August/September

August was a blur as I rushed though things at work to get to my early holiday in September. By September 18th I was wondering around Old Montreal, eating chocolate croissants for breakfast and feeling the history. Cobblestone streets, beautiful old buildings, museums, art, Faberge exhibition - and so, so French.

Paull joined me the next day for a birthday weekend, and we cycled, enjoyed the World Press Photography Exhibition and enjoyed some memorable meals (and wine and cocktails). Le Bremner was the birthday dinner, in an old building in Old Montreal, and a very special night it was.

Sunday night, another flight, to New York, for a busy week of art, museums, Central Park and more memorable meals. Best restaurant: Flinder's Lane in the East Village. Best home-cooled meal: BBQ on the roof garden of Paull's apartment with views of the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building and bridges coming alive with lights at nightfall.

Saturday morning, another flight to Portland, Oregon via Salt Lake City, where a brief stop turned into an hour as they 'fixed a part in the engine' (!). It worked, and we arrived in time for yet another memorable meal then 'sloppy drinks' at Tugboat, complete with board games. Worked it all off on Sunday by hiring bikes for the day and cycling across the bridges, around the suburbs of NE Portland, stopping for coffee, then lunch, then beers at hip little places along the way.

After a quick overnight trip to Seattle, we returned to NE Portland to a gorgeous Japanese style AirB'n"B for a couple more days, a short stroll to Mississippi Road for best ever Mexican, coffee and yoga. Then, home, sigh............but thanking Paull for a trip of  lifetime.