many rainy days, but so far so good. And the people… Totally different then what I was used to in Toronto and Montreal. Which makes sense; Canada is a huge country, so it’s only normal that it’s people differ.

Here, they take the effort to learn my real name, even when I try to brush it off and tell them to call me by my adoptive nickname. Which makes me happy, because the last couple of months I’ve been feeling a bit schizophrenic, and the two names didn’t make that any easier. It kind of feels like I’m going back to basic, to the time when I was just a Dutch girl with unpursued wanderlust.

Yes, I like Vancouver. It’s like a fresh summer breeze (or rather spring) after the cold Montreal days.

 

You are my sunshine

Tags

adventure, Canada, challenges, Holidays, Home, Hot chocolate, memories, New York, nostalgic, Seasonal affective disorder, seasons, Summer, travel, Weather

“Baby, it’s cold outside.” I always associated that song with christmas, even though they’re just remarking the weather conditions.”

“But summer is no more. Hearing the song on the radio after the temperature dropped to a freakin cold 6 degrees. Time to buckle up for my first Canadian winter (I know autumn is coming first, but with the stories I’ve heard…)”

“I enjoyed my New York minute. I wanted to go in september to profit of the known Indian Summer. Instead I got full on summer! Ow, how good it was to absorb the vitamin D like a sponge.”

“Now it’s back to wearing layers of sweaters and vests, lots of socks and practical, but ugly shoes. No quick groceries run without putting on the winter proof attire, instead of shorts and flip flops. Me and my coat will be inseparable”

I wrote the paragraphs above 2 weeks ago. I hadn’t come around editing it into a nice story. But that didn’t seem necessary after all. Because tonight I am going to a barbecue. Yes, a barbecue. When the temperature got down to an icy 6 degrees one morning, I saw my hopes for an Indian Summer fading away, together with the warm sunrays.

But the last week the temperature jumped to a surprising 24 degrees. Everybody cherished the cosy september sun, the colourful leaves on the trees and the brown leaves of autumn on the ground, which set the scenery for a corny novel. I can’t wait what the writer has in store next…

Ode to Brunch

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adventure, Brunch, Canada, Family, friends, Happiness, Home, longings, memories, nostalgic, seasons, Summer, Weather, Winter

Today it hit me. Brunch: Br(eakfast) and (l)unch. Why would you reduce two meals in to one? Because it is marvellous! I rediscovered my love for brunch today. In Montreal everybody goes for brunch in the weekend, especially now the weather is still good. And what better way to start your saturday or sunday morning having a delicious meal with friends or family.

Friends are warning me that Winter is Coming. The way they say it has the same tone of voice and tension as in Game of Thrones. With the weather twisting and turning for the past week, I try to take as much advantage of it as possible. It feels like I am finally discovering Montreal and surroundings a bit. It took me quit some time to adjust here, even though I’m still not used to working early mornings. But having some more friends now, lured me out of my comfy house and into this amazing city.

Montreal has a big artsy feel to it. And now summer is over and students have come back to school, the city is a hot-pot of young people. Together with the typical iron staircases, beautiful street art and laid back lifestyle( hence brunch), I don’t mind sticking around here for some time.

So let’s make brunch a weekly thing! Even in winter I will fight the extremes to get some eggs Benedict or pancakes.

En Garde Mosquito

Tags

Canada, desires, Emotion, Happiness, Home, Hot chocolate, longings, memories, nostalgic, Seasonal affective disorder, seasons, Summer, travel, Weather, Winter

My legs are itching like hell. But my jeans is preventing me from scratching the mosquito bites till it starts bleeding. Less than 4 days ago I was sitting in the park in shorts on a hot summer night (there the little suckers got me). Now the cold has found permanent residency in my bones.

After two lovely summer months in Canada, I saw the first hint of Canadian extremes. It rained. All day. Not just a lousy drizzle, but an overwhelming tropical rainstorm.

Once again I noticed that I completely packed the wrong things, barely a sweater to keep me warm. I’m dreading the Canadian winter, but am also in anticipation for the loads and loads of snow. It’s a good excuse to do some shopping. And at least I won’t get anymore mosquito bites.

Ready. Set. Dust.

Tags

challenges, desires, Home, seasons, Weather

Few times a year I feel the urge to clean. I get my duster, pull my hair back, and then my rage starts. There is no logic, everything is turned up side down and my place looks even worse than before I started to clean. I turn up the volume of Queens I got to break free, imagining Freddie doing the cleaning in his short skirt and pink top, while in real life I flutter around in my pj’s.

I got this frenzy when I came back from Paris. It was time to do some cleaning and reorganising. Not just the vacuuming around furniture, but actually moving it. Like… the REAL cleaning. My room was full of boxes, bags and suitcases. My packing wasn’t very organised, so one box could contain clothing, books, toiletries and food, making the piles of stuff even more complicated to unpack. I started piling up clothes from my closet, that I hadn’t worn for over a year. Put them in bags to donate to charity. I put cutlery, a grill, a water boiler and other stuff that I won’t be needing any time soon in a box and shoved it under my bed. I threw away old toiletries. Put all my administration in one folder for later unraveling. At night I jumped over and crawled under the mess and went to sleep with piles of stuff on my bed. I woke up fresh and motivated and finished cleaning it all. I felt clean, efficient and mature in my room that hasn’t changed since I was 14 years old.

Usually you do this kind of cleaning when spring approaches. As I already did it in march, I didn’t find it necessary to do it again. Untill this week, when it just kept raining. I’d seen more than 10 movies halfway through the week and read 2 books already. Hence, my hands started itching again as the stack of books kept rising, shoes laying all over the floor and my bedside table being filled with junk And because of boredom. But I cheated and only did the surfaces, because even when you’re bored, cleaning is never fun.

I still didn’t donate the clothes. The papers in the folder still stick out the way I’ve put them in 2 months ago. And the stack of books seems dangerously close to falling. But, at least, my room is clean and dust free.

Good luck with your spring cleaning, may the force be with you. 

When summer comes to an end

Tags

Christmas, Hot chocolate, Seasonal affective disorder, seasons, Summer, Weather, Winter

I was hoping for an indian summer, with warm days and chilly nights, just to detox from the excellent summer. But with the rain and the weather getting colder and the first soothing fires in the fireplace, I kind of look forward to autumn and winter.

After a few cold nights I put my cover back on my bed after the hot summer nights had come to an end. That feeling you get when you crawl under the covers with your cold skin, it’s like laying down under a warm fluffy cloud. And just for that first moment, it looks like you’re floating on feathers.

As a young girl, I always told my parents that when I would grow up I wanted to live in a warm country like Spain. Now, I would like to come back to that statement. Even though we had the worst winter and a really good summer(for paris standards), I noticed I do love the changing of seasons and the traditions part of it.

Spring is light as a feather, fresh air, new beautiful colours, feeling like you discover nature again, crisps morning.

Summer nights are sultry, a lot of fun, little sleep, lazy sunny days, outside life and the sweet smell of ripe fruit.

Autumn has colder days, hot tea, crawl back into bed at every chance , but also walks in the dark cold fresh air, beautiful autumn colours, and of course buying new shoes and clothing.

Winter, hoping for snow, cosy up together around the fire, hot chocolate, christmas, lazy days inside, weighing a few extra kilo and cinnamon.

Anywho, even though I love the four seasons, I do have preferences. Winter could be shorter, summer should be longer. Like this year, When we had almost six months of winter, I would’ve killed for a ticket to the tropics. Because after the million cups of hot chocolate, the extra fat and the dry skin of inside heating, sun was looking pretty good to me. By the time it was april the winter blues was looking around the corner. Then, finally, salvation came in june with a few nice days and then summer started of in July with a big bang. 

So for right now I embrace the autumn, be a little bit scared for winter and look forward to spring… What about you?

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