Oui oui - c'est Paris! Encore!!

My top-20-favourite-things-to-do-in-Paris list continues...

11. La Defense: The modern arch – definitely worth a look – especially to see the straight line that it forms with the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. The French just do everything with style - they have found a way for Modern Paris to "fit in" with the rest of Paris with this modern arch. The mall nearby is fun too!

The modern arch of La Defense

12. Champs-Elysees: Great shopping, great side-walk cafés, most fabulous Louis Vuitton store ever! Need I say more! I love this street! Word of warning: avoid the Champs-Elysees on New Years Eve at all cost! My friend Drama Princess, her then boyfriend (now husband) and I thought it a great idea to celebrate the start of the new year on this famous street – what a horrible experience! At the stroke of midnight all hell broke loose – people were grabbing and trying to touch everyone and pick-pockets started working their “magic”. We were warned about the madness, so we didn’t carry our cell phones or wallets with us, but we had no idea - even my bubblegum was stolen out of my jean pocket. We tried to escape the madness by walking close together with our arms around the person in front - tight against each other – Photo boy in the front, Drama Princess in the middle and myself in the back – with my hand over my bum. Not a pleasant experience! We left the madness and headed for a nearby bar - definitely a better way to spend the evening than being groped by the masses!

13. Euro Disney: Lets face it people – Euro Disney is not a patch on the real deal (Disney World or Disneyland), but it is fun nonetheless – seriously, who wouldn’t love a pair of Mickey or Minnie ears! Stay late and watch the character parade and fireworks every evening. Tip: get advance tickets for the rides at the special booths so that you don’t have to stand in a queue for a long time (those queues get frighteningly long). The turkey legs at Euro Disney are fantastic - they can be so dry, but these were moist and just lovely. (and fun/messy to eat too!)

14. Louvre: A great museum – beautiful building - amazing art – humungous! It is too big to see everything inside it, so most people just run to the Mona Lisa and get out. If that sounds like too much of a challenge, just go to the museum, spend some time in the little souvenir shops, take a few photos in front of the glass pyramid and just soak up the ambience. It is a great place and I do recommend that you at least go there!

The beautiful Louvre

15. Sitting at a side walk café – Love it! My favorite thing to do for breakfast…sitting outside a Parisian cafe, sipping hot chocolate (chocolat chaud) and gnawing on a fresh croissant or pain au chocolate, while watching all the chic Parisians and not-so-chic tourists go by. Remember, French waiters (especially in Paris ) are not very friendly – it is nothing that you did, they are just that way - they are busy and efficient and they are very serious about their jobs.

16. Eating Crepes at a street vendor – The best crepes that I’ve ever had were all at a street vendor in Paris . My favorite crepes are with Calvados (apple brandy from Normandie) or Nutella (chocolate spread). I’m not 100% sure if the crepes are THAT good, but I know for sure that the ambience of Paris makes the experience unforgettable. I can remember my mom and I standing on a street corner near the Notre Dame, munching on our crepes and I remember the pure bliss I felt. Another thing that can drive you bonkers in winter, is when street vendors are roasting nuts on the street - the smell is so seductive. Mmm - I love French street food!

17. Gallaries Lafayette/Printemps/Samaritaine: The big department stores in Paris . I’ve spent time in all 3 of them, but my favorite is Galleries Lafayette. If you are not shopping obsessed and don’t have the time to visit all 3, make sure that you have time to pop into Gallaries Lafayette – especially in December. The store has an enormous Christmas tree that is each year decorated by a different designer – truly something to see.

18. Fragonard Parfumerie: Drama Princes and I went to the Perfume museum and shop, just a few steps from The Opera. We had a great time and each of us bought a bottle of their perfume - it felt pretty cool to have such an exclusive bottle of perfume that you can't just buy at any department store or pharmacy. The museum offers free tours and it is just a fun place to visit.

19. Centre Georges Pompidou: If you don’t have time to go inside, just drive past it. When this museum was first built, the Parisians were disgusted by it, but it is something to see. Different, bizarre, weird, ugly, fabulous - call it what you will - it is a work of art!

20. Shopping – for inexpensive clothes, go to Promod, Etam, Tati (very cheap – most of the time you won’t find anything, but occasionally you find a few gems such as Daniel Hechter lingerie) and Pimkie (young, funky, cheap). For designer labels, head to the Champs-Elysees or Faubourg Saint-Honore. I always love going to FNAC – both guys and girls will enjoy this store – it is filled with books, CD’s, computer games and loads more. My favorite Sephora on the entire planet is on the Champs-Elysees – it is not only visually beautiful, but the choices are endless. Whoever thought that it was ridiculous to expect 6 or 7 different shades of green nail polish in a single shop, will be converted – this shop proves that there is a need for each and every one of them!

I can go on and on about my intense love for Paris and what a fantastic place it is, but I don't think I need to because unless the poop scoopers are on strike during the few days that you visit Paris, every person that visits that city, will love it too!

Just a few general tips:

The Eiffel Tower

Tips about tips:
In France a 15% service charge is usually included so waiters rarely expect a tip. Off course if you think the service was excellent, they will appreciate an additional tip.

Tips about hotel rooms:
Not all hotel rooms in Paris have en-suite bathrooms, so make sure to ask for hotel with en-suite bathroom (sale de bain), otherwise you will have to share a bathroom with the rest of the floor.

Tips on meals:
If you can’t decide on what to order, go for the Plats du jour – it is usually fresh seasonal ingredients, traditionally French and very well priced.

Tips on pavements/sidewalks:

When walking around in Paris, watch out for dog poop on the pavements. Parisians love dogs and you see them everywhere and most of the time the street cleaners to a fantastic job, but you might have to occasionally play a fun game of hop-scotch to avoid the poop "landmines" that adorn (not!) the streets.

Rollerblading in Paris:
Usually on Friday nights there are organized rollerblading tours in Paris – up to 4000 people sometimes join in the fun, so make sure you can skate before joining the group. You can find details on Thursdays on the website (www.rollers-coquillages.org)

Da Vinci tour:
Da Vinci tours are available in Paris at certain times of the year. Tours are conducted by a few companies – the most famous is Paris Vision.

Oui, oui...c'est Paris!

Deciding what to write about first has proven to be a very difficult decision. How do I choose…my favorite (impossible!), chronologically (boring!), throw all the names in a hat and draw them randomly (maybe). Luckily for me, my friend Butterfly has come to my rescue. She (and about 20 people that form part of her huge family of in-laws) is going to Paris/Northern France for 2 weeks and has asked for some tips. This post is dedicated to my dear twin/fabulous friend and the wild, wacky and lovely group that will be taking France by storm!

I’ll start with the epicenter of all that is fabulous… Paris! I love Paris in the Springtime…I love Paris in the Fall…actually I love Paris any time of year, any season, any day, every day. There are too many things to talk about when it comes to Paris, so I'll narrow it down to 20:

My 20 favorite things to do/see in Paris (in no particular order):

1. Visit the Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin): I’ve stayed in many areas of Paris before, but I prefer to stay in the Latin Quarter because of the great vibe, fantastic food and its close proximity to some of my favorite places to visit/things to do such as the Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, some great shopping and the Louvre. The Latin quarter is close to of the University of Sorbonne and has numerous great bistros and restaurants with beautifully decorated windows - truly a visual treat. The Seine is just around the corner – perfect for a romantic stroll in the evening after dinner.

Great food displays in the Latin Quarter

2. L’Opera: The Opera of Paris is a lavish building built in the beaux-arts style and is open to the public for daily visits. I first saw it with my “host mother” when I was an exchange student in 1997 and I was mesmerized by the opulence and love going back there whenever I’m in Paris.

3. See a show – either the Lido or Moulin Rouge: I’ve been to see Lido with my mom and we really enjoyed it – it is part of the culture and a fun night out. I’d suggest that you book a seat & champagne ticket only, because I’ve heard that the food isn’t that great. Remember to book ahead of time because it is very difficult to get tickets the day of the show. Oooh la la!

4. Go on a Seine Cruise : going on a river cruise is a cliché, but it’s a great one – especially for people who love to take photographs. You can get the greatest angles of the Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower etc from the boat and see some interesting things like the smallest apartment in Paris (it really is VERY small). Perhaps it’s a good idea to do the cruise at the beginning of the trip to get yourself better acquainted with the layout of the city.

The Seine at night - so romantic!

5. Dinner on the Eiffel Tower : I have never been to dinner on the Eiffel Tower , but I’ve heard from many people (two of them being my brother and sister-in-law) that it is a fantastic experience. So, even though I have never done it, I fully intend to add that to my list of things to do in Paris next time I’m lucky enough to visit that fabulous city!

6. Wander around the Montmartre: The Montmartre is such an amazing place! Not only the Sacre Coeur church, but the area around it as well. If you want your portrait painted or want to purchase Parisian paintings, wait till you are at the artist square, because that is where you will find the best artists.(in my opinion) Many famous painters like van Gogh, Picasso and Dali all had studios in this area and it is easy to see why - it is a beautiful area and you get a breathtaking view of Paris from the hill. What makes the Montmartre even more special, is the fact that my friends, Drama Princess and Photo Boy got engaged right in front of the church. I knew exactly what was about to happen (since Photo Boy discussed his plans with me), so I made up some story about quickly going to a shop so that he could have his moment to pop the question. Afterwards I waited for them at a cafe to celebrate - what a great memory!

Sacre Coeur Church on the Montmartre Hill

7. Visit the Salvador Dali Museum : The museum is in the area of the Montmartre, close to the artist square – I just love going there - such a great experience! The gift shop is also worth a visit.

8. Arc de Triomphe: I don’t really need to say much about this amazing place. Perhaps a word of advice – don’t run across the lanes to get to the arch, take the stairs down and walk in the walkway underneath the road - its much safer. (I’ve seen a few narrow escapes there)

The Arc de Triomphe

9. Notre Dame de Paris: Extraordinarily beautiful – a must-see. Every time I walk into the church I get goose-pumps - a truly spiritual feeling.

10. Musee d’Orsay: My favorite museum in Paris – especially the bronze statue of Degas’s ballerina – magnifique! Do yourself a favor and go to the museum’s restaurant for lunch or a drink. It is stunningly beautiful. Great history too – the museum used to be an old train station – I just love it!

That's the first 10 - the next will follow soon!
Just thinking about all of these amazing places makes me want to be there...soon, hopefully!

What's in a name?

During the year between finishing University and moving to London, I did a course to become a qualified tour guide in the Western Cape. My thought process was…. I love travelling, so I’ll take other people who love travelling around in my area and that will feel like I’m travelling every day. It was a great idea and if I still lived in South Africa, I would absolutely be doing this job and LOVE it.

The course was very interesting. I learnt so many things about my own country/province and I was fascinated by everything that we had to offer travelers. My fellow students were just as interesting and everyone was so different and came from such different backgrounds. We were quite the group.

On our Franschoek daytrip, we got some spare time to get to know the town and since I grew up in the town just next to it, Paarl, I felt I knew the town well enough. As we arrived, everyone went in different directions and I had trouble deciding which group to join. Our 2 Bloemfontein Doctors, (Bloemfontein is a city in the middle of South Africa in the Freestate province) who were both successful in their medical practices but decided that they wanted to start a travel company too, told me that they were going on a culinary expedition, so I decided to join them. We went to Le Quartier Français, one of my favorite restaurants in town. (The restaurant has 2 sections, a formal dining room and a more relaxed patio and bar section). As we sat down, they both ordered the lamb burger and since we were limited for time, I ordered the same – it was divine and I still go back for it whenever I can. Lamb burger on foccacia bread with cucumber – yum!

We talked about travel and food and how they can truly compliment each other and that day, the term culinary expedition just stuck in my head. I decided that while on my travels, I would try to eat as much of the local food as I could or as my Western brain would allow (dogs, scorpions, worms etc are out of the question for me), so when I had to decide on a name for my blog, it quickly came to me: Culinary Expedition. When I travel, I don’t just want to get to know the towns, area and history, but I also love getting to know the food and drinks of the area, so I guess each trip that I take becomes an expedition/journey/voyage – not just to find great places, but great food too.

Just a little bit about Franschoek:

Franschoek was first called Olifantshoek (Elephant’s corner) because of all the elephants that used to roam the area, but after many of the French Huguenots (who fled religious persecution in France) arrived South Africa in 1688, they were given some land in the area to live on and it became known as Franschoek (French Corner). Today still, the influence of the French is very strong in the town, many restaurants and wine farms have French names and there is an annual Bastille Day festival celebrated in the town. The picturesque valley of Franschoek is surrounded by impressive mountains and covered with vineyards - truly a beautiful place to see. I would highly recommend that anyone travelling to Cape Town, drive to Franschoek and Paarl for the day or even to spend a few days, for some sightseeing, wine tasting, wonderful meals at some of the highly acclaimed restaurants and just breathtaking views. http://www.fwvta.co.za

Here I am...

So, here I am… I’ve just spent 3 weeks in South Africa (about a month ago) and 3 days in Beaver Creek at the Bon Appétit food festival (1 week ago), and I’m already wondering when my next trip will take place. Its official: I’m travel obsessed! The only thing that I love more than traveling (except for my husband, family and friends off course) is eating local food while traveling!

I got my deep love for traveling from my dad. He took my mom on a few exotic vacations like Mauritius , and when I was 13, he decided to take our family of 4 to Europe for 3 weeks. Mom thought it was too expensive to take my brother and I, but my dad felt that we were old enough to really appreciate Europe in all its wonder. During the 3 weeks we spent time in Italy (Rome, Venice, Marina de Carara, Pisa, The Dolomites), Spain (Malaga , Torremolinos, Seville), Paris, Munich, Salzburg, Oberammergau etc. I was hooked! Not only were the seeds planted for a need to travel and explore, but this trip also gave me a greater appreciation for world history, different cuisines, languages and my dad. I’m so grateful to him for deciding to take us on this life-changing trip, because little did he know that this would be our final big family vacation – a few months later, he died in a car accident. When I think about my dad and great times, this trip always ranks right up there!

We traveled like typical tourists - we drove a lot, walked for miles, used shocking pronunciation and just generally annoyed the locals by getting lost and standing in the way of their every day lives as we tried to find our way in their amazing cities. It was sometimes embarrassing (come on – we were teenagers) but mostly, it was exhilarating. The things we did and saw were just not something that most South Africans ever get to experience in their lives. We were blessed and I was thankful. I was ready to see more of the world…as much as I could…the travel bug bit me…not a small dainty teaser, but a big scream-worthy bite. So I decided to use every single cent that me dad left me, to travel to as many places as I could.

I have traveled all over most of Western Europe and to a few exotic places like Mauritius , The Bahamas and Mexico , and there is still so much left to see. After I finished University, I moved to London for 2 years and ended up staying almost 7 years. My husband and I now live in America and I fully intend on traveling throughout this amazing country, as much as our dollars and few vacation days will allow us to. (Thank goodness I married a fellow travel lover!)

By writing this blog, I’m not hoping to change people’s lives, I just thought I’d share some of my favorite travel moments, tips, foods, recipes and perhaps inspire a few people to visit other countries, try other cuisines or to even become a tourist in their own.

I’m on a culinary expedition!