I was listening to Nikki (the ‘I Believe’ girl) Yanofsky’s new album this morning on my way to work.
The songs are beautiful jazz, with a little bit of pop and soul, and she has an amazing voice.
I’m almost tempted to go see her during the jazz festival but I’m afraid my fascination is because she’s young and so talented.
Maybe my admiration is the kind reserved for child prodigies.

Someone suggested I listen to the album – because it’s ‘music to inspire travel’ as I’ve been a little obsessed with traveling lately.

It’s just a few months till September.
I spent the last week planning my vacation.
I usually take my vacation in September.

September is not a (very) high travel season, it’s also not blazing hot and I get to spend the summer in Vancouver which is the only time our weather is awesome.

When planning, I started off wanting to go to the same places I’d always gone, doing the same things I’d done.

But then I decided I wanted to try something different this year.
I’m going to rent a tiny apartment in Paris, and for a few weeks live out my Parisian fantasy.
I already have my days planned out; my days will be filled visiting open markets, boulangeries, little neighbourhood cafés, museums, sightseeing, brocantes and puces.
I’ll take a long scenic train ride to London one weekend to visit with friends and family.
It’s all I’ve been working on for the past while and it’s very exciting, I think waiting is going to be the hardest.
And when I finally return home, I want to have changed a little – because for a few weeks I lived a different life.

I opened my piggy bank tonight; it’s something I do yearly.

I get a piggy bank at the start of the year, and break it open at the end of the year.

I couldn’t/didn’t save much this year, but it’s enough for a few Christmas gifts.

Maybe next year I’ll save enough for Christmas in Paris.

Speaking of Paris, the city is trying to get a .paris domain extension approved by ICANN.

You can go here to sign a petition, if you’re so inclined.

Here are ten random photos of Paris I love today.

Magasins Réunis Etoile – Now an FNAC store

Old yellow La Poste boxes

A dramatic window.

Signs to places you want to go.

Fountain at Place de la Concorde

Buses that stop here to take you places.

The huge museum that’s the Louvre.

A footbridge named for the first president of Senegal; Léopold Sédar Senghor

The bride wore a kimono.

See Paris from a boat, on the Seine.

I got asked the other day what I ate on my vacation and I had to think about it for a minute.
It feels like ages ago now, being a vegetarian and a picky eater, I try not to make too much fuss about the food I eat.
Luckily I had some really great food; even though I didn’t always have time to sit down to a proper meal.
I drank a lot of Lucozade for all those times I was running around.
I had foods I hadn’t eaten in ages, foods that reminded me of Ghana and other far off places; I drank real ginger beer like the kind I used to drink at Paa Amadu’s.
Here are a few of my favourite culinary experiences, not included are those scrumptious foods of friends and family because… well, I wouldn’t want you to show up at their door.

Base Brasserie & Cafe – Baker Street, London
I found Base thanks to the Google Places app on my phone, it’s very close to the tube station, I was hungry and the reviews didn’t suck.
I had lunch there, the atmosphere is charming and stylish and the food French/Mediterranean.
I had a really good pan-fried aubergine wrap with humus.
The service was amazing; our French waiter gave us valuable tips on what to do in Paris.

Caffé Nero – Various locations
I feel I have to give this chain its due, travelling with a heavy coffee drinker we made a lot of coffee stops and the drinks were always consistent here.
And that was a good thing.

La Frégate – 1, Rue du Bac, Paris
Very friendly and attentive service here, I had the salade végétarriene which was amazing!
I never thought a simple salad with Dijon mustard dressing could be that good.
They also have a great selection of good wines.
It’s in a central location close to Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre, and right by the Seine.
The décor is stunning, just like you’d imagine a brasserie in Paris.

Publicis Drugstore – Av des Champs-Elysées, Paris
This isn’t just a drugstore; it has two restaurants, cinemas, boutique, bookstore, wine cellar, room humidor, grocery store and a fancy drugstore.
We had drinks here at the bar; it was worth it just for the location.
It’s at the top (or is it end) of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, close to the Arc de Triomphe.
The patio is great for relaxing and people watching. Nice ambience too.

Pierre Hermé – Publicis Drugstore
Guy says macarons are an excuse for grown adults to eat happy colourful sweets often meant for children.
But I love macarons! I would live off macarons if I could except it’s really hard to find good macaron in our part of the world (not that I’m an expert or anything).
Fortunately, Paris is the land of pastries and Pierre Hermé the Picasso of macarons.
There’s a small Pierre Hermé shop in Publicis, and there are no queues as there are in his other shops, although the selections are probably limited here.
His macarons are simply inspiring, delicious and bewitching, the rose and quince macaron is possibly the most exquisite thing I’ve ever tasted.

(more…)

My great-aunt Felicia loved traveling. She and my great-uncle were diplomats who traveled the world over for work and leisure.

When we were kids, she used to say that every adult, at least once in their life had to visit these two places: Paris & Gbadolite, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo).

She said “go to Paris to be inspired and Gbadolite to learn the importance of being humble”.

I went to Paris bearing this in mind, prepared to be inspired.

Inspiration hit me the minute I landed at Roissy because everyone seemed so happy to be there.

Of course, they were in Paris!

Paris is a magical, mystical, and romantic place with extraordinary architecture, culture and history.

We started out at the Arc de Triomphe, it was still early in the morning and the city had just awoken.

Tourists started gathering, shops and cafés were opening and the locals were getting to work.

We walked under chestnut trees on Champs-Élysées, browsed luxury shops and people-watched from one of the many outdoor cafés.

(more…)