I have some catching up to do. The girls night went well, as did the Thai dim sum on the Plateau, and the party in the burbs, the sushi night at Maiko, and the dinner at the oh so trendy restaurant on Peel St where we met the new boyfriend, as well as several successful shopping ventures downtown and our trip back out to the country to return the car and welcome in the new year with Michelle’s family.

Busy. Very very busy.

We finally left Montreal after almost 2 weeks, happy to have had the chance to catch up with old friends and family, sad to be leaving again with no anticipated return date, but excited to be heading down to NY city for 5 days.

We had a great trip. Stayed on Ave C in the east village and mostly hung about in the same area and the lower east side. Did a bit of reminiscing and visiting of old haunts from when I was living on Rivington St in ’94, as well as trying some new restaurants and cool bars. I love the area. It’s a lot more trendy these days, and decidedly safe even. Big change from 11 years ago, back then Ludlow had a couple of bars, but you wouldn’t venture further out than that – these days there are some downright mainstream cafes out on Clinton St. All good I suppose, but I still prefer the not so bright, dark and jumping bars you stumble upon on Ave C and the streets off it in the east village. My memories of New York.

Along with the eating and drinking, we managed to get to the new MOMA which was beautiful – although a bit small compared to the Tate Modern in London, the International Centre of Photography, some frantic shopping at Century 21 near the World Trade Centre site downtown, and a couple of evenings with some dear friends who went out of the way to meet us in the city and swap stories and share a moment with us on our fleeting visit.

Nice times. All of them. Nice friends. All of them. Montreal, New York – you know who you are, thank you.