Winnipeg, MB with Andrea Schroeder

Wow, I am getting behind blogging about this trip! Tomorrow I re-enter the USA and I haven't even started blogging about Canada! Yikes! It has been hard to keep up since I have very limited internet access here in Canada...all cell-related data is too expensive to use! I am currently writing from a cafe on Commercial Drive in Vancouver with Vivienne McMaster....but more on Vancouver soon.

First, Winnipeg! Jenn and I crossed the border on Tuesday and it took a total of 20 minutes! I was prepared for at least an hour, but I had my ducks in a row and it paid off. We were through in reccord time and on our way. (Hoping the re-crossing is as smooth tomorrow!)

Andrea Schroeder met us at a Starbucks where we were using the wifi and then showed us around the Forks area of Winnipeg. As we walked along the river Andrea told us about the little houses that are built and put out on the ice when the river completely freezes over in the winter. The story seemed like a magical fairy tale with temperatures in the 90's while I watched the river flow by, but evidently Winnipeg has one of the most extreme temperature fluctuations.

Our event was at Pop Soda's Coffee House and Gallery. They graciously stepped in when our first venue fell through at the last moment. And the space was awesome! They even have an art room off of the concert area ready and waiting for us to play in!

the coolest typewriter station yet!

At event #9 this band was playing in the next room from our art-making. It was great to hear in the background as we created...wish I had had more time to just listen, but I got this clip. Band info: http://www.mercymercy.net/

After the event it was decided that I needed to try poutine...fries with gravy and cheese curds. It is a Quebec dish, but there is a poutinerie in Winnipeg, so we went!

At the last minute my dad connected us with a family that he had grown up with in Brazil when he was a kid. It was so fun to meet one of his childhood friends and then stay with that friend's parents, who also remembered my dad as a kid. Here are some shots of us together.

Mrs. Dyck had a picture of my father and Darrel from 1972! It felt surreal to meet people my dad has not seen in 40 years but remembers so clearly. There was a thread still present even through all the years. 

I think for the next post I will make Stella talk about driving across Canada...a topic she has a lot to say about.