Montmartre Mornings

There is a beauty in the rawness and candidness of unedited photographs, naked of photoshop. Because flaws are beautiful and Paris is kind of uneditable anyways. Behold the beautiful Nathalie:

Love always,

Coral

Home is Wherever I'm With You

I was fortunate enough to be able to fly home over the Christmas holidays to see my friends, family, and beloved Vancouver. One thing that had been on my mind in the weeks leading up to my much anticipated date of departure was a question. The question was whether or not I had romanticized the place, if in fact it would be as breathtaking as I remembered it being, having been starved of its natural beauty (mountains, ocean, space to move, sprawling beaches) for almost five months. And the answer was a resounding no. I stood on the West Vancouver Seawall and just stared out at the ocean, the protruding tree-covered point of UBC and the way the ocean reflected the greyish sun through the thick blanket of clouds. And even though in that moment I wanted nothing more than to stay, just for a little longer, I was happy. Because I know that when I return to Vancouver next year I will not take it for granted, I will walk the seawall and stare at the waves and drive up the mountain as much as is physically possible. What a place to be able to call home. So, without further ado, here is a roundup of some of my favourite moments from my trip home.

December 23rd: Up, up, and away!

Grande Extra Hot Eggnog Latte in Heathrow during my four hour layover.

December 24th: Tree Decorating!

December 25th: Beautiful Stanley Park Seawall Walks

Christmas Dinner Time!

December 26th (I think!) Capilano Suspension Bridge Lights with Jessi and her lovely grandpa!

December 27th: The Extremely Long-Awaited Acme and Beach Date with Derrick.

This guy is nothing short of incredible.

December 28th: Grandpa visits!

Beautiful West Van Seawall From Some Day in There!

December 30th: Poetry Slam!

December 31st: Early Birthday and Goodbyes!

Off Again

One Last Grace Face!

A huge thank you to the wonderful people who made this trip home possible. I will attack the next six months in Paris and travelling with a renewed gusto. (After I kick this annoying cold.)

Love always,

Coral

It's a New Year

Without further ado, here are my hopes, promises, and resolutions for 2014, in no particular order.

1. Travel the world. Top 10: Amsterdam, Brussels, Bruges, Copenhagen, Berlin, Budapest, St. Petersburg, Venice, Florence, and Prague.

2. Stay focused on the positive. Life is beautiful. Point blank. Soak up these last six months in Paris.

3. Surrender to the sometimes agonizing reality of instability and lacking control of the future. What's meant to be will be and it may be painful while its not understandable but eventually one sees that the relationships and memories we gather are a result of twists of fate and unforeseen circumstances. Never forget to think of how nothing would be the same if you hadn't decided to take that flight, make that move, or go to that event. Take risks and have faith.

4. This. "Be kind, work hard, smile often, stay loyal, keep honest, travel when possible, never stop learning, be thankful always, and love."

 5. Wake up early. At least a few times a week. Do not surrender to the fact that an au pair workday does not usually commence until 4pm. Breathe in the city before anyone else is awake, before the sun has risen, and linger over a coffee and a pain au chocolat. There is a beautiful simplicity in the day before it has yet to happen.

6. Stay inspired. Write, draw, be creative. http://www.pinterest.com/coralmay/inspire/

Never forget how lucky you are to be alive, to live where you do, to have the friends and family you have, and to have the dreams and ambitions that make life worth living. Stay inspired always.

Love always and bonne chance,

Coral