WEEKLY R.E.P.O.R.T.

*This is a time capsule of our London and Bordeaux trip and all parties involved want you to know this blog post is 2 weeks old. Things have changed.

Talia and Amy take over the R.E.P.O.R.T and give an insight to our euro summer!

Reading:

Talia: I’m currently reading Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke! My cool friend Sarah kindly bought me a copy on my birthday and I’m loving it so far. It’s the kind of book that makes me want to read every word, so it’s been taking me a while to get through, which has been great for our many plane rides. I personally love a book with a crazy, unreliable narrator, so I’ve been very entertained. I also love the Harvard references! Makes me wonder if any of my classmates will turn out like this lady… hopefully not! If anyone else is reading and wants to discuss our thoughts on trad wives, let me know.

Amy: Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney! I am a big Sally Rooney fan and am loving this one so far. My seat mate on our Wizz Air flight to Bordeaux also told me she loved it and she was wearing very cool sandals so I know I can trust her taste!

Sarah: I started reading The Dutch House by Ann Patchett, got 50% of the way through and finally decided to give up. I’m finding it boring and plotless. Very unlike the Ann I know!

Eating:

Talia: Green hamburger bun apparently? We went to this awesome restaurant in Luton, England and I got a vegan sweet potato burger and opted for the green bun option (my other choices included beetroot, charcoal, and blue). It was…. interesting? Honestly tasted mostly normal but the colour was VERY off putting. I’m still not entirely clear on the purpose of such a bun, but when in Luton I guess.

Amy: I’m eating all sorts of foods in Europe and trying to enjoy local dishes. Sarah and I were searching for a place to eat some boef in France (that’s beef for those who don’t speak French). On our final night in Bordeaux, we ended up at a touristy spot with many dishes including steak frite and ordered it in addition to a risotto to share. As it turns out, you really can’t get boef from just anywhere. It came out as a small, medium, onion boef which was not what we expected, but in the end we enjoyed it regardless and can’t wait to come back and get some fancier boef next time!

Sarah: Obviously eating Percy pigs in London. It’s truly impressive how fast I can finish a bag of reversy percy. I love that little pig!!!!!

Playing:

Talia: Sue Me by Audrey Hobert. I’ve loved this song for a while now, but something about this trip has got me playing it over and over. All the time. All day everyday. It’s the theme song of our trip.

Amy: Playing bananagrams internationally in the pub, the park, and more. We just can’t get enough!

Sarah: Bowling Alley by Audrey Hobert. As a nightgown wearer, I just feel so seen. Thank you for representing our community, Audrey.

Obsessing over:

Talia: Our beautiful childhood friend Lauren’s beautiful wedding!!! We really had hoped to make it there, but we ended up participating in the second best way: by watching the livestream at a bar in Bordeaux and bawling our eyes out! Who knows what the waiters thought was happening. It was just so gorgeous and she looked so happy and all three of us are just so incredibly happy for her and her groom. Everyone say Mazel Tov Lauren!!!

Amy: The seafood vending machine we passed in the Newfoundland airport. Perfect for when you need salmon or scallops on the go! Cannot wait to return there later this summer so I can try it out.

Sarah: Obsessing over the pub on Bateman street that has 5 pound aperol spritz! We did in fact go back three times in one week. 

Recommending:

Talia: Wizz air! Or more specifically, when they offer flights to Bordeaux for £16 that you can book two weeks out for an impromptu addition to your trip! We were quite worried about if our carry on bags would fit in their bag sizers, but they didn’t even check which was a great surprise! They also sell perfume with BOGO socks on the plane, so that’s a great deal to take advantage of. I love a budget airline (me and Flair go wayyyyyy back), so Wizz air is really up my alley. Live love Wizz air!

Amy: The Celebrity Substitute episode with Role Model. As a huge fan of Role Model, I always love everything he does but I have to say I think everyone can enjoy this. The way he interacts with the classroom of children is so silly and every time I watch it it puts a smile on my face. Even my mom has been watching it over and over! Please watch it and reach out to me so we can obsess over it together!

Sarah: I am recommending the concept of a friend of a friend. At our Airbnb on Friday night we hosted a dinner party with friends of friends that we had in London, some we’ve never met before and most that had never met one another! We had such great conversation and left everyone with new connections in the city (and sufficiently wine drunk)!

Trying:

Talia: Red wine in Bordeaux. I’ve historically never been a wine lover (and especially haven’t loved red wine), but we went on a winery tour in Bordeaux and I actually enjoyed the wine! Maybe because it was one of their most expensive and high quality bottles that we tasted, but regardless I think I’ve turned over a new leaf with wine. We truly did live up to our itinerary which only consisted of wining and dining in Bordeaux, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Here’s to me finally graduating from Kedem grape juice at Shabbat dinner — get ready Bubby!

Amy: Using body wash for shampoo! Talia told me there was no conditioner at our Airbnb but as it turns out there was only conditioner and no shampoo. I tried not to sniff her hair knowing that she had washed it with conditioner and followed in Sarah’s lead in using body wash for my hair. I’m happy to share that it worked like a charm!

Sarah:  I am trying matcha with (oat) milk!!!! I am usually anti creamy matcha of any sort and only opt for macha lemonade or tonic, but what can I say Blank street matcha is fucking insane. I am scared to go back to Toronto and lose such a great thing. I will yearn for you, Blondie matcha oat milk extra ice. I love you dearly. 

This was our first, and hopefully not our last, international R.E.P.O.R.T!!!!!