Tea Journeys – Part Two

“I like the pause that tea allows.” – Waris Ahluwalia

Sciue

It’s the first week of November and I’m sitting in an airy gallery space with a real china cup filled with a creamy hot chocolate (purchased from a tiny in-house Italian coffee bar called Sciue) instead of a fragrant tea.

The temperature has dropped resulting in a multitude of colourful falling leaves and frosty mornings – sipping hot chocolate at a small bistro table after wandering through the current art exhibit at the Pendulum Gallery, a perfect downtown activity.

Large canvases, unique sculptures and photographs showcase local artist’s creativity and talent, this free art exhibit an offshoot of the yearly Eastside Culture Crawl.

I may not be indulging in a cup of tea but the pause this delicious hot chocolate allows means I’ll revisit this space again when there’s a new exhibit to take in.

This tiny coffee bar also serves tasty pizza slices and other goodies for hungry art patrons!

I did return to take in another exhibit and enjoy part of the exquisite Floral Trail to celebrate the holiday season.

Tigh-Na-Mara Coffee Bar

In late November we find ourselves back on Vancouver Island tucked into another studio bungalow to experience more long walks through the forest and by the ocean. At the ferry terminal, an older woman or rather, her striped woolen socks caught my eye. Pretty autumn colours in pink, mustard and burgundy flashed from the tops of her worn dark coloured boots. She was prepared (as we all were) for the first significant snowfall of the season due to fall the next day. She quietly read her beloved newspaper while gulls wheeled outside the waiting room windows as bright sunshine made a mockery of the wintry weather to come.

Snow began to fall gently the next morning after our arrival dusting the rooftops of the many log structures and debris strewn ground from a recent windstorm. Morning tea and coffee were enjoyed inside this visit as delicate white flakes thickened and began to accumulate. By nightfall the holiday lights added an enchanting note to white flocked trees flanking quiet roads – our time here will welcome a new month with a wintry season arriving in just a few weeks.

There are delicious freshly baked muffins to buy at the miniscule coffee bar operating out of the professional kitchen and we picked up four (the Morning Glory ones are a favourite!) for the mornings in making our own fragrant coffee and organic blended black tea. The colder weather keeps us inside before lunch but afterwards we bundle up to go on hardy walks through the forest before returning to our cozy studio for another cup of goodness to warm our souls.

The coffee bar is closed but leaves one with a beautiful quote to ponder.

We walked nightly through a winter wonderland for a pint and a warm meal! Cedars Restaurant just glowed…

Faubourg Paris – Boulangerie . Patisserie

I’m sitting outside just before sunset on a mid-December day at a sweet coffee place downtown where I was taken to last spring to celebrate my May birthday. I’ve thought about the lavender rooibos tea and buttery croissant ever since! So after a leisurely stroll through two art galleries and taking in some of the yearly festive Floral Trail (gazing at lushly decorated floral arches and displays) I’ve ordered the same delights surrounded by twinkling lights, real and faux berry studded greenery. The city is alive with holiday shoppers and visitors. It’s rather refreshing to sit outside at one of the small tables and write a few lines…

My walk home underneath a canopy of sparkling green and white lights with darkness descending was enchanting and knowing that a soothing cup of tea awaited me made this solo adventure even sweeter!

The entrance to the Vancouver Art Gallery was festooned with floral beauty and the snowy streets added another layer bringing the holidays to life.

What a lovely floral invitation to tea, I enjoyed every minute…

A shout out to Kate of https://aroused.blog who commented that my beverage of choice doesn’t always have to be tea and I agree, it’s the pause that means the most!

May there be many beautiful pauses in your world in the coming new year…

Advertisement