Day Trip from Paris: Le Château de Versailles

September 27, 2016March 18, 2021 / toumemoir / Leave a comment

Escaping the congestion of Paris and journeying to Versailles was a much appreciated experience for me. The train ride was remarkably smooth and quick; I rested my leg on the seat opposite me and just stared out the window in silence, lost in the calm of it all, while appreciating the scenery.

I had expected the lineup to buy tickets at the Château de Versailles to be long, but it was surprisingly short and I got my tickets after just a brief wait. That didn’t mean the Château wasn’t crowded, though; in fact, it was so packed that we could’ve all shared one breath in the same room. Nevertheless, the Château was undeniably majestic, particularly the Hall of Mirrors.

Just as I had felt in Paris, it felt surreal to be physically there after witnessing its beauty on the Internet for so many years. But more than the Château itself, I fell in love with Versailles’s streets and nooks and crannies. I particularly enjoyed peeking into bakery windows and salivating over the delectable sweets (there were even meringues as big as my face!). I also ate the best baguette sandwich; the bread was almost pretzel-like!

Delicious pretzel-like baguette

I’m glad I allocated most of my time exploring surrounding markets and sitting at empty gardens aside from visiting the Château that day; there were no tourists, only locals. As with any country, when you escape the city centre and its hustle and bustle, oftentimes you’d gather that locals tend to be more relaxed, and that’s what I sensed here: a collective tranquility looming in the air. Here are some neat finds.

I’m writing this as I’m waiting for my flight to Prague. See you again shortly, Paris!

Paris, France: Macarons and gluttony

September 26, 2016May 11, 2020 / toumemoir / Leave a comment

Opera

Can you spot my beloved Molière hiding somewhere?

There I am!

After becoming familiar myself with the metro and the whereabouts of the main sites, I helped my roommate navigate maps and adopted the role of mother goose. She was a snazzy partner, reason being that I’ve never met anyone who enjoyed taking so many photos of oneself. Nevertheless, she was quite the character and we had a great time.

We started at the Galeries Lafayette and walked to Le Louvre, and continued past the Jardin des Tuileries to la Place de la Concorde, walking across the Champs-Élysées to l’Arc de Triomphe and then to the Trocadéro, and finally, to the Eiffel Tower and the Champ de Mars. A long walk, to be sure!

Ladurée @ 75 Ave. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris

Eating macarons from Ladurée was one activity I had set to accomplish in Paris. The second time I walked along the Champs-Élysées, I actively sought out this maison classique and purchased a box of six macarons, which cost 17.10€. The six flavours I chose were caramel lemon, orange blossom, iced mint, pecan vanilla, rose petal, and either pistachio or tonka (I forget the last one!).

My initial plan was to take a bite of each flavour and save the rest for the next day, but knowing me, that wasn’t going to happen; and so, I ate all six in one sitting. (In reality it was half on a bench in front of the store and the rest under the Eiffel Tower later that evening.) After all, I’m in Paris and the gods of glutton are in my favour.

I’m no macaron connoisseur, but I must rave a little and say they were divine; the flavouring was edgy and light, with seemingly a hint of parfum. I wish I could bring some home for loved ones, but I’ll be travelling for quite some time.

My camera battery died just as I tried snapping a photo of the macarons, but luckily, it held on to its breath long enough to allow me a final photo at the Trocadéro. I returned home later to grab another spare battery, and I’m glad I did, because Le Jardin du Luxembourg was a heavenly sight — one of my most loved spots in Paris, thus far.

View of the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadéro

Palais du Luxembourg, Jardin du Luxembourg

Le Panthéon

Paris, France: Little red shoes at Le Louvre

September 26, 2016March 18, 2021 / toumemoir / Leave a comment

Solo travel is a treat; you could do whatever your heart desires anytime and anywhere. I had always imagined myself going to an art gallery or museum in Paris alone and getting lost with time; the idea of it is so romantique. And that’s what I did: I ventured to Paris’s monumental and iconic museum by myself, with only my little red shoes for company.

I felt cute that day, with my dress and little red shoes. 🙂

It was a bright and sunny morning; I woke up early, enjoyed a croissant and coffee breakfast, and took the metro to Le Louvre. At 9:30am the lineups had already begun zigzagging like a maze, and even if I stood in the non-ticket line for almost two hours that morning, it was the most relaxing moment I had experienced to date.

Being alone is wondrous; I could easily blend in and get lost in the commotion of my surroundings. Moreover, the mindless chatter dissipates, time freezes, and my senses sharpen and I become more aware. This time — as I usually do — I played the keen observer and studied the motion of the countless bodies encircling me, until of course it was time to go in.

Le Louvre was immense as I had anticipated — a real beauty, to be sure. Except that it was really crowded — so crowded, I could feel my head spinning. For that reason, I didn’t stay for long, only long enough to do a quick run and to see the Mona Lisa. That painting by Leonardo da Vinci was by far the most sought out piece of artwork, with cameras hovering left and right in the air. I said “hello” to the Mona Lisa and then scurried away from the crowd.

After Le Louvre, I walked along the Jardin des Tuileries — a pleasant breath of fresh air away from the enclosed space with dancing bodies. It was a lovely sight seeing everyone relaxing on the grass or on the benches, eating away their sandwiches or, you know, kissing or smooching. I, too, bought myself a baguette sandwich (a delicious salmon one) and sat on a chair under the shade to enjoy the afternoon weather. I could feel my body and mind breathing peacefully, and I sighed with sweet contentment.

Place de la Concorde

L’Arc de Triomphe

Le Jardin des Tuileries was followed by a walk towards the Place de la Concorde, which then led to the Champs Élysées, and at the foot of this long stretch was the Arc de Triomphe.

Sacré-Coeur

It was a long day of walking and exploring the vicinities of different arrondisements, and needing a quick rest, I returned to my hostel, only to encounter two new fantastic roommates: J from Brazil and O from Spain, and together we ventured to explore Montmartre, and just like all areas of Paris, it was imbued with its own quirky culture and vibe.

Paris, France: Postcards from me to you

September 20, 2016March 18, 2021 / toumemoir / Leave a comment

Dearest Friends, I’m now in Paris, and hereby send you virtual postcards (through photos, that is)! Despite feeling a bit jet-lagged from the time zone difference, I mustered the energy to visit some of the city’s iconic spots; I found my abode, dropped off my luggage, and sailed with the wind. After all, I’m in Paris, which means that there’s no time to waste!

Notre Dame Cathedral

I’d initially planned to climb the Notre Dame towers, as it’s one of the main sites to get a neat, comprehensive view of the city with fearsome (and super cool) gargoyles for company, but then I realized that I was too optimistic; the line up was as long as the Nile River. I didn’t get to go inside either, as the line up for that was even more serpentine. This was surprising to me as I’d expected September to be the off-season, but then again, who am I kidding, it’s Paris! Nevertheless, for now I got to admire the Cathedral’s fine French gothic architectural details from the outside, instead.

Bouquinistes along the Seine River

I knew I was in Paris when, walking along the Seine River, I see two iconic sceneries: people eating their French baguette sandwiches by the water, and the stands of bouquinistes along the Seine, which sell old, antique books and reading materials. It was eye candy-type eyesight; I even bought a newspaper for my sister’s print collection.

Shakespeare & Co

My one-sided relationship with Shakespeare & Co goes back about six years ago. I’d discovered this magical bookstore on Tumblr, and over the years, flooded my blog with photos of it while praying to the literary gods and the travel goddesses to take me to my dream bookstore. A quaint, antique, local bookshop in Paris? How friggin’ romantique for the bookworm! And now that I’ve experienced the bookstore, I feel like I’ve successfully lived my life purpose and can now retire as an old lady.

The Latin Quarter and St-Germain-des-Prés area had some picturesque side streets and nooks and crannies. In the last photo (spot him, if you please), the man waved at me and thanked me for snapping a photo of him. My day was made thanks to his lighthearted nature, and thanks to the kind, hospitable locals who helped me find my way.

I ended my first day in Paris at the Eiffel Tower, and like an old lady, retired home at 4pm. I needed sleep and my brain needed to recuperate (the commotion and hustle and bustle of cities can be taxing for an introvert’s physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being). Moreover, I knew that tomorrow an early and long day was awaiting me: I was journeying to Le Louvre!

When I arrived at CDG Airport, I could feel the excitement creep in; it felt surreal to finally be in Paris after all the years of wishing, dreaming, and romanticizing about the “City of Love.” But when I arrived in the city centre, I experienced the harsh reality of what constitutes la vie quotidienne in Paris — a fact that applies anywhere in the world — and my utopian sentiment was shattered. I also began feeling spiritually malade, and for various reasons.

This was surprising, even to me, because I’ve talked about Paris and loved it blindly since time immemorial. But then again, I don’t think I’ve ever fallen in love with any city at first sight. Be it for a place or a human being, for me, fondness has always grown slowly over time; only once I’ve experienced an elemental degree of depth, can I then love with steadfast, unswerving conviction. That’s why I’m looking forward to day two and to subsequent days: I know that it’ll only get better.

Where unicorns go

September 13, 2016March 18, 2021 / toumemoir / Leave a comment

Little Jo Berry’s @ 1305 Wellington St West, Ottawa, ON

Now that I’ve mentioned SBB, I must introduce Little Jo Berry’s, too; otherwise, my heart will break, because this newly opened local vegan cafe/bakery is my all-time favourite go-to spot for an afternoon coffee and treat, and I think it deserves all the love in the world.

Inviting and cute-as-a-button, this charming shop looks, feels, and tastes like home sweet home. With classic comfort treats like pop tarts and twinkies (even the names are music to my ears) baked with a vegan twist, I mean, how stinkin’ magical. Whenever I come here, I always feel as if I’m coming home to Grandma’s for baked goodies and hugs.

(Psst, SBB and Little Jo Berry’s are only a two-minute walk from each other, and they’re pals!)

No scones today, unfortunately, but check out some of these kewl vegan sweets!

The first time I visited Little Jo Berry’s, I encountered my twin flame. No, it wasn’t a karmic or a soulmate connection; it was a twin flame connection. Not with a human being either, but with a food item. Friends, I met the oh-so-sweet, divine love of mine: the matcha green tea scone.

I’m weak in the knees for scones and green tea desserts, and when the two dance the bachata together, golly gee, do I ever feel the electric current sizzling down my spine. Suffice it to say, that matcha scone was the best scone I’d ever had in my twenty-five years of je ne sais quoi existence — and it was vegan, too. Matcha or not, whatever the flavour, their scones are ace.

Updated, Feb 2017: The matcha scones I’d ordered back in December (which would be a few months after this post)! These scones are a hit and miss – as rare as a blue moon – so I ordered them ahead of time, and shared them with my loved ones. One’s missing from the box, of course.

And the owner, Jo? Besides the fact that she’s a versatile and talented baker, a gift from the gods of glutton, she’s supah awesome and darn adorable. Picture a little lady with dorky glasses, snazzy blue hair, a museum of funky tattoos, and a cheerful and expressive nature that could magically transform your insipid ol’ day into a sweet lullaby. I really think there ought to be a cartoon character of her, because if you’ve met her, you’d know what I mean. Her cute game is real.

Yummy choco PB pop tart and twinkie. Tables had block letters, paper, and colouring pencils for visitors to unleash their inner creativity.

I wasn’t craving anything sweet today, but I decided to return to my happy place anyway, and finally try Jo’s infamous pop tart and twinkie (these call for three thumbs up). Of course being here solidified that communal and homey feeling; besides sharing some exciting news with Jo, I also engaged in a brief exchange with a fellow customer about, of all things, PB. Who would’ve known it was PB day?

“Eat PB today,” she reminded me and smiled as I walked out the door.

And so I knew.

SBB’s adopted child

September 7, 2016March 18, 2021 / toumemoir / Leave a comment

Strawberry Blonde Bakery @ 114B Grange Avenue, Ottawa, ON

Open daily 8:30am-6:00pm

Yes, I was once SBB’s adopted child. I say “adopted” because that’s the literal word I used when I wrote a spontaneous email outlining my deep-rooted passion for baking — which in retrospect sounded more like a creepy declaration of love — to star owners, J and C, in my desperate hopes of landing a volunteering position there, once upon a blue moon ago. And Reader, adopt me they did.

I’m still deeply grateful that these lovely ladies and E, the manager at the time, took a chance on me. I didn’t have a baking background or any baking credentials whatsoever; I just had my word and my puppy dog eyes that reflected a desire so real and deep, that they felt it too. The best gift was their belief in me, and seeing how passionate I was and how eager I was to learn, they welcomed me into their quaint little bakery with open arms.

During what little time I’d spent with my SBB family, I was given the opportunity to bake all sorts of desserts, with E and my co-workers to help lead the way. Bakery life was no walk in the park, I realized — as with any job, it requires hard work, discipline, commitment, time-management, and the will to succeed — but at the end of the day, being able to create scrumptious treats and to exercise my creativity in a fun and creative environment, with creative and inspiring people, was the cherry on top.

Fast forward to today.

Would I still want to pursue a career in the baking industry? Probably not. Indeed, there goes my wild, passionate dream. But what I can say with certainty is that I’m glad I pursued different interests after graduating from university, and took a chance on the callings of my heart. That’s the only way I could’ve discovered uncharted avenues within myself: by doing things and taking chances, no matter how absurd. And sometimes, what I think I want, isn’t what I truly want; and my soul, the wisest of the wise, knows, and I trust its wisdom.

I didn’t mention it yet, but dear vegans and gluten-free people, this is a vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free bakery! The best of its kind in Ottawa, I dare say. Not because I’m biased, but because the mother whale in me has already been around town sampling treats from all walks of life, and this bakery here is a keeper. Plus, as a non-vegan and non-gluten-free nutty, if I purposely come here for desserts, then you know what’s crackin’. Try their cinnamon buns, please and thank you.

Like a faithful child returning to its parents’ arms, today I went back for another visit. I’ve always wanted to try their blueberry lavender scones because they sound so exotic and I enjoy trying unique flavours; and luckily for me, they were on today’s menu. (I’m a young woman with old lady tendencies — I love tea and scones; in fact, scones are the highlight of my existence.)

Their blueberry lavender scone was kickass. I died and went to heaven, then came back down because I heard a human voice, which smacked me upside the head. “Is it good?” a lady walked up to me and asked, as I was sitting outside enjoying my scone, on cloud-9. “REALLY good,” I said. So good, I returned a few hours later to buy the vanilla peach scone to take home.

They raised me well, and as their long, lost adopted child, even if I’m chasing my tail in circles, I shall never wander far, and will always find my way back to my roots.