16 January 2013

Details

Living somewhere outside your home country means a new awareness of details. Everything becomes interesting, even looking at signs at the supermarket, because it's different from what you're used to. All those details give you some sort of information of the place you live. I love being 'omniaware' all the time. It was the same feeling I had in Berlin; just going to buy magazines at my local kiosk (it's called dépanneur here) can be a small adventure on a Saturday night. I love it. I love looking at the way windows look here, the way the sidewalk is made of huge pieces of concrete instead of small square pieces of stone, and how the stairs are long and narrow leading up to your house. All those small details tell me something about life here, and I find it utterly interesting.

14 January 2013

Before Montréal

Everything went by so fast between Christmas and New Years, and suddenly I was flying over the Atlantic to Montréal. So here are some much delayed glimpses from the days spent before my Canadian chapter:
 Sølve at my mom's house. There was a snow storm the 23rd - two days later all the snow was gone.
All we did in those Christmas days was play games - cards, Bezzerwizzer, iPhone-games, new games, old games. Here, NP is dealing cards with a serious brow.
 After Christmas with my mom in Jutland, we headed to the north of Zealand for Christmas at my dad's. Which of course meant lots of wine and food with mushrooms (not those kinds).
 We also had brunch.
 On New Years Day I had brunch with the ladies at Anna's place. We had champagne for breakfast and talked and laughed - and I got an early copy of Amalie's book that came out January 4th. It's a must to read, so well-written and beautiful and clever. I'm truly proud of her!
 New Years was spent at Iben and Ulrik's for a fine dinner with good people. Mette was there too, and she played around with the flowers. It was strange watching the fireworks marking the beginning of new year, I knew that a few hours later I would be on a plane taking me to new adventures.
 Iben had made kaleidoscopic balloons for the ceiling.
Christoffer, Jonas and Asbjørn crashed the party, and it was so good to see them. It had been far too long, but that's what happens when your friends are far away (Jonas lived in London throughout the fall).
 I was in awe of the food - beautiful and so tasty, I felt like eating at Noma!

12 January 2013

Snack & Blues

We went out yesterday. There was rock concert footage on a big screen behind the bar, and we met some crazy guys with wigs. I couldn't stop laughing all night, and today my body's not been too happy. Oh well. I'm on my way to another party at the school. That's how we roll.
I had my hair in a bun - not wig friendly...
The mullet wig was definitely my favourite, epic haircut.
 Twin fans of NY.

11 January 2013

Salut!

The guy in the apartment below mine is playing guitar, and my hair isn't quite dry yet from my morning shower. It's everyday-life here now, and it's good. I'm still ever curious: leaving my front door every day is an adventure, and I'm fascinated by the small details; how Montrealers queue for the bus (yes, they do!), how cars only have license plates in the back, how schoolbuses drive up and down my street even late at night..... I'm on my way out to do my first interview for school, and it's Friday. I expect wine later. Have a good one!

09 January 2013

Des petits trucs

Little glimpses. I had my first class today, magazine writing, and it was interesting. Most of my fellow students answered 'Cosmpolitan' when asked what magazine we'd read recently. Aha.
 We have an Elvis in our kitchen, and roomies Sophie and Victoria showered him with kisses sometime between Saturday and Sunday.
 We had a small houseparty on Saturday, and Sophie and Maxime showed everyone how to dance the swing...
 Plateau graffiti.
 This is where we went for beers the first night in Montréal. Not necessarily a place I'll frequent a lot although it was funny to watch people play games at the machines as well as watching a heart felt documentary on an American football player....
 Montréal bikes have it hard.
 My local coffee dealer is a block away and is Greek...
 I felt bad sneak-photographing this guy, but I love them. My hood is the Jewish quarter and I'm utterly fascinated by the black-clad men with their huge hats (they wrap them in plastic when it snows).
Je l'adore!

08 January 2013

Le Plateau

Man, it's cold! -14 degrees is not weather for long walks, I had to realize that after spending my last day of vacation in Le Plateau. Le Plateau is the French hipster area and according to les connaiseurs, it's not as cool anymore as it used to be. Word has it it's become to French - as in Parisian French - and apparently that doesn't sit well with Montrealers... Oh well. I walked around in the streets there trying not to shake too much from the cold, and I thought it looked pretty okay. It's definitely worth a re-visit in friendlier temperatures...
 How cool is this red garage? And it's for sale - maybe it should be turned into a nice squatter party venue?

05 January 2013

On a walk

OK. I am totally, utterly in love with this place! Yesterday, after eating sushi with the guys, I came home to the two French roomies drinking white wine, and I spent all evening speaking French and drinking wine and sake that was refrigerated in the snow on the balcony. Today, I took myself out for a walk in my neighbourhood, meeting friendly people and finding the so far best coffee place - few metres from my door (danger!). I saw the city rise and people skiing on the hills of Mont Royal. I eavesdropped on people's conversations to improve my French (hihi) and generally walked around with a smile on my face, deeply in love. How beautiful is this place?!
 I like these little alleyways behind the houses...
 My mom's old boots are surprisingly good. As someone who's never practically dressed, it's a whole new feeling having warm and dry feet all throughout a walk in the snow.
 Hipster-KS had to take a self-portrait.
 I like how the buses write 'have a great day' on their signs...