Montreal Cafes

There are so many cafes here! All of them so unique and so different. Here are a few that I have recently discovered and really enjoyed!

Pekarna

This is a nice little place close to my campus. I usually come here before I need to meet my students to do some work. They have a large selection of pastries and cakes and their coffee is not bad but nothing special. I like the crowd here, usually older adults. Even though it's close to campus, it doesn't give off that vibe. Only thing is that the service here isn't the greatest. One girl is a bit rude and sharp, some act as if you're not there but there are the few who are really nice...only reason I'll go back. Also since it's close to campus I guess.

Cacao 70

This place reminds me a bit of the cafes in Korea. The owners are Korean so maybe that's why. It's a bit more fancy here, they specialize in chocolate. You could come here on your own to do work but it's more of a place you would come to with a friend. Their prices are pretty decent. I ordered a banana and chocolate crepe and my student a fondue for one. I would like to try the fondue next time. It looked really good and it's really big! You could probably share the single fondue with a friend :)

Cafe Neve

I had been meaning to try this place for awhile. I've heard good things about it. It was pretty full when I walked in but I found myself a spot by the couch. The place is really cute. All their seats and tables are wooden with wooden benches here and there. I liked the old phone booth cover they had as decoration on the wall and placed sugar and coffee lids in. The people were all really friendly and the prices decent. My latte was delicious and very well made. It's a good place to read or do work.

Le Petite CuillereThis cafe was such a pleasant surprise. I was walking along St. Denis when I decided to walk in. Immediately to my right was a corner with several couches and a large window ledge with pillows. I was super excited when I noticed all the windows had large ledges and pillows for you to sit on and read (I had wanted my own in my house ever since I was a kid!). The design of the place was very simple and homey. A good place to relax! I ordered an americano which was really good. All their coffee is fair trade. I'm glad I discovered this place. It's a hidden gem. Everyone there were french-speaking, even the baristas. They understood and spoke english but you could tell they much preferred french. It made me so happy to find a place where only 'Montreal-ers' go to :P

Cafe Expressions

I had read good reviews on this cafe and decided to check it out. It's nothing super special but it's one of the few that are open past 7. They offer free wifi as well which makes it a good place to do work. They have a wide variety of loose leaf teas and fair trade coffee. The atmosphere here is one that more geared towards doing work. You can see many people with their laptops studying or writing papers. I guess it's more motivating when you don't want to do anything :)

I'm excited to explore more! I feel like you could never get bored. There are so many different cafes to choose from depending on the type of ambience and atmosphere you want to be in!

montreal.

i like these.

I love winter!

I had my first snowfall in Montreal today!! It was very short but a nice surprise when I walked out of the house. I can't wait to see this city covered in snow and Christmas lights! I'm so excited about Christmas! There's decorations going up already! :D heh I know this excitement is only going to last the first few weeks and then I'll get sick of the cold and slush...but for now, I'm looking forward to it! It's still strange to me that I'm in Montreal. I guess the transition of seasons reminds me I'm still transitioning. Anyhow, I've been warned about Montreal winters...puahaha bringg it!! 

There is something about old buildings that look worn or is falling apart that really draws me. I'm not really sure why. Maybe because I wonder at the history of the building and the many things that they have witnessed standing in their place as the years pass. I think it gives it a lot of character. While some people may see it as ugly or needing to be repaired or rebuilt, I find it kinda beautiful. I'm just reminded of all the new people I'm meeting everyday. We all have so much 'ugliness' and things that people may look down upon. It may even be things that we are shameful of and try to cover up by putting on different 'layers of paint' or what we think might allow us to become accepted and loved. We put on our 'we're perfect' facade, but it is in these that Jesus makes us the most beautiful. It is when we show our weaknesses and brokenness that Jesus heals and restores us. And when it's done in community, we learn to love each other in our brokenness and learn that there is strength in our weaknesses and the whole of who we are. We learn that no ones perfect. We are all broken, torn apart and weak and there is beauty in that.

Daniel Fast Day #2

Doing this fast has made me realize how much sugar and unnecessary stuff I put into my body on a daily basis. This is a good reminder and good cleansing both physically and spiritually. I can't believe the things God has surprised me with these last couple of days. Our God is so good. Remember the blessings you've been given and remember, this is the God we give our lives to. 

Love is the most powerful weapon.

God's love for us is so furious. There is nothing we can say or do to make Him love us any less. How He loves us now is the same whether we sin or when we feel like we've 'accomplished' something. God's love is not measured by what we do. He is not threatened by our unbelief. Regardless of everything and anything, God keeps loving on us. He is the bridegroom and His love is relentless. He will keep pursuing us until there's no way we won't want to love him back.

We need to love on others and learn to die as Christ did so that others can experience the radical love that is Jesus. We need to be bold and trust in God's miracles. We were not given a spirit of fear but of power and of love.

Love seriously conquers all.