Day 6: Check out THIS Font

Around 8: in the morning, we are going to cross through a town called Ayegui. Just after this town, is a Fuente del Vino, literally a Fountain of Wine, for pilgrims to fortify themselves for the trip ahead.

I doubt I will have more than a sip of this very generous offering (it is 8:am!) now, but I like to know that I live in a world where this fountain (did I mention it is spewing wine?) is in operation constantly, and has been for hundreds of years.

Don’t think about the logistics of this; it isn’t pretty.

If you could choose any fountain you wanted, what would it be? Sadly I think I would have to say I would choose a melted cheese fountain.

Day 3: Pamplona (My Excitement Also Rises)

a town in the fog the second morning hiking

along the road, as the sun was breaking

I have wanted to visit Pamplona since reading The Sun Also Rises when I was in high school. It was one of those books that really stuck with me, and subsequent readings have confirmed why I appreciate it. It is a fairly disturbing novel, in many ways, but also speaks of many things we all must struggle with.

In visiting Pamplona today, I would love to visit the Ernest Hemingway statue outside the plaza de Toros, find a nearby café to enjoy some vino and tapas, and people watch.

Hemmingway once said "Pamplona is no place to bring your wife." Uh oh.... Here are his reasons:

The odds are all in favor of her getting ill, hurt or wounded or at least jostled and wine squirted all over her, or of losing her; maybe all three. It's a man's fiesta and women at it make trouble, never intentionally of course, but they nearly always make or have trouble. I wrote a book on this once. Of course if she can talk Spanish so she knows she is being joked with and not insulted, if she can drink wine all day and all night and dance with any group of strangers who invite her, if she does not mind things being spilled on her, if she adores continual noise and music and loves fireworks, especially those that fall close to her or burn her clothes, if she thinks it is sound and logical to see how close you can come to being killed by bulls for fun and for free, if she doesn't catch cold when she is rained on and appreciates dust, likes disorder and irregular meals and never needs to sleep and still keeps clean and neat without running water; then bring her. You'll probably lose her to a better man than you.

Day 1: Starting Off….

Today is our first day of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela.

It will be interesting to see how well Sebastien and I do, walking an average of 28km (over 17 miles) per day, just about every day for the next 30 (we are hoping to make up some ground so we can have three rest days too. This route (the Camino Frances – the most traveled pilgrimage to Santiago) is approximately 800km (500 miles) long, from start to finish. This is definitely an intimidating number, but like everything in life, I have to be content with taking it (literally) one step at a time.

The terrain on today’s trail is some of the toughest we will face during the whole month. We have to cross the Pyrenees Mountains from France into Spain, which will mean having to walk 25km (15.5mi), while ascending 1450m (almost a mile) to the peak!

I hear this day takes about 8 hours of hiking to finish, so I am sure I will be ready for a nice glass of wine (or two), some delicious manchego, and some sausages. Mmmmm. There is nothing more satisfying than eating a delicious meal after exercising.

I hope things are good in your life, and that you are happy an healthy. Wish us well!

Some Photos from Bayonne

We are in an internet cafe, and are headed to the Cathedral this afternoon. Later on, we will board another train to Saint Jean Pied-de-Port. Here are some photos from our touring around town last night:

What a Long Flight - Boy are My Arms Tired

We arrived in Paris! There are many things on our agenda, while we are here, with the most important being spending some time with Sebastien's French relatives (his aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandmother). His mom is going to meet us here in the next day or two as well (she is here for a conference), and then we are headed to his aunt Brigitte's apartment for dinner. Tomorrow we will go see his grandma in Troyes. I am very excited, and will try my best to keep you up-to-date as much as I can!

Typical rooftop in Paris

Notre Dame Cathedral, across the Seine

We are going to be in France for the next couple of days, and then we are off to start the Camino de Santiago!

Us, basking in the glow of the City of Lights

Letter to Vancouver

Oh, Vancouver; sweet Vancouver.

(You may never know how it pains me to write this.)

By now you've found my note, tucked away under the bridge,

And you've realized I've left you, for another city.

Please don't be mad forever;

I understand it will take time.

You are such a beautiful city,

You - full of mountains and water and friends.

There has always just been something missing,

Something I can't quite catch;

Something I didn't quite understand.

Please don't hate me for loving another.

It isn't you; it's me.

I am sorry.

What We've Been Up To....

I certainly haven't been blogging!

A couple of weeks ago, ten WONDERFUL friends helped us make a night of moving into a truck. It was a 14 foot Uhaul, to be precise, and we (unfortunately) filled it to the hilt.

We moved our stuff into a storage unit in Portland (it is actually a MUCH longer story than that, but I don't really want to get into it....), then went for a week vacation with Sebastien's family.

We got back on Saturday, and on Tuesday my mom came to visit for a week. She was able to do a fair bit of exploring around Vancouver while we were at work. We went camping in Tofino, and had a great time (and wonderful weather!).

Three days after she left, it was suddenly (gasp) our last day of work (we stayed a little longer to make sure it was a good transition), and then our going away party to celebrate, and then a sweet and memorable dinner with our wonderful friends from university, and then we were suddenly on a bus headed to Seattle (and that was yesterday). How did that all happen SO fast!? I wish I had more time to savor it all, but that wouldn't really matter anyway; there is never really as much time as I would like.

We took a train to Portland this morning, loaded some last things into our storage unit (where we discovered a leak, and unfortunately, a moldy chair), put a deposit on a short-term rental, and then came back to Thia's house to enjoy dinner with her and Sebastien's brother, Jonas.

That brings us to right now.

Tomorrow morning we are boarding a plane to Paris, and then we shall go from there.... More to come!

Marching Through the Landscape

Sebastien and I have been very busy lately, packing up our apartment, and making arrangements to move (we are leaving our apartment this Friday). I will take some photos tomorrow, of our home filled with boxes. Thankfully, we still have some of my favorite things on the walls (photos, etc.). I am dreading taking them down, even though I know this move will be a great thing for us.

Seb found this proposal online today, and thought I would like it (I really, really do), and now I am sharing it with you. Designed by Choi + Shine for the Icelandic High-Voltage Electrical Pylon International Design Competition, these pylons carry electricity across Iceland's landscape in the form of monumental people. I think they are beautiful and serene, somehow. What do you think? I love how cheeky they are, too.

They remind me of a post I saw on Cup of Jo, of this fun video Iceland put together to promote tourism after the most recent volcano:

Inspired by Iceland Video from Inspired By Iceland on Vimeo.

I will get there someday.

Oh Joy!

I just found this post on Oh Joy, about a project to beautify a neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. It is by some artists who collectively are called Favela.

I think it is beautiful, and I would surely love to live in a neighborhood like this, but I couldn't help but think, "I am amazed that everyone said yes!" Perhaps this is pessimistic thinking, but if this was in the US, do you really think the entire project would be painted? I feel like someone would say, "Nope. Sorry. I know I haven't painted my apartment since 1973, but I kind of like it this color gray."

Pretty cool, huh?

Portland via Europe

I have been a little mum on here about our long-term-goals (mostly because some of my co-workers read my blog, and I didn't want any awkwardness about it), BUT now it is the time to out with it.

Sebastien and I are moving to Portland, Oregon!

I am so happy (and so nervous)! For me, it will mean "moving back" to Portland; for Sebastien, it will mean moving to two hours away from where he grew up. This decision was a long time in coming, and came about with many different factors in mind (many of them having to do with border issues). We have thought long and hard about it, and are now putting our plan into action.

When we first said, "okay, now we can start thinking about a move" (we put it off for a long time, so we could get married), we asked ourselves what some of the opportunities were, and one was that we will both be unemployed at the same time for an extended (although hopefully not too extended) period of time. We thought, how long do we have to save to have an ample cushion for moving AND be able to have a bit of fun in between?

We talked about this a bit, and decided it was very important to go see Sebastien's family in France (his grandma, aunts, uncles and cousins), but we figured we might as well do some other things, "I mean, we're in Europe and all." At the very beginning of this conversation we realized that neither one of us knew that the other person really wanted to walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, from southern France across Spain. That, my dear friends is what we are going to do. We will visit his family for a few days at the beginning, go on a month-long walk (more on that, I am sure), visit Granada, and then head back to see his family again.

We are also using this time to visit my family in New York for a bit. I will finally meet my newest nephew Henry! I am very happy about that! It will be nice to have a solid chunk of time to visit them - I think we will be there around a week.

When we fly back to Portland, we will be coming back to a lot of uncertainty - at least that is how it looks now. We have our fingers crossed, and are doing everything we can to get prepared. As things progress, as I am sure they will, I will keep you up-to-date. Right now, we are happy that we have the resources to be able to do such a big move AND trip at the same time. We feel pretty lucky.

Those Little Monsters (in Vancouver)

I never posted these pictures from a while ago, of the little monsters I sent to Chris and Chip. Like I said, these monsters really wanted a tour of Vancouver, so away we went....!

We went to the Farmer's Market first thing in the morning:

Then we headed to the beach.


--And then to the playground (Red loved the slides).



Finally we headed to the Science Center, and then home.



Believe me when I tell you that I slept well that night!

Happy Anniversary, Sebastien! (a haiku)

leaves grow, change, fall, grow

just as we go through the same.

many more to come.

What a Ridiculous Place I Live

This weekend was wonderful.

Saturday we went to Playland (the oldest amusement park in Canada, by the way) for my friend's birthday. We all rode the roller coasters and had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect (not too hot/ not too cool), and it was a great group of people. Happy birthday, H!

I have to admit that I am not the biggest roller coaster fan out there. I can ride spinny/swoopy rides all day (think Teacups), but coasters aren't my thing. Especially not my thing is the wooden roller coaster, inventively named "The Coaster," built in 1958. The huge bruise on my knee says it all (I was out of my seat and on my feet a few times), and every time I've ridden it (yes, I've been dragged on a few times now), despite my best efforts, the pictures at the end of the ride always tell the same story: my head is once again in Sebastien's lap, as we go over the biggest drop. It is a scary ride. That is why people go on it, I guess.
Sunday was a great day as well. Sebastien was in class all day (archery), so I was able to have some good Hope-time, and take care of some things. I cooked a little at home after church, did some laundry, and then I rode my bike out to Jericho Beach, to hear the music from the Vancouver Folk Festival.

Sitting in the warm sun, listening to good reggae.... There is nothing like it.

Marry My Son (Please!)

Last night I was at a dinner party with some of my great girl friends, and one of them told a story about how her parents once set her up on a date with a guy (who will remain nameless), mostly because he, too, is Jewish, and was their friends' son. Well, she went out on the date, and soon after she gave her parents two options:

1)they could try to set her up again and never have her as a dinner guest at their house again, or 2)they could not EVER try to set her up again, and maintain a good relationship with her!

Mr. Obvious says it wasn't that great of a date*.... It was a great story, and we all laughed about the circumstances.

Imagine my amusement when this morning I opened one of my favorite blogs, A Cup of Jo, and found a post about this very thing! The New York Post also wrote an article about it! How hilarious! And what a great idea too....

Would you ever set up one of your kids (grandchildren/nieces/nephews, etc.) on a date, or would you be okay with your parent (grandparent/aunt/uncle, etc.) setting you up?

Thank you, S, for such a great story! Thank you also for organizing such a relaxing, entertaining, and tasty evening. I love you gals!

*There was, of course, more to this story, but I am not one to hear kiss & tell stories and then tell again!

The Little Monsters Finally Got Those Little Monsters

So sweet!!!

My sister-in-law just received her package with the "those little monsters" for my nephews, and wrote a really sweet blog post about it! I am so happy they like them! These are some cutey-pie little boys! I love them so much. They deserve the stars!

Anyway, I thought you might like to see them, actually being played with, and not just by me, around the city (those are to come, now that Chris and Chip got the package). Enjoy!!

Long Walks, Long Links, Long Weekend, Part 2

Saturday morning started out at 7:30am, when we woke to walk to the ferry dock, arms full of groceries we bought for a ship full of kids aged 13 to 16 (and a few adults too).

Our friend Stephen (you've heard of him before - he was the professor we taught with this past spring) is volunteering on the Pacific Grace, a tallship owned and operated by the Sail and Life Training Society (SALTS). He has worked with them for years, and asked us to help him gather supplies for a delightful* paella. (Stephen's very charming use of "delightful" never fails to make me smile.)

We were lucky enough to join the crew and the students aboard for breakfast, and a quick sail around Burrard Inlet. This is their first trip of the summer, and we feel very lucky to have joined them, even if it was just for a few short hours.

When we got home, we made a nice Spanish chorizo, and had a lot of time to hang out, listen to music, drink rum punch, and cook. It was a lovely afternoon, and turned into a very relaxing evening.

Yesterday after church we came home and got ready for the week, making date bars, doing laundry, cleaning up the apartment, getting packages ready for sending (!), etc....

I made some shortcakes for a sweet 4th of July barbeque with our good friends Sarah, Joy & Ted, and served them along with mixed berries (of the straw-, blue-, and black- varieties) with mint, rum, and just a touch of sugar. Delicious. It was a wonderful wrap-up to a wonderful weekend.

Yup - it is official - I am a lucky, LUCKY girl.

I hope you a great one too!

Long Walks, Long Links, Long Weekend, Part 1

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.....

Long weekends make it all worth it.

Thursday July 1st was Canada Day, and because we are living in Canada now, we took advantage of the day off! Seb and I also took Friday off, to make the weekend especially luxurious!

We were busy little bees this weekend, but in the best way possible. It wasn't that we had much planned; we didn't. It was busy in the way summer days should be.

For Canada Day, we took a long walk around town, to stretch our legs a bit. We walked just a touch over 8 miles, and ended our walk at the Yaletown Grand Prix, to cheer on our friend Ted and his cycling team. We went home for a while, and left soon after because Sebastien represented Acadamie Duello in the Canada Day Parade (along with 53 other swordspeople)! After that we were thoroughly exhausted.

Friday we did another long walk (this one 12 - 1/2 miles), picking up groceries and lunch along the way, and chatting about all the different neighborhoods we passed through.

After our lovely walk and delicious lunch (near mile marker 6), we made sure to take off our hiking boots (!). We headed off to watch our friend Anil's passion project for the last year - a documentary series pilot (the two episodes we watched were about Jodhpur, India). It is splendid. I can't wait for it to get picked up by Discovery or TLC (any of you out there reading this work for Discover or TLC?)!

It was a relaxing couple of days, even more so because we would normally have been at work!

This Weekend: Invitation Design!

This weekend, I have to admit that I was at work a bit finishing up with some graphics for a report, but I was also working on a really fun project too.

I designed the invitations to my friend Leanne's engagement party. She and her fiance are having their wedding at a resort, and they don't get the fun of sending out their own wedding invitations (it was fun for me, at least!), so they wanted to create something special for their engagement party. She asked me to do it a while ago, and I have been working on it in bits and spurts.


It was quite a fun design challenge for me, because Severine (Leanne's fiance) wants to incorporate paisley into their wedding design, and Leanne is using different feathers for the event. I decided to combine the two, and came up with this motif for them. This is the pattern that is used sparingly on the front of the invitation, and also on the backside, to reinforce the theme. I think they eventually want to get label stickers with this pattern on them too! I am so happy they like my design. It was great to see Leanne so excited about it!

I will post the final results (the front of the card) soon - it is missing their picture right now.

Upping the Cuteness Factor

Well, my readers have spoken, and I am listening! "More cute puppies!" you said (that's a lie - no one said that). "We want to read about things, little and furry!" you urged (another lie on my part).

Well, dear readers, for you....

photo by Juan Castaneda

Sebastien and I are puppy-sitting this weekend for a friend of a friend. His name is Beethoven, and he is 2 and a half years old, and very sweet. We went to the farmers' market this weekend, and then to the dog park.

yet another beautiful photo by Juan Castaneda

I wish you a great weekend, filled with many things, cute.

Another Step, Almost Finished!

Today is Wednesday. For the past 15 weeks, this has meant that I will not see Sebastien after work until after 10:pm, because he is taking a class. Specifically, he is taking the Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Wine and Spirits, from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET).

Tonight is his final class, and next Wednesday he is taking a really daunting exam. Even before he started taking these classes, I was amazed by his knowledge of wines, and his capacity to remember minutia, but now....


Let's just say that, as I review flashcards with him for his exam, I am frequently blown away by ability to remember the tiniest details about soils, and climate, and production, and wine regions, and wine law, etc. He is amazing, and I am so proud of his initiative in taking these courses (he took the intermediate course last year).

I have little idea what this certificate may mean in the future, but I know whatever it is, will be great! Way to go, Sebastien! You give me inspiration every day.

-And after you are finished next week, let's go out for some BEER.