isobelmtl

Writing under a Montreal sky

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about

Isobel Cunningham has published short fiction and poetry. Her book, Northern Compass is available on Amazon. She was born in Wales but Montreal is her adopted home. She speaks French, Modern Greek ( it’s a fun story) and a little Spanish…oh, English too, of course. She welcomes comments on her blog and looks forward to chatting with you over cyber-space.

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  • Ten minutes before my shift

    There are already over 50 pilgrims in the albergue and it is only 4 o’clock. My worst nightmare will be turning someone away. One of my colleagues is an early bird and she goes off to bed quite early. The kitchen as jumping lady night and I admit to being a bit grumpy when people…

  • A Camino Moment

    I have walked on the Camino and I know what it is to worry about getting to an albergue, about getting a decent bed, about arranging for a meal. My three companions and I have formed the habit of going for a coffee in a nearby cafe when our cleaning chores are done. Just as…

  • Mid point

    We four hospitaleras/os are at mid point in our two weeks of service and we haven’t yet run away, burst into tears or strangled each other. Put two Spanish men and two Canadian women all over seventy into a totally unfamiliar situation where they have to deal with fifty strangers who do or don’t speak…

  • Exploring

    The view from the upper windows here is lovely. I made up my mind that I would get into that beautiful field somehow. I only achieved my goal at the end of my walk today as entering the field proved harder than I could have imagine. Instead I got side tracked to an interesting point:…

  • Up to the Castle

    You’re going to have to read up on them because I just can’t delve into their very long and important history here. The castle though! I loved it! Huge, spectacular, imposing… with a library of impeccably reproduced medieval books! I was in heaven yesterday wandering through this place. The weather is cooperating too!

  • Settling in and figuring it out

    Last night there were fifty pilgrims in the Albergue. A lot of them cooked supper in the communal kitchen. One American guy made vegetable dumplings! Some Korean ladies threw together a feast and there was a lot of pasta bubbling away on the two stove tops. Registering fifty pilgrims and assigning them beds according to…

  • One day in Madrid

    I stayed in an excellent hostel very close to the Prado museum and another one I had never heard of, the Thyssen-Bornemisza museum. The Botanical Gardens were in the same neighborhood. Short story- I visited all three and liked the Thyssen-Bornemisza best. to Georgia O’Keefe Of course, the Prada is Madrid’s shining jewel but it…

  • Today in Madrid

    I flew from Athens to Madrid today. It was a very boring flight because I was in the middle one of three. What was not boring was getting to my accommodations. I wasn’t really sure where it was-only that it is close to the bus station where the next leg of the trip will take…

  • The Dance Class II

    “ Ok don’t forget, tonight is dancing. “ Of course I had forgotten as my morning had been taken up mostly looking for a copy shop. I fear I am not on the wavelength of those who always seem to say, things like “ Straight ahead “ while making a sort of vertical wave. Even…

  • Around Town

    Attention is required. No stumbling around in a daze here. This is actually a very nice sidewalk… no holes, no oddly placed flower pots, no uneven surface. It’s just not made for my size tens. Since drivers of any and all vehicles know they always get to go before you, a lowly pedestrian caution is…