Home (re)Grown Vol. 7

So I’ve been a little MIA for the last couple days… but I have a good excuse.  The move finally happened.  I loaded up my life and made the trek to Montreal, still getting settled and so far this place has been amazing.  Miss having family a stones throw away, but I’ll see them soon enough.

Here’s a little photo journal of my trip so far… I’ve eaten at the Famous Schwartz’s Deli (incredible smoked meat sandwiches), La Banquise (unreal poutine), and Restaurant Rapido.

All Aboard… Via Rail leaving Winnipeg

Surprised by the really great train food… Transcontinental breakfast.

Sunrise on Via Rail

Nice little 1st Class salad

Santé!

1st Class Booze Cart… Yes Please

My new home… I live above a Stokes

First meal in Montreal… Restaurant Rapido. So much food…

Neighborhood Shot

Neighborhood Shot

Neighborhood Shot

Neighborhood Shot

Neighborhood Shot

Neighborhood Shot

Neighborhood Shot

Neighborhood Shot

Neighborhood Shot

My new favorite beer & lunch from Frite Alors…

Home (re)Grown Vol. 6

Last week I decided to take a trip back to Edmonton and catch up with my peeps. I was in need of a pick me up and felt a change of scenery would do me some good.  I had ten great days with old friends… lots of laughs, heated debates, and good food.  I realized something on that trip… when I went to Edmonton I was home.

When I first moved to Winnipeg, I referred to it as home because that’s where all my family located.  But I actually grew up in Brandon, which is roughly two hours outside of Winnipeg and the house I grew up in is being rented out.  So although I was back with family I realized I wasn’t actually home.  I spent the majority of my life in that five bedroom house in Brandon and that place is filled with memories. I lived there from 1987 to 2000, 13 glorious years… the stories that house could tell.

Next to that, the longest place I’ve lived was Edmonton 2003 – 2011.  A solid eight years and strong relationships where forged over that time. Those were the years I grew into my own skin and became the man I am today.  So when I came to Winnipeg late last year, I was expecting to feel some sort of nostalgia that would take me back to the 13 years I spent living in Brandon.  Except I wasn’t living in Brandon and the house my family was currently staying in had no specific meaning to me… I couldn’t close my eyes and reminisce about anything.  Which is something I could do when I went back to Edmonton, I could sit in my favorite coffee shop and remember conversations or visit my old jobs and chat with the co-workers that were still there.

I knew the people, I knew streets, I knew the smells, and I knew the sounds… it had the familiarity of home.