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Day 36: F I L O

there is a little rock and stone building on a busy street in east asheville. i’ve passed it numerous times knowing that i would go in at some point for fika. but to be honest, i wasn’t too excited about it every time i passed it, hence it’s on day 36 that i finally darkened the doors. though i was totally intrigued by the rock/stone outside. i mean, seriously, how cool is the outside? still, it’s east asheville. and though i live in central-east asheville myself, there are not that many funky, cool places over here. or not that i know of yet. the coolness is left for central and west asheville.

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but, i turned off of super busy tunnel road on to the side street anyway, assuming that i would find parking back there, and was ready for almost anything. praying for a little fika miracle –  a place that i love so much that i want to go back (the past few days haven’t felt like that). after parking and spending about 20 minutes walking around outside, taking tons of photos, i was finally ready to go in. so far, i had some great vibes. i mean, what can go wrong where there is a sunflower nearby?

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i opened the big, brown, castle-like door and entered into a huge open space, filled with a warm, glowing light making it bright, an diet, still very cozy. i probably had my jaw on the floor at that moment and i am certain that someone heard me breathe a deep sigh of “perrrrrfect.” i don’t think i said that out loud, but i can’t be sure.

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i actually pirouetted as i walked toward the counter, taking in the sights and my feelings. when i made it to the counter, i was inspired by all of the autumn decorations, so i ordered a cinnamon streusel latte. that sounded perfectly divine to me. as the barista made the latte i spied where i wanted to sit… you know it. the corner with the sofa and comfy chairs. however, it was taken at the moment. meh. the barista handed me my latte, i pulled out my money and my card and told her that i was doing a blog project as i handed her my card. she immediately interrupted me and said, “fika! i just read about you in the paper yesterday! your’e the woman doing fikas.”

jaw drop. again. she recognized me as the fika woman. that was craaaazy. and freaking cool. so, i told her i’d be taking photos and that she could tell the namer/owner that filo, the coffeehouse, would be on the blog on monday. then ,i took my latte and noticed that the cozy spaces were available. jackpot!

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i sat down, settled in, pulled out my computer, and stayed there for the next 2 hours. f i n a l l y. a coffeehouse where i could sit and stay and just be. a place that felt like home. like i belonged. a place that was totally right up my alley.

there were lots of funky, cool details. the feeling was a bit bohemian. art hung on the walls. candles were set out in windowsills and on tables. there was a corner with wine. plus the coffeehouse playlist was relaxing and inspiring – extra bonus. i have since begun a “fika files” playlist on spotify with the best songs to sip coffee by. i’ll share it in a few days, if you want.

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filo is a cafe inspired by european cafes, and is meant to be a place to come and enjoy coffee and a slice of something yummy. the owner spent summers in greece and learned the art of long, slow, intentional times of coffee throughout the day. oh, those europeans, they sure do know how to make sure to enjoy life. there is always time for a cup of coffee, you know? think how beneficial it would be to take the time to slow down and enjoy something in life for just an hour every day. think what it would be like if we prioritized that time. i’m pretty sure that we all would be much more at peace, focused, calm, and happy.

looks like today i found one perfect place to do just that. y e s.

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namaste. /liz

filo . 1155 tunnel road .  asheville, nc. www,filopastries.com

About Liz McGuire

Liz is a blogger, writer, and amateur photographer in Asheville, NC. She is a returning expat, re-adjusting to American life after living in Sweden for the past three years. On any given day you can find her planning her next adventure with her wife, blogging away on her blog (www.belovelive.com) about daily life and social issues, and discovering little hidden gems and secret places in the city. She faithfully totes her camera and her coffee mug everywhere she goes. And she’s always up for a conversation about spirituality, politics, or other taboo topics. You can find her on the web at www.belovelive.com.