Coffee Talk
During my travels I’ve looked for unique cafés in each new city. Call it a hobby, or perhaps an addiction (yes, I do travel with my own french-press coffee maker, hot pot and ground coffee wherever I go!) but there’s something fun about discovering a one-of-a-kind little haunt in a new city. Whether it’s in France, Ethiopia or even in Calgary, Alberta, to sit and enjoy a perfect espresso is always a joy. It takes me away from the monotony of training and racing, and allows for good conversation and memorable experiences.
One of my favorite memories is that of a little classic French café in the midi-pyranees. It was before an epic mountain stage of Tour de L’aude, a 10-day cycling stage race in the south of France, and it was raining and cold. My teamates and I were hiding as long as we could, not too enthusiastic about what laid ahead. There was a really old bull fight poster on the wall, and I wanted it for my apartment. In my broken French I asked the proprietor if she would sell it to me, but the lady did not understand. My teammate Sue Palmer who knew better French asked again (knowing my French I was probably asking if she had a cow for sale or something!) and she looked at me, took down the poster, rolled it up and said, “c’est un cadeau pour toi”, “It’s a present for you”. I have the poster on my wall at home in Quebec, and it brings back great memories.
I want to share wonderful places like this with you. Perhaps it will inspire you to veer away from that same, perfect cup of coffee that you can get anywhere as ‘gourmet’ coffees become a homogenious commodity. What you cannot duplicate, thankfully, is ambiance, and this is exactly what these places offer.
These little cafés represent, to me, a real travel experience within the confines of the travel I do for my sport.
