Tag Archives: 40 days fika

north of asheville, about 20 minutes or so, lies a small, riverside town. it's a place that seems to be stuck in the past, and yet, not at the same time. the only thing around for miles is this little, two stop light main street and a crossing street, which is actually only a bridge across the river. a big, white courthouse looms over main street. the sheriff's department is just across the street from that. there are a few churches, a few general stores, a dentist's office, a real estate office, a couple of different restaurants, and smack in the middle of it all... a coffeehouse called zuma.

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there is a place where i can go if i am homesick for sweden. well, perhaps not sweden specifically, but at least something that's a little bit european.

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everyone's talking about dynamite coffee roasters. like really. quite of a few people have mentioned it as their favorite place. so, i decided that's where i needed to go. and i was looking forward to all of the hype. the only problem, to tell you the truth, was that i was feeling excited and blah all at the same time. i think my mood matched the weather...

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today was a special day. it was my first co-fika. that's right. i finally had a chance to fika with someone, getting the full effect of the other way to fika - together. remember, there are two ways that i like to categorize fikas: those when you enjoy a coffee by yourself, whether you are working or just reading a book. and there are those fikas when you meet someone and enjoy a long cup of coffee, or two, together. this is the heart of the swedish fika - sharing moments together. creating community. nurturing friendships. enjoying family. (to read more about my understanding of fika, click here).

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i found the coffee version of Cheers (you know the 80s tv show about the pub/bar in Boston) in a strip mall just north of Asheville.

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i pretty much had no idea what i was getting myself into when i visited the downtown market. it sounds like a regular place. you know, cafes with the word "market" usually sell some sandwiches and soup. it sounds like a little bit of an upscale place where you'll find middle-aged people. lots of tourists. so, when i typed in "downtown asheville cafes" in my phone and downtown market popped up, i thought i knew exactly what i was in for. the only thing was, it was a little bit out of the way from the center, center of downtown, on a street headed toward the river arts district - known for its artsy-ness.

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i'm not perfect. and there are some days that you just can't do everything you want or plan to do. you know that feeling... like 24 hours in a day are not nearly enough. and the way the weeks have been speeding by are not helping the matter. some days it's just not possible to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together...

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confession time: i have been to this cafe a few times already. ok, A LOT of times already. i guess you could say that i like it. but, what do i like some much about it, you ask? i actually can't really put my finger on it. i mean, the atmosphere - the global theme and all that - is right up my alley. there are cozy spots to sit inside. the coffee is good. and cheap. and there are places to sit in the windows. i mean, seriously, that in and of itself makes it cool, right? on top of all of that, there is ample outdoor seating. cute, little wrought-iron tables & chairs. and it is right in the middle of a great area, with tons of people. all stuff that i like very much. all things that make a top choice of cafes in my book.

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get in your car and drive down interstate 40 for about 25 minutes to the little mountain town of waynesville,  and there you will find a coffeehouse that claims to be a solution to all your problems, to solve all your ailments, & cure your every need. ok. they don't actually claim that, but their name does... panacea is one of my favorite coffeehouses in the world. in fact, it just might actually be my favorite. the word, panacea, means a cure-all for every ailment, a remedy, a solution to all problems. for me, panacea coffeehouse has been just that place. i have spent countless hours there in my life, discussing life and theology, meeting friends, catching up, reading, working on my computer, and just being. it is a cafe that has been part of my life for quite a number of years, and it is a place to which i have returned anytime i have been in the area.

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it was bound to happen at some point. daily fika overload. not that i've had too much coffee, by any means. i'm not even sure that that's possible. but, the daily finding a new place and experiencing something new is actually exhausting . the impressions, the feelings, the leaving my comfort zones are all good, but it requires a lot of attention and action. so, today, this self-proclaimed introvert had the desire to just go to a comfortable, familiar place. and just be.

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