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[I've spent many weekends with Tim in the desert.](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@discoveringarni/afternoon-coffee-in-the-desert-of-jebel-faya-united-arab-emirates) While my husband took off on a journey with his glider overhead,  I sat on the mat in silence holding Tim in my hand. With every sip, the wind blew and I squinted my eyes a little to avoid the sand. 

I miss Tim Hortons. 


![Grey Coffee Hand Quote Facebook Post.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/discoveringarni/242s69T2K7z5yxdDMwStC22Kcgyn8akxPMSpCk9Vr6zBdWq4fDPk1t7x5Bcd9YDHAwKUH.png)


When we moved back to the Philippines, I never saw Tim again. There were other popular coffee chains available from every alley of the urban capital and yet I thought a lot about the warm comforting liquid in the red paper cup. There was something about Tim Hortons, why I was enamored by its flavor was something I couldn't explain.


Almost two years later after arriving back in my home country for good, my family and I moved to Cebu, a province in the southern part of the Philippines.  

A Canadian-born friend based in Manila sent me an article that Tim Hortons will open up several branches in the metro. Ecstatic, I jumped like a crazy person sending messages to all of my friends that Tim Hortons will land on Philippine shores. 

That was 2017. I waited patiently for Tim Hortons to finally reach Cebu but this didn't happen. I flew to Manila for administrative matters twice or thrice a year but missed the chance to visit. There was always something that needed to be done.  

It was bad timing. 

I drove past the signage in a cab on the other side of the road with a no U-turn sign a few times. *"Oh there's Tim Hortons,"* was all I could utter as I watched the signage disappear.


https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/discoveringarni/23xVcCR9NRPawuhGL1KQZ9qaGs4FRdPdyJKnkUgZFsvzyauwXnU9aQjNY9JSjx38XTCVs.JPG

A personal photo that was used in [this post](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@discoveringarni/afternoon-coffee-in-the-desert-of-jebel-faya-united-arab-emirates)


The pandemic arrived and this wiped away any possibility of Tim Hortons coming to Cebu. 

February of 2021 I found myself back in Metro Manila. After completing all of the meetings I had for the day, I had the rest of the afternoon free. 

I leaped out of the cab somewhere in Ayala Malls Circuit in Makati City. and the red Tim Hortons signage drew my attention from the drop-off. I found myself staring at the glass facade with its red walls in disbelief. 

This is it! Reunited finally after almost ten years!

I messaged @millycf1976 sending photos of where I was in glee. I informed my husband that I needed to spend time at Tim Hortons. With that, he wished me a good time catching up.  

I ordered donuts and a wrap with my favorite Hot Original Brewed Coffee.

I couldn't hold myself from taking photographs as long-time friends would after many years apart. 




https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/discoveringarni/23vsSmH2TSbQTu2YthrwiJk6oG3v63cE1zdTwR6kzMdGRamyV3aQzHzix3GT28fB58f6g.JPG


![Tim Hortons.jpg](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/discoveringarni/23wCFivFFDmE7Cz8wYF3J78DAszy9pFGTemSR56eMaitfwkDZqAbpfXVt2XbSmCUcmVjN.jpg)

https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/discoveringarni/23y8qwFCTjLNHKJBZZwVhEmjccA5fw5DVijbM9yJN3zKEGwyE38frxwib1tBk5L7goJbn.JPG

https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/discoveringarni/23tvkppyYkfbvdEj8jbD6FdF8W1VLQcRanimZgmKS1X2izFkpXGGsiYrfUvzugTyaJXnQ.JPG

https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/discoveringarni/23xpKWj4qngkahMcZq1KFWHKFbYVxDmUWeSwdRAwr7kjZagkseMTceezx1GtP2Y8oJ44c.JPG


I sat by the window holding Tim in my hand, grinning every now and then and remembering the comfort this coffee gave me throughout my years in the sandpit. 

Thank you, Tim Hortons, until we meet again.

---
Thank you for reading! Excited to join in the fun, this is my entry for [Coffee and Coffee Shop Moments Posting Contest ](https://peakd.com/hive-152524/@galenkp/coffee-and-coffee-shop-moments-a-posting-contest) organized by @galenkp along with the rest of the funders and Milly of [Cinnamon Cup Coffee Community](https://peakd.com/c/hive-152524/created). I highly encourage you to share your coffee story.

P.S. The first two photographs were images that I've used in my  [previous post](https://peakd.com/hive-163772/@discoveringarni/afternoon-coffee-in-the-desert-of-jebel-faya-united-arab-emirates). Edited blog cover image using Canva.
 
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###### "I am an old soul who simply loves coffee, who finds joy and beauty in both tangible and the unseen."  

[@discoveringarni](https://peakd.com/@discoveringarni)

<sub> Curiosity and imagination lead to unexpected experiences. Interested in Nature, Places, Roads Less Traveled, Minimalism, Authentic Living, Anything French, and International Cuisine. Feel free to follow her, re-blog, and upvote if you enjoy her content.
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