Of the Detroit River, that is.
Before my dad started working in Toronto, all of my memories/experiences in Canada lied in Windsor, ON, approximately twenty-something minutes from my house. My mom used to take my sister and I here all the time as a kid for day trips. I don't know what happened from the time I was six until I was fourteen that we never went to Canada. But until then, my only memories of Canada consisted of eating in the seemingly American McDonalds, complaining that their Ketchup was different, and driving up to Niagara Falls, stopping in souvenir shops and buying plush moose with big red maple leaves stitched onto their tummies, and driving to hockey stores and browsing the Wings gear.
Today, it was different. My mom and I had become addicted to the Canadian chain David's Tea last time we were visiting Chicago and I needed to grab some of my perfect, all-time favourite Me-to-We tea. We aren't visiting anywhere this spring break since we're saving up for Hawaii next year (!!!) and Montreal this summer, so I thought a day trip to Windsor wouldn't be a bad idea.
We found David's Tea. And it felt like I was coming home to my own cozy house after a long vacation. No joke. My mom and I both bought our favourite tea in loose-leaf and it was magical. Now I can take Me-to-We everywhere and brag to all my tea-loving friends about my special Canadian tea that also gives fresh, clean water to communities in Kenya with each purchase! (If you're into tea, I highly recommend visiting their website here. My personal favourites besides Me to We include Glitter and Gold, Love Tea #7, Vanilla Matcha, Forever Nuts, and Cinnamon Rooibos Chai.)
I also went to Garage (a favourite Canadian clothing store that they have at my local mall, but nothing matches up to the Canadian location), Chapters (best. mugs. ever.), and my all-time favourite little crepe place that I went to allll the time in Toronto! I had my Nutella crepe and only got powdered sugar all over the place because they served it on a plate rather than my usual Parisian, to-go style. It was like a mini-snowstorm.
The best part? Walking along the waterfront and downtown. Seeing my semi-not-really-"home" Detroit from the other side was almost.....beautiful. I really, really wish that I could say that I love Detroit, but it's not my cup of tea. It's a town full of great people, with great history, and an interesting story, but I've never been a huge fan.
But from Canada, it looked gorgeous, vibrant, almost lively.
Before my dad started working in Toronto, all of my memories/experiences in Canada lied in Windsor, ON, approximately twenty-something minutes from my house. My mom used to take my sister and I here all the time as a kid for day trips. I don't know what happened from the time I was six until I was fourteen that we never went to Canada. But until then, my only memories of Canada consisted of eating in the seemingly American McDonalds, complaining that their Ketchup was different, and driving up to Niagara Falls, stopping in souvenir shops and buying plush moose with big red maple leaves stitched onto their tummies, and driving to hockey stores and browsing the Wings gear.
Today, it was different. My mom and I had become addicted to the Canadian chain David's Tea last time we were visiting Chicago and I needed to grab some of my perfect, all-time favourite Me-to-We tea. We aren't visiting anywhere this spring break since we're saving up for Hawaii next year (!!!) and Montreal this summer, so I thought a day trip to Windsor wouldn't be a bad idea.
We found David's Tea. And it felt like I was coming home to my own cozy house after a long vacation. No joke. My mom and I both bought our favourite tea in loose-leaf and it was magical. Now I can take Me-to-We everywhere and brag to all my tea-loving friends about my special Canadian tea that also gives fresh, clean water to communities in Kenya with each purchase! (If you're into tea, I highly recommend visiting their website here. My personal favourites besides Me to We include Glitter and Gold, Love Tea #7, Vanilla Matcha, Forever Nuts, and Cinnamon Rooibos Chai.)
I also went to Garage (a favourite Canadian clothing store that they have at my local mall, but nothing matches up to the Canadian location), Chapters (best. mugs. ever.), and my all-time favourite little crepe place that I went to allll the time in Toronto! I had my Nutella crepe and only got powdered sugar all over the place because they served it on a plate rather than my usual Parisian, to-go style. It was like a mini-snowstorm.
The best part? Walking along the waterfront and downtown. Seeing my semi-not-really-"home" Detroit from the other side was almost.....beautiful. I really, really wish that I could say that I love Detroit, but it's not my cup of tea. It's a town full of great people, with great history, and an interesting story, but I've never been a huge fan.
But from Canada, it looked gorgeous, vibrant, almost lively.
Maybe it's how I was raised. Maybe it's the fact that I've been to Chicago more than I've been to downtown Detroit (Chicago = 4 hours away, Detroit = 20 minutes). But seeing this city from another view made me see it through another set of eyes.
And of course, seeing Windsor through older eyes was beautiful. It's no Toronto, and it isn't as culturally enriched as Montreal, but it's still Canada, and it's my Canada.
xx,
Sarah
(and if you're wondering, I've grown to love Canadian ketchup.)
And of course, seeing Windsor through older eyes was beautiful. It's no Toronto, and it isn't as culturally enriched as Montreal, but it's still Canada, and it's my Canada.
xx,
Sarah
(and if you're wondering, I've grown to love Canadian ketchup.)