Summer in the sun

Cocktail Hawaii: good crepes. Very nice bechamel in mine -- bechamel being my one of my favourite sauces, up there with hollandaise and alfredo. There were, in fact some rectangular tables, and room for parties of six or seven and perhaps more. However, it appears that coffee does not come free with brunch, and the service style is that of a food-court: order at the count and take a tray. Good though the food is, then, I'm not sure it quite satisfies the requirements for weekly brunch, as I prefer to be able to sit comfortably and chat with everyone while wait staff take our orders and bring us food. It would, however, be good for a one-on-one lunch, I think.

They also seem to have excellent fruitshakes, though I did not try them.

Lovely day, though. Bit hot for wandering around, though I did manage to take a walk all the way to Place de la Cathedrale before brunch, where I finally made use of those gift vouchers that Hui and Jackie gave me for Christmas back in '98. Also knocked about $6 off of the gift card that Mark M. Gave me for my birthday. All I have to do now is figure out how to spend the rest of it.

Then home, where I sat out on the balcony reading for a bit. I love my balcony -- it may be smaller (I think) than the old one, but it's a touch more private, and the fact that I'm not sharing it (or the living room through which I must pass to get there) means I have Full Freedom to do as I want with it. I've sat there with a book in the evenings, a glass of Madeira at my side and a lamp shining over my shoulder from inside the window, enjoying the sunset and a CD of Strauss. Today and yesterday I enjoyed the sun -- I've gotten so pale over the past few years from lack of sun that it's a wonder I haven't turned blond and blue-eyed into the bargain. And now my forearms are glowing red and there's a pale cross-shapped patch on my chest from the crucifix I wear around my neck.

And cold showers right after sitting in the hot sun? They're the best.