Observed in my surroundings were downtown trekkers equipped with moisture-repelling backpacks, hoods, and durable outerwear. The style was urban casual, with mini bags shed in favour of larger packs with pockets and wide, baggy bottoms swapped for more functional straight cut or fitted ones. Suffice to say, I felt a sense of belonging: my usual attire conveniently aligned with local trends.
Soon, I found Paul Bakery, a sleek, European-style café offering both indoor and patio dining.
In line before me was an elderly man who questioned why he had been incorrectly charged a higher price for a pastry when the product description was notably lower. He stormed out in fury, leaving the counter attendant stunned but not at all remorseful. This older member of staff was evidently unfamiliar with the product range, as well as their prices. She struggled with answering customer inquiries, such as providing additional details on specific pastries, lacked observation, and requested assistance from the young, French-speaking barista many times.
The compact creation comprised of beautiful layers of flaky pastry, a creamy hazelnut-laced filling, a sturdy chocolate coating at its base, and a delicate dusting of icing sugar, making for the most fabulous mid-morning treat.
Hudson Bay staff pointed me in the direction of the tunnel connection towards VCC. Within this corridor were a handful of quick-service food vendors, including Bubble Waffle Cafe, and an abundance of security.
One stopover was made at SW Marine Drive to investigate the status of the retailers at the transit terminal. Surprisingly, few developments had occurred over my four-year absence. Construction appeared to be ongoing, with majority of the on-site personnel being construction workers, homeless residents, and sluggish, heavily tattooed tourists.
Nothing more to peruse, I hurried back onto the SkyTrain platform to ensure validity of my transfer. Four stops later, I found myself back at the terminus. The skies had cleared to yield sunshine!
Buying at LCBO back home constituted less hassle, eliminated hidden costs, and provided the benefit of earning loyalty points. In British Columbia, even non-alcoholic beverages would be subject to fees and deposits.