Summer snaps.

This was a bit of an atypical summer for us.  Studies, a thesis defense, and a job for Brendon made it tricky to make a big summer roadtrip happen.  Still, we did our best to seize moments and make memories.

A few summer highlights:

The return to student life.

Beginning my journey through the MES Program with these excellent folks.

A reunion with our New Zealand family (minus Brandon, plus kids) in Kelowna.

Reading in a rib cage.

Two clutch at bats resulting in a lead-off single, an RBI, and a stolen base. Run scored in a 3-2 game.

Sister weekends in Red Deer.

Floating. #thesummerwefloated  (Thanks @allibgood for the photo.)

Sailing & sunsets with friends on Sylvan Lake.

He’s official: Dr. Breno.

The last and most-nerve wracking part of the PhD process has been completed.

In July, Brendon returned to New Zealand to defend his thesis in front of a panel of examiners.  After an hour and 45 minutes of questioning, he emerged after being congratulated of his successful defense as Dr. Neilson or Dr. Breno, whichever you prefer.

I am extremely proud of the dedication Brendon has shown to a massive task that has not been easy.

Though I was not able to make the journey to NZ with Brendon and be there to join in the celebrations that followed, Brendon was overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of our loved ones who truly made NZ home.

I’ll let Brendon share a few words about the process and his time in New Zealand.

The successful completion of my thesis defense capped of a chapter of life I would never have pictured myself in 10 years ago.  A PhD was never a goal of mine, but now that it’s over, I am thankful for the perspective I have gained through the process, and the virtues i have developed therein.

Following the defense, my first reaction was that of immediate relief- that it went well, that I passed, and that this was no longer a massive barrier to moving on.  For so long, it’s been my life task- both a burden and a privilege.

I’d like to thank everyone who cheered me on along this PhD journey and believed in me- family and friends in Canada, my supervisors Martin and Tim, and those who shared the journey in New Zealand.

Special thanks to Kyle & Bea and Mitchell & Anna for their incredible hospitality and friendship.  Thank you to everyone else who carved out time for a visit.  I was constantly in the presence of the most wonderful people.

The New Zealand coffee community is incredible.  A shout out to Andrew, Erica, & Cris at Espresso Workshop for reminding me of the great times and passionate industry that I was blessed to be a part of.

It was weird to go back to a place that seemed to fit us so well.  It quickly turned from bizarre to completely natural.  It was like I just slipped back in.

Our time in New Zealand was an amazing season of thriving.  I am grateful for the chance to go back and reconcile our past times in New Zealand with our present, Red Deer.

New chapters: His & hers.

The past 6 months have held some big milestones and new beginnings for both of us.

Where to begin… Let’s start with Brendon.  Here are the important facts:

• In March, Brendon officially submitted his thesis. (Congrats, Breno!!)
• He will be returning to NZ for two weeks in July (very soon) to defend his thesis.  A panel of 3 markers have read and evaluated his thesis, and after an hour-long quest period, Brendon will hopefully receive word that he will have passed his thesis.
• Just over a month ago (in May), Brendon was hired on with the City of Red Deer to design and conduct a qualitative research project on the issue of homelessness in Red Deer.  His office building is but a 3 minute walk or a 2 minute jog from our apartment building.  So far, the job has proven to be very thought-provoking and meaningful. It’s been neat to be able to apply his research in a new context.  The territory still feels quite new and it is unsure at this time where this opportunity may lead; regardless, having a job in a related field has brought a new sense of ‘settledness’ to our lives, which we are both grateful to embrace.

What have I been up to? The past 6 months have marked an intense season of growth, both professionally and personally.  I started reading again (a big step for someone who read a very limited number of books since university), and everything kind of unfolded from there.  If you want the long story, I’d be happy to share it with you over coffee sometime, but the short of it is that:

• I had an incredible and very formative year teaching Grade 2, experiencing a level of satisfaction in teaching that I didn’t think was possible.  A big part of that was the collaboration & team teaching that happened between my 3 fabulous grade partners and I, and the learning that transpired as a result.

• I have taken on the role of Literacy Lead at my school, and have been excitedly devouring literacy texts like chocolate.
• Although it hasn’t been in my plans for very long, I have decided to pursue my Masters (in Education) through the University of Alberta.  I start my 3 week summer residency tomorrow, and will continue to teach full time while completing my Masters by distance over the school year.

Other highlights of the past few months have included:

 

A trip out to the West Coast and reunions with Dale, Amber, & Jack in Kelowna, as well as Mark, Laurel, & Emery in Victoria.

A trip to Vancouver in June to make Mel’s Sufjan dreams come true.  Little did we know we would have the unspeakable honour of sitting in the front row, thanks for our incredibly kind and gracious sister Al.

Brendon is playing baseball in the “Twilight League” of Red Deer and reliving the joys of the ball park.  Many sunflower seeds have been eaten and weak singles hit.

Mel had the chance to attend a literacy conference in Seattle and hear a bunch of her literacy heroes speak, and even talk with a few of them too.  An inspiring & formative learning experience, for sure.

So this summer will be a little different for us.  No cross-continental road trips planned.  Still hoping to seize opportunities and find moments of refreshment and connection in-between pursuing our respective endeavours.

Alpine escapades.

We were graced with a visit from Kyle & Bea, two of the Kiwis we journeyed closest with while in New Zealand.  It was wonderful having these two kind, familiar souls in our presence again, and we relished this chance to introduce them to the province of Alberta.

We concluded that the heartbeat of Alberta is truly not felt without a trip to the majestic Rockies.  Thus, we packed our weekenders and hopped into our trusty Corolla for an alpine escapade (or two).

Bound for Banff, we made a brief stop in Canmore for a nourishing bite at Communitea, and took a quick stroll around the town to take in the alpine charm and enjoy the balmy temperatures.

Never having seen the mountains before, our friend Bea was ecstatic.  It was beautiful to hear Bea’s ecstatic exclamations in her adorable Kiwi accent.

Banff showed us her best side, lighting up with ideal conditions for our alpine escapades.

Temperatures were just below zero, with moments of sunshine and moments of hazy skies where clouds hovered lazily over the towering peaks.  As icing on the cake, some timely light snow fell while we were basking in the warmth of the Banff Upper Hot Springs, making it appear to our friends that Canada could just not get any better.

Our Banff recommendations include:

White Bark Cafe for coffee & breakfast

The Block Kitchen & Bar for dinner & drinks

Scenic lookout on the road up to Mt. Norquay

We wouldn’t let these dear Kiwis depart Alberta without some alpine skiing across the Red Deer plains… which they were naturals at.

Well done, Alberta!  Way to show off for our guests.

As our friends make their journey back to the Land of the Long White Cloud, we feel grateful for the many moments shared and memories made together on Alberta soil.  Kyle & Bea, we commend you on a Canadian chapter of your lives beautifully and fully lived.  We are proud of you for following your dreams, and bless you as you return to NZ and explore ideas and possibilities of what this next chapter of life will hold.  xx

(A big thanks to Kyle for capturing several of the shots featured in this post!)

Roadtrip reunions & stop-ins.

A significant part of our journey this summer was connecting with people we hadn’t seen in a while, scattered throughout this vast continent of ours.  We realize we are very lucky to know some pretty stellar friends who happened to be conveniently situated along our route.  Many have been mentioned on the blog to this point, but there are a few more yet to be introduced.

Along this trip, there was a union between people and place.  Our memories of each place will always be connected to the people we shared our experiences with.

 

Fredericton: Inland capital of the Bruns.   

Adam, a friend of Brendon’s from high school, kindly took us in and showed us a great time around Fredericton, both on our arriving and return journeys.

The city has some enjoyable aspects to it: A vibrant farmer’s market on Saturdays, some local artists who have set up shop in the old Barracks, and an accessible downtown that has quite a charming, historic feel.

A favourite shop is Urban Almanac, a home/design store which also houses Tasha Tea.

New Brunswick’s Legislature building looked especially majestic at dusk.

Halifax: Gem of the East.

We made a quick trip to Halifax to connect with our friend Tanya, a Halifax native whom we met in New Zealand.

Tanya is currently at the front end of her residency as an orthopaedic surgeon in Halifax, and were so thankful for the time she made to spend with us amidst this crazy stressful time.

This was my second trip to Halifax, and I have to say, it is probably my favourite Canadian East Coast city.  Halifax has a great vibe to it, and I have a heightened appreciation for the city’s history, with it being the first place that my grandparents Alice & John Goodall landed in Canada when they made the long and gruelling journey from England by boat in 1947.

When in Halifax, be sure to check out:

Lion and Bright, a newish cafe/wine bar,

Two if by Sea for some Anchored Coffee and freshly made in-house croissant,

and the vibrant farmer’s market, which has a great permanent indoor set up.

Citadel Hill and Pier 21 are neat places to check out to gain a greater appreciation and understanding of the city’s history.

Though a bit touristy, the waterfront is easily accessible and can be a nice place to stroll along.

Halifax, you beauty. We look forward to becoming more acquainted in the future.

Windsor, Ontario.

 

Windsor, Ontario held a lovely reunion with our friend Nicole, whom we know from our college days at Taylor.  It was special to finally meet her husband Chad and two-year old Ethan for the first time.

Since our visit, Nicole and Chad welcomed the fourth member of their family: Baby Lincoln.  Congrats, friends!!

Grand Rapids: Madcap Coffee.

Our best coffee experience of the summer was acquired on a spontaneous detour to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the sole purpose of visiting Madcap Coffee.  It added a couple of hours to our long journey that day, but was entirely worth it.  What impressed us?

The physical space, for one, was relaxing and inviting.  Spacious and open, with vaulted ceilings, it was a place you could find your own space in- to have conversation, to get some work done, or just sit and enjoy a delicious caffeine hit before jumping back on the road.  The service was an excellent balance of friendly and professional.

We were enticed by Madcap’s offerings of unique signature beverages, similar to what you might see in barista competitions. We were very satisfied with the end products.

If you ever find yourself remotely in the vicinity of Madcap Coffee, we highly recommend you take the time to stop in.

Winnipeg: Cooler than you’d think.  

We have to say that we were pleasantly surprised with the coolness of Winnipeg.

Dora (a friend from college & dance) and her husband Pablo showed us an amazing time around their city which boasts both a strong history and a blossoming arts & culture scene.  As architects, both Dora and Pablo have been involved in some cool projects to enhance culture and community in Winnipeg, and it was neat to hear about their aspirations and visions for how they would like to be involved in shaping their city.

  

We strolled through the Forks district that evening, a centrally-located collection of restaurants and shops, as well as the home of the farmers market.  The design of this area makes for a delightful central gathering place for people, and highlights the convergence of the Assiniboin and Red Rivers.

The city had some other neat assets we were able to glimpse that evening: A vibrant French District, Osbourne St. (likened to Edmonton’s Whyte Ave), an innovative-looking Human Rights Museum in the works, and some inspiring bridges.

Little Sister Coffee Maker was the one cafe we were able to check out during our short stop in Winnipeg.

Vanessa, the owner, is the sister-in-law of the owner of PRLR coffee.  We appreciated the fitting, subtle feminine touches, and loved the mint colour and the continuity of the branding.  It was a really lovely cafe and we are so glad we stopped in.

There is an artsiness and innovation in this city that we liked.  Winnipeg… who knew?

Cross-continental conclusions.

 

This brings us to the conclusion of our cross-continental roadtrip.  It was an incredible adventure with many unforgettable stops and faces along the way.  After talking this trip for a couple of years, it was amazing to finally realize this dream.  A deeper appreciation for this vast country and continent of ours was gained, and we feel grateful to call this beautiful country of Canada ‘home.’  The journey was all the more meaningful because it was shared with so many friends along the way.  The trip wouldn’t have been possible without the many loved ones who took us in, showing such generous hospitality.  Thank you to all who were a part of this journey.

Going ‘home’ to “The Stillness.”

After driving 6000 km, we were thankful to keep our feet in one spot and chill out for a bit in New Brunswick with Brendon’s family out on the East Coast.

 

‘Going home to see the folks’ has quite a different connotation when it comes to visiting Brendon’s parents.

Ken & Fay, Brendon’s parents, live out on the Bay of Fundy in West Quaco, New Brunswick.  It was a long-time dream of theirs to own a retreat centre out on the coast, so when the opportunity came to purchase some land 10 years ago, they went for it, and “In the Stillness” retreat centre was born.

Ken just recently retired from his hourly practice as a marriage and family counsellor (congrats on this step, Ken), focusing instead on his retreat counselling. He still teaches counselling in a post-secondary setting and is also working on his Doctorate, but mostly he likes to spent his time in the woods.  Together, Fay & Ken run the retreat centre, and have guests staying pretty much every weekend.  They also grow and harvest their own chaga mushrooms and chocolate mint tea, and hopefully soon, haskap berries.

Because of their geographical location, the whole experience of going to visit Brendon’s parents is not your typical visit to the parents/in-laws; it is more like staying in isolation in the woods.

The retreat centre is comprised of a few separate dwellings: Ken & Fay’s house (which includes their living quarters as well as an office and blossoming cafe), a beautiful guest cottage which sleeps four, as well as a guest cabin which sleeps two.

This visit, we stayed part of the time in the cottage, and part of the time in this adorable little cabin.

I quite enjoy the short walk through the trees to reach the little cabin in the woods.

Brendon’s oldest sister Karly is a chicken farmer and looks after the free-range chickens of The Stillness.

She lovingly cares for her little flock, collecting their eggs and singing to them at night.  Karly has her own little house tucked up in the woods.

Brendon’s younger sister Kendra also lives in New Brunswick with her husband Steve.  They live in the town of Sussex, which is about a 45 minute drive away.  We enjoyed connecting with these two over some ice cream and bocce ball one evening.

The nearest village, St. Martin’s, is a 5 minute drive away.  St. Martins is famous for its sea caves as well as being the only place in the world where you can photograph two covered bridges in a single shot.

The harbour, with its colourful fishing boats, is pretty cute.  St. Martin’s is quaint, but it does have a grocery store where you can buy basic food items.  The nearest city, Saint John, is about a 45 minute drive away.

From the Neilson’s home, you can look down to the Bay of Fundy below and see a large red rock formation known as Sugar Loaf.

During low tide, you are able to walk on the beach below and climb up to the top of the rock, should you wish.  But you wouldn’t want to get caught up on the rock after the tide has started to rush in, as did one of the visitors to The Stillness.  (The visitor phoned for help from the top of Sugar Loaf and was rescued by a search and rescue helicopter.  It was an exciting day in West Quaco.)  Highest tides in the world out there in the Bay of Fundy!

One of my favourite spots out East is the lighthouse.  I love starting my day with a run to this little gem, and if I’m up early enough, a nice view of the sunrise.  It’s hard to deny the beauty of the East Coast from here.

A big focus of our time out East this trip was planting some walnut trees.

Brendon worked hard for several days beforehand clearing out the area where we would be planting and prepping the land.

Together, with the help of Brendon’s parents and sisters, we planted about 40 black walnut trees and 10 butternuts.  To deter the deer from nibbling on the tender seedlings, we sprayed the trees with a mixture of egg and water… it seems to have done the job thus far.  A spray of some strongly brewed chocolate mint tea also seems like a great natural solution for the deer issue- thanks to Ken for discovering this.

Attending the wedding of Brendon’s cousin Alex and his now-wife Emma was another New Brunswick highlight for us.  We also enjoyed spending time with Brendon’s grandmother, known to us as Nanny.  She is one incredible lady who continues to inspire us in her zest for life and learning.

We’ll leave you with a few final thoughts on what we love about New Brunswick:

For one, the flag.  Whoever decided to put a pirate ship on the province’s flag was definitely an adventurous soul.

The red rocks.  Brown’s Bay, the beach right below The Stillness, is comprised of stunning red rocks and sand.  The rugged red coastline is unique and stunning.

The trees.  Seas and seas of trees.  Because New Brunswick is so hilly, you get these epic views whenever you come to the top of a hill.  It makes for some spectacular drives.

The mistyness.  New Brunswick gets some crazy fog that adds to the allure of this place.

The East Coast has its on unique flavour to it.  There is a rich history here worth taking the time to get to know.

Every time I return to New Brunswick, I develop an increasing affection for the magic found within this often-overlooked province.

Spending time with our family in the East was very special.  Thanks, Ken & Fay for your wonderful hospitality “In the Stillness,” and for your continued support of us and our dreams.  It is inspiring to see you living yours.

Well, as they say in New Brunswick, “Watch out for Moose!” (We thought it was funny how the people of New Brunswick tend to use this phrase like it was a blessing on one’s goings/travels.)  “Well, it was great to see you guys… Watch out for moose!”

Quebec City: Plus s’il vous plaît [more please].

Now that it’s winter, let’s jump back to 5 months ago when it was still summer and we were in Quebec.

We spent four days exploring the historic streets of Quebec City at the end of July.  It was probably a sufficient amount of time to visit most of the key spots on our list, although we would have loved to stay longer and savour its unique flair, historic roots, and bountiful culinary offerings.

We put together a bit of a ‘Breno & Mel style guide to Quebec City’ (a list of everything we would love to experience over again because they were so enchanting).  Here it is:

Visit J.A. Moisan, the oldest grocery store in North America.  The prices are cheaper than you’d think, and the selection is unbelievable.  Pick yourself out some nice Quebec cheese, some smoked meat, and a few other edible delights and have yourself a picnic on the Plains of Abraham.

On the topic of cheese, we sampled a few Quebec cheeses during our stay, and our favourite was a 2 year goat cheddar- surprising because neither of us are usually a huge fan of goat.  We were recommended the cheese by a friendly man waiting in line at a fromagerie.  He told us he was going to a party that evening, but wasn’t allowed to come without that cheese.  We were convinced to try it, and were definitely pleased we did.

Picnic on the Plains of Abraham, the site of the great Battle of Quebec in 1759 between the French and the British, led by General Montcalm and General Wolfe.  Pack a tasty feast of local delicacies and marvel at the rich Canadian history that took place on the ground beneath you.

For a brief recap on the battle, click here.

Watch the sun set upon the copper roof tops of Quebec City.  A nice spot is the West side of the Plains of Abraham, by the barracks.

Wander the quieter back streets of Old Quebec City and admire all the distinct colours and quaint details.  I could have spent hours doing this, imagining how life would have unfolded on these streets a hundred years ago.

Take the terry across to Levis, and snap some scenic views of the City while on the boat.  Climb the stairs and walk to Chocolat Favouris to indulge in some flour de del chocolate-covered maple ice cream (or any chocolate/ice cream flavour combo that you are feeling).

Take some time to explore Rue St. Joseph.  Not the commercialized end to the East.  The West part of Rue St. Joseph is MUCH cooler. 

You will find L’Affair est Ketchup, William J. Walter (a sausage & beer joint), and a good cafe called Nektar that served an excellent brewed coffee, among other gems.

Rue St-Vallier Ouest, close to where we were staying, was also a happening street.  It didn’t appear on any guides or blogs that we came across before our trip, and we probably wouldn’t have discovered it if we weren’t staying in an Airbnb place close by.  There were some cool looking restaurants & cafes, along with this neat vintage shop called Si Les Objects Pouvaient Parler.

Rue Saint-Jean, the very first street we explored in Quebec City has some spots you should hit up too, including some cute bakeries and bookshops, as well as the aforementioned J.A. Moisan. Jupon Presse is a cute vintage boutique along this road.

Strolling the Petite Champlain area will make you feel like you are in Europe, especially if the musicians are out, serenading the passerby with melodies on the violin or accordion. Many local artisans have set up shop in this area, and we had some neat conversations with a few of them.

Say yes to the maple taffy on a stick.

Concluding thoughts.

Because of its smaller size, Quebec City was easier to get to know than its larger Quebecois counterpart, Montreal.  I was surprised by just how much it felt like Europe (or what we would imagine Europe to be like, as we have yet to visit that continent.)  We feel proud and very fortunate to have Quebec City on our home soil, and think that every Canadian should really get out here at some point in their lives to heighten their understanding and appreciation of French Canadian culture, as well as to visit firsthand the many sites that are significant to our history as Canadians.  We would love to go back for a round 2 of this fine Canadian gem.

Merci beaucoup, Quebec, for a truly enchanting time, and to Little Al, for accompanying us on our Quebec adventures!

Christmas unicorns & other yuletide oddities: A Sufjan-inspired Christmas production.

This year, I set out to do something I’ve never done before: to write a Sufjan Stevens- inspired Christmas production.

I didn’t so much write a whole production, as I wrote a play, or more specifically, a series of sketches to be performed at our school’s Christmas concert.

The idea of a Sufjan Stevens Christmas musical came to me at some point last year, and with the help of our brilliant music director, Graham, and several other talented staff members, the vision became a reality.  During the second week of December, “Christmas Unicorns and Other Yuletide Oddities: A Thought-Provoking Christmas Experience” came to life.

The process.

Inspiration for the musical came from Sufjan Stevens’ two Christmas box sets.  The idea had been in my mind for a little while, but plans were put into action during the summer, on our return journey from the East Coast.  Brendon and I did some script writing in the car, and pinned down a few sketches that stemmed from a handful of Sufjan’s songs.  The script was finished with the input and creative insight of a few others, and we had ourselves a collection of six sketches, each named after and based on Sufjan’s songs.

This was mid-October.  I thought I was done, ahead of my own personal deadline even, and was prepared to hand over the script to another teacher to carry out and bring to life with her students.  It soon became apparent that the teacher I thought would direct the play wanted to step back a bit in her involvement, and that I would need to be involved in the directing role.  Thankfully, another teacher, Yvonne, who has an extensive background in drama, expressed interest in co-directing, and we began a crazy season of lunch hours abandoned to rehearsals in order to get enough practice time in with the grade six actors and actresses.

The day before the first concert, we saw the music and dramatic sketches come together for the first time in rehearsal.  The result was magical.

The production.

The production was held in our school gym over two separate evenings, involving the entirety of grades K-6 (split up between the two evenings) along with the Gr. 8/9 band, which is comprised of over 50 kids.  It was a lot of people (and parents) to fit into our gym.

Overall, I was really quite amazed with how things came together.  Kids stepped up to the plate when it was time to perform, and fused with the music, I think we put together something really beautiful and thought-provoking.  We had our share of minor technical difficulties that arose on both nights, which was slightly stressful, but for the most part, people weren’t phased by them and the production went over well.  The chorus of crying babies erupting just as the soft-spoken Unicorn Kid delivers the most pivotal lines of the play was rather unideal, but we had better luck the second night.

The music… was amazing.  Graham did a ton of work rearranging the songs so that they would work for the band and the kids, and the variations sounded incredible.  A staff band, consisting of Graham, Codi, & Eric, accompanied the class choirs on their songs… it sounded unreal.  We have an insane amount of talent on our staff.

My favourite part of the show was the opening song, Barcarola.  With Grade 6 actors & actresses singing from the risers, I got to take in the spectacle of the band & lighting effects (thanks Chris Kooman) from backstage and take a deep breath as the show began.

My aim in writing the production was for it to be a venue for thought.  I think it’s important to think about why we do the things we do… specifically around Christmas.  Though they had their humorous lines, the six sketches raised quite serious questions around topics such as traditions, wealth, appearance vs. reality, family, Christmas spirit, happiness, and hope, just to name a few.  In many ways, it was not a play necessarily written for kids, but for the adult audience watching the play.

We got some very encouraging feedback on the production from parents and community members, praising the seamless transitions and teamwork within the production.  It was also neat to hear that the production was indeed quite thought-provoking for people.

The post-play lull.

I didn’t anticipate the post-play lull that hit the day after it was all over.  In fact, I honestly hadn’t thought about life past the play.

I probably wasn’t completely aware of the amount that I became invested in carrying the play out… Things like blogging, baking, crafting all took a back seat during the month leading up the play, but I didn’t seem to care.  Although it involved a whole lot more than I thought it would, most of it was fun, exhilarating even. Upon the abrupt finish, I found myself with a lost sense of purpose for a few days.

Having a big of space to breathe now, it was quite an experience to reflect on.  With this being the first time I had ever written or directed a play, I was surprised at how smoothly things came together, and how fun & rewarding the process was.  It was neat to apply my creativity to a new realm I had never worked in before.

Even though Sufjan wasn’t there (well, I like to think he was there, dressed in a disguise of sorts), I think he would be proud.

It was an incredible experience to work with this skillful team to bring a vision to life, and have it be successful in its mission to generate meaningful thought and discussion.

Way to go, team.  It’s been a pleasure working with you brilliant folks.

In print and getting close: A thesis update.

The light at the end of the thesis tunnel is growing brighter by the day.  Brendon’s thesis is in print.  It sits on our table, approximately 3.5cm high.

The Chicago Manual of Style has been a trusty companion in these last few weeks (or should we say months) of editing and revision.  Brendon has hired an editor in England to do final edits on the document, and hopefully catch anything that was missed.

Upon completion of final edits, Brendon will submit offical final copies of his thesis to AUT in New Zealand, from where they will be distributed to each of the 3 graders who will be evaluating his PhD.

It’s pretty crazy to see a project you’ve worked for years on finally come (just about) to completion, and finally manifest itself in physical form.  Brendon is feeling more positive than previously about it, and certainly excited to tie up the final strings of this multi-year endeavour.  Not much more to go now, B!  You’ve got this.

Montreal: More than just smoked meat [though you should definitely still eat the smoked meat].

Little Al (ma soeur) flew out to meet us in Montreal.  We collected her at Atwater Market and the adventures unfolded from there. 

For anyone planning to visit Montreal in the near future, we’ve put together a list of our recommendations. 

When in Montreal:

Rent bixis.  It’s a super easy, affordable, and efficient way to get around the city. $7 gets you as many 30 minutes rides in 24 hours as you can fit in. 

Wander the charming cobblestone streets of Old Montreal.  Admire the historic architecture, and stop in to enjoy a croissant, a crepe, or some other tantalizing French delicacy along the way.

Fireworks. Check out the impressive fireworks on Saturday nights during the summer.  Best viewed under the big green bridge. 

Hit up the markets.  Jean Talon Market is the more extensive one, and would be recommended for the “true Quebec” experience, but if you’ve got time, a stroll through Atwater Market is lovely too, and a great place to pick up some local cheese and produce for a picnic.

Climb Mont-Royal for enchanting views of the city.  It’s an easy & lovely 2.2km trek up along a paved path.

Visit both St. Viteur and Fairmount and make your vote for the best bagel in the city.  The consensus among the group were that Fairmont was the winner.

For an extensive selection of bean to bar chocolate, look no further than Tablette.  Ask nicely, and you may just have the chance to sample pretty much any bar in the room.  There is a cafe in house as well, for those of you who like a bit of coffee with your chocolate.

If you’re looking for some inspiring boutique shops, we DON’T recommend you follow Design Sponge’s recommendations for Montreal- they are quite out-of-date and many of the recommended spots are nonexistent.  (We found this out the hard way.)  Instead, what we would recommend is strolling the charming streets of Plateau & Mile End to uncover your own gems (there are lots to be found.)  A few of our fav finds were: Buk & Nola (our favourite), District 54, Raplapla, and Unicorn.

Eat Schwart’z smoked meat.  Don’t think twice.  Just do it.  The long line out the door will be worth the wait once you sink your teeth into a bit of their tender smoked beef.  If you’re in a hurry, the line up to the take-away shop next door is usually just a fraction of the line to sit and enjoy your Schwart’z in the restaurant.  

*Side note: The pickle, which normally comes WITH the Schwartz’s smoked meat sandwich when ordered in the restaurant causes EXTRA when ordering take out.  We still recommend getting the pickle.

For an after-dinner treat (or let’s be serious, whenever you feel like a bit of sweet indulgence) look no further than Juliette et Chocolat.  I was super impressed with their selection of chocolate in all forms, many of which are gluten free.  We highly recommend the fleur de sel brownie (which comes with a pitcher of salted caramel sauce on the side to drizzle at your leisure), as well as the fleur de sel chocolate pot.

Eat at Au Pied de Cochon.  Or not.  In case you haven’t heard of it, Au Pied is a very renowned restaurant.  A chef friend of ours flew in for a weekend to eat everything on the entire menu.  Many people had raved to us about it, so we considered it a must-stop.  To be honest, we were actually quite disappointed with our experience at Au Pied.  Not with the food, but with the service.  We were quite neglected by our server, and the restaurant was very loud.  Though the food was very tasty, the overall experience was dampened by the low quality service.  I suppose it goes to highlight the importance of good customer service in a dining experience.  (In case you’re wondering, Brendon ordered the “duck in a can,” expecting it to be the richest thing he had ever eaten.  It was.  The dish surpassed his expectations in richness, actually, making the overall dining experience quite unforgettable.)

Speak French as much as possible.  Seize the opportunity to practice your French with the locals!  Ne pas être timide (don’t be shy)!  Even if you encounter a few locals who are rude and criticize your French skills, don’t let that stop you.  There needs to be a bit more camaraderie between the French and the English in this country.  Let’s just all be friends, ok?

Seek out some good coffee.  We found the coffee scene in Montreal to not be overly impressive, but there is some decent coffee to be found.  You just might have to do a bit of seeking it out.  We’ve saved you some of the trouble and have a few cafes to recommend:

Pikkilo (there is also a cool stationary shop right next door that you should check out).

Flacon Espresso (in Plateau).

Pay a visit to Point G for an impressive selection of maracrons.  We highly recommend the lime-basilique.

Take advantage of Air B&B.  Montreal has an amazing selection of cool apartments for rent on Air B&B for very reasonable rates.  We had a fantastic experience staying at Manuel and David’s beautiful 4 level apartment.  Our favourite feature feature was the rooftop terrace.

Thank you, Montreal, for an invigorating and tasty time in your lovely city!  We definitely got our exercise uncovering your many hidden gems, and we are happy that you are in our country.