One of the city I discovered during my trip is Girona, Catalonia’s capital.

Our group was taken on a fun guided tour that showed us what to do in Girona, and we learned more about the sights and history. I particularly loved the story about locals kissing the lion statue’s ass to get in the city after the doors were closed in Roman times… I didn’t dare to, but needless to say it’s a very popular attraction!

My favorite part, however, was standing on the bridge near Sant Feliu’s Church and admire the typical Girona houses, called cases penjades, along the Onyar River, in every possible shade of pink, yellow and orange. It seems like they are piling on top of each other in a chaoticm yet beautiful way. A municipal rule actually stated that whenever someone wants to repaint a facade in Girona, it has to be one of the 700 pre-selected colors, in order to maintain a coherent color theme throughout the city. Pretty smart!

Girona's Old Jewish Quarter

Girona actually has a pretty important Jewish heritage, and the Old Jewish quarter is one of the prettiest, with dozens of narrow, dark alleys. Up until their expulsion of Catalonia in 1492, Jews flourished in the area and developed an intricate network of patios, which they used to meet up, away from the Christian eyes. These patios are now part of the famous Temps de Flors festival and host amazing flower displays every year.

Cathedral Saint Mary of Girona

Another important attraction is the Girona Cathedral, well known for its quirky architectural details, including the widest Gothic nave in the world. Its construction, which started in the 11th century and ended in the 18th, was spread over so many years that it’s actually changed styles! There are touches of Roman, Gothic and Baroque architecture, making it totally unique.

After this thorough visit of Girona, I have to admit that I am somewhat ashamed of myself for not visiting sooner because of my lack of knowledge. It’s a beautiful city, filled with romantic alleys, colorful houses and a rich history, and a great introduction to the rest of Catalonia. And not to speak of Girona restaurants…

Disclaimer: I was offered a complimentary blog trip by Charming Villas Catalonia. As always, all opinions are my own.

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This is one of the villas we stayed in during our trip. Sa Vista Villa is an amazing property located right in the middle of Port Lligat in Cadaques, and it’s one of the most luxurious and design places I have ever visited (and stayed in!), complete with chef kitchen, infinity pool and  luxurious bed! I got a eyeful of the sunrise from my room – such a magical moment!

As you read this, I am having the time of my life in sunny Catalonia after a month of freezing weather in France. Our small group of bloggers are learning how to make authentic paella, visiting Dali’s museum, exploring Girona and Cadaques, and discovering the many villas offered to us. I can’t wait to start sharing my experience with you later this week!

Hasta luego, Espana!

Have you ever stayed in a villa before? Have you visited Catalonia outside of Barcelona? 

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Because it’s got amazing architecture.

Because it’s in a perfect location.

The Savoie region is ideally located to visit a number of interesting places, starting East Lyon and the Beaujolais wineries,  South with the famous Provence, French Riviera and the French Alps, North with Geneva and the surroundings of its beautiful lake, and West with the Italian Alps. Really, you can’t go out of things to do around Annecy, even just a few minutes away!

Because its lake is one of the prettiest, largest and oldest lakes of France.

Yes, turquoise water outside the French Riviera! It looks so pure! The lake is also well-known for being one of the cleanest in Europe and boasts dozens of different species of birds.

Because it’s got history.

Annecy is located in the Savoie region, which, up until 1860, was  an independant state. It sometimes including northern Italy, sometimes Eastern Switzerland – talk about a mixed background! The area was also very popular during both the French revolution in the late 1700s, and earlier during the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. The famous medieval castle is definitely worth checking out too!

Because it has a village feel despite its actual size.

The “interesting” part of Annecy, if I may say, is actually pretty small and definitely gives the impression of being a tiny, medieval village you can wander in freely. The cheerful locals are always more than happy to interact and chat, and love helping tourists discover their beloved hometown – something you would not necessarily expect in a place with more than 50,000 inhabitants!

Because the local food is mouth-watering.

Perhaps the best reason for visiting Annecy is the local food. I rarely had such a love affair like this! Between the Reblochon, Tome and other cheeses, saucissons secs, terrine, and the god-sent Savoyarde fondue, my taste buds are in overdrive and don’t know where to start. I have considered doing the 3 hour drive just to get a taste of that famous fondue- that says a lot considering I hated cheese fondue before having one in Annecy!

I am definitely looking forward to my next visit later this year. Annecy is one of, if not the best, option of countryside France and I cannot recommend it enough. The friendly locals, the delicacies and the amazing scenery are not something you will regret traveling for!

Have you been to Annecy or Savoie? What did you think of it? Do you know of other towns like this one in France? 

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What I noticed throughout my visits there is how strikingly different the four seasons in Hyde Park are, and just how beautiful it can get at any given time.

My favorite, however, has to be fall. I have a thing for this particular season, and seeing the bright orange leaves makes me nothing short of ecstatic and giddy. Strolling around with a warm coffee in hand and a cozy scarf? Yes please.

Hyde Park’s spring also has a special atmosphere. God knows British winter can be daunting!  So when the magnolias finally bloom and the flowers come out, Hyde Park gets a magical makeover, which is always more than welcome. Exit the perpetual gray cloud, and in comes the reds, purples and yellows!

And then the always too short summer comes around. Time for the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain and suntanning sessions in these chairs! The park gets all possible shades of green and is truly a little piece of heaven away from the hustle.

But every once in a while, London gets its share of snow. People don’t go to work, buses stop running and everyone is allowed to be a child for the day. Hard to believe it’s the same park, eh? The white coat gives it a whole other look.

The four seasons of Hyde Park are quite a show, year after year, and it never fails to disappoint. But after walking all day in and around the park, I could certainly indulge in one of these spa hotels and treat my feet to some well-deserved pampering. Hyde Park is very pretty – but it’s exhausting!

Do you also love Hyde Park? What’s your favorite green space in London? Or in another city?

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Pierre Hermé or La Durée?

But when you want to have the best macarons in Paris, where do you go? With so many choices it’s hard to pick just one – but most guidebooks and locals agree that the competition is mainly between Ladurée and Pierre Hermé, both famous for their high quality products.

I have once again sacrificed myself in the quest of finding out which one has the very best of these heaven-sent sweet goodies. You’re welcome.

Both companies have several branches over Paris and beyond. I visited Ladurée on Champs-Élysées, and Pierre Hermé in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. To say that the two stores were world apart is an understatement – on one hand, you have this romantic, ornate 1800s decor and on the other, ultra modern sleek lines and dark colors. Both were equally beautiful (and employees equally rude, but hey, it’s Paris), but I feel that La Durée definitely fits the whole whimsical macaron experience a little better. The tea rooms in Ladurée were also extremely appealing!

But when it comes to macarons… it’s all about the taste, right?

My stupid taste buds and I are a bit on the conservative side when it comes to tasting new things – shocking, for a traveler, I know. I found that Pierre Hermé’s selection was a bit on the small side and overly adventurous, however I did appreciate the classic French flavors like crème brûlée. But mixes like olive oil and mandarin were just too much for me! Ladurée has a wider, more varied selection that goes from traditional pistachio to unusual pear & chestnut, so it pleases all kinds of crowds.

In the end, out of the 5 macarons I picked at Pierre Hermé , I only really liked the crème brûlée one. I found the taste too strong and almost too artificial to be true in all others, sadly (and, gasp! I didn’t even like the chocolate one!) I did find that the macarons were thicker and in overall prettier than Ladurée’s, but like I said earlier, it’s all about the taste and little else. With that in mind, my vote definitely goes out to Ladurée.

Not only are the macarons less expensive, they also taste better and come in all sorts of fun packages. Ladurée may be a bit touristy, but it’s only because they are the best macarons in Paris!

My favorite flavors?  Salty caramel, blackcurrant, pistachio and vanilla. These taste like heaven!

What are your thoughts on this? Ladurée, Pierre Hermé or others? Are you a fan of macarons or sweet treats in general? 

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It seems like all the things I didn’t like at first, like the rudeness, the dirt, the exorbitant price of museum tickets, were all erased in favor of…

… Classic sights in the sunset

… Amazing, romantic architecture

… Out-of-this-world hotels

… Yummy treats

For all these beautiful reasons, I think I might love with Paris. But don’t get me wrong here – I still love London more. But the prospect of being in Paris doesn’t sound so irritating anymore. Between you and me, I might even be looking forward to my next trip. But shhh.

Did you have a hard time adjusting to Paris or was it love at first sight? Are there other cities where you felt the same way, good or bad?

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While some might think the hotel isn’t in a good location, I thought exactly the opposite. It’s located a short walk from Les Gobelins métro station, and it allowed me to discover a whole new arrondissement (the famous rue Mouffetard and its shops, the beautiful Place d’Italie, the Jardins du Luxembourg, etc). Less touristy Paris, more local? Yes please.

The Seven Hotel features all kinds of little extras, like macarons for breakfast, room service, iPod docks and espresso machines in every room, huge plasma TVs, spa services, free WiFi and top-notch bathroom products. All of this mixed with everything that makes this hotel so cozy, stylish and welcoming at the same time, to say I had an amazing stay is a slight understatement.

Speaking of suites, I stayed in two different ones. The first, called Marie-Antoinette, was whimsical and girly to say the least. Yes, my husband did feel slightly emasculated in there, surrounded by pink cushions and the clawfoot tub, but I felt like I was in my inner 7 year-old princess idea of heaven! The crystal, the colorful touches, the fancy bath products, the dreamy bed – good lord, the amazing bed! One of the most comfortable ones ever – I slept through the night without waking up and when I did, I never wanted to get up, much less get out of this room!

Then I was offered the Diamant noir suite, located on the 6th floor. It was a world apart from the Marie-Antoinette suite, with black walls, rugs, bathroom and furniture, with touches of clear crystal and white fabric. As much as I loved the whole room, my heart goes to the multi body-jets shower (7 to be exact), complete with rainshower and a seating bench. The Swarovski sink also got a few points on my glamour test! The suite felt extremely luxurious – and plus, my husband gained his virility back. Then it was his turn to wish he could stay there forever.

What I noticed from the suites at Hotel Seven is that nothing is generic – every item seemed custom-made, from the bed to the bathtubs to the desks. And after discussing this with the owner of Elegancia Hotels, he confirmed that all rooms and everything in it are indeed completely unique and were part of his whole “passion before business” concept. His wish to create never-before-seen hotels came true in a very pretty form, I must say.

The Hotel Seven in Paris is definitely on top of my favorite hotels ever, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a special experience in the city of lights. Luxury rooms, good location, awesome service and quirky details – what’s not to like?

What’s your favorite hotel in Paris? Do you favor boutique hotels over generic chains? What’s the most unique hotel you’ve stayed in?

Disclaimer: I was offered a complimentary stay at Hotel Seven Paris in exchange of a review. As always, all opinions are my own.

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I took these photos on my way back from the Film Fest, and let me tell you, it is not easy to get good shots with a camera phone during a snow storm!

A friendly snow ball fight was in order, the perfect activity to use up the usual snowstorm guidiness! Iit reminded me of the famous snowfall when I was in London, and needless to say that even though I could barely feel my toes anymore, I went home with a smile that night.

Have you experienced a snowfall during your travels? In unexpected places? Do you travel uniquely for the snow?

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No. It was too good already – karma had to keep it down a notch.

My now-fiancé and I were strolling on the Carriage Drive, contemplating our future together, in the usual post-engagement bliss. In my excitement and my oh-my-god-this-is-such-a-beautiful-day state of mind, I kind of swiped away my common sense and got overly excited at the sight of dozens of squirrels right at my feet. It’s not every day a wild animal approaches passers by, I was not going to let this occasion slip by!

Well hello there.

The squirrels kept coming and running around me, and I thought it was all pretty funny. You know how cute squirrels can be, right? Then, I remembered I had a granola bar in my purse – the ideal squirrel-snack, I thought. I started throwing some pieces here and there, until I had the most brilliant idea of my life.

Let’s hand-feed them.

However, my granola bar was pretty much already done, and I had very few pieces left. I started tempting them into coming even closer to me so I could get the perfect shot of me feeding a cute English squirrel (because yes, they are much cuter than their foreign equivalents).

That’s not exactly what happened.

As soon as I got close enough to the squirrel to feed it, not only did it steal the last piece of my granola bar, it also took the liberty of taking a piece of my thumb. You read that right – the little bugger bit me! I didn’t really hurt at first and it only bled a little, so I thought it was kind of funny.

Tempting, uh?

Only then did I started thinking that squirrels were just rats with a cuter outfit (thank you Carrie Bradshaw for this memorable quote). They are wild animals. They carry diseases. I was bitten, and I was going to die of tetanus. Or rabies. Or worse! My panicked mind didn’t know what to do and by then, I was starting to bleed quite a bit. I did not know this neighborhood well, and I needed to find a pharmacy or a hospital.

My fiancé (thank God I married him) had the presence of mind to ask passers-by about a pharmacy. An elder couple was definitely willing to help, and they started asking very pertinent questions, like…

“What color was the squirrel? Was it grey or red?”

What the hell does it matter?! Ever the Canadian, I thanked them profusely even though I was internally fuming. And still bleeding. I ventured out and ended up at a close by hospital, where I was able to get my bite cleaned up, my tetanus shot renewed and penicilen tabs, just in case. In the end it was all fine, but that was still one hell of a change of plans, to say the least! I bet my fiancé hadn’t thought about the possibility of me running to a hospital after he proposed!

Do not be fooled by the cute furry coat!

I know I made a fool of myself that day, and let me tell you, squirrels are vicious little creatures, devils hidden under a furry coat, and never again will you see me approach one.  I had my lesson, and I much prefer the animals in a zoo, now, thank you very much!

Did you ever have a mishap with wild animals on your travels? Are more on the safe or adventurous side?

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courtesy of Clermont Film Festival

The festival is in full swing as I write this. I have been to three sessions already, and have three more planned until Friday. It’s my first time at a short film festival and I really wasn’t familiar with this particular format, but I have to say, it’s kind of fun!

59 different sessions are spread on over the week, each featuring 5 or 6 short films that can last anywhere from 5 minutes to 40 – how cool is that?

There are several genres featured, from futuristic cartoons to dark humor, thriller to documentary. Attending the Film Fest is definitely a great way to explore new horizons, film wise. I’ve seen a documentary on a French child growing up in Zaire, a cartoon on a Spanish woman who dances with the corpse of her dead husband and a comedy about a old Norwegian man that built a giant tuba to communicate sounds across the ocean.

Eclectic? Yes. Wonderfully interesting? Absolutely.

If you have booked a hotel in Paris, make sure to hop on the train and visit Clermont-Ferrand to attend the Film Festival. Most movies are subtitled in French and English, giving you no excuse not to be there. Or worst case scenario, get a cheap French lesson! At 3,50 euros per ticket, it’s truly worth it.

Have you ever been to a short film festival? Or a festival during your travels?

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In honor of all these wonderful things and my love for London, I created a photo essay that I hope represents it well. A fast-forward eclectic mix of everything, if you will!

That’s the first picture I took of London, ever. My photography skills have developed since then, but I still get goosebumps whenever I look at this one. I had just gotten in London in the morning and slept through the day, completely exhausted (moving everything you own to another country will do that to you). I woke up an hour or two before dusk and ventured out on my own, right in time for this magical sunset.

London is definitely a city of icons and landmarks known worldwide, most of the time filled with giddy tourists in white running shoes. Despite that, I still find myself impressed by these places (giggle-free) – it’s like a reality check every time, a reminder of how privileged I am to see all this.

I used the famous TKTS booth to go see Chicago in 2009, and I absolutely loved it. It was the first time I saw that musical and I would go again in a heartbeat!

London is definitely a city with a big history. No matter where you go, you can step back 100, 200 and even 500 years back. Westminster Abbey is a great example of that, with cloisters that date back to the 1400s. 13th century meets…

… 21st century! Nice contrast, eh? That’s London for you. Architecture of all possible kinds, creating a unique, eclectic blend.

No photo essay of London would be complete without a hint at its many, many green spaces. Did you know that 1/3 of London is actually a park?

No matter where you look around you, there’s always something to catch your eye.

So this is my London. I think a little part of my heart will always remain there, no matter where is physically is! And if you love the city as much as I do, why not book one of these holiday apartments London?

Love London!

Are you a fan of London? What are your favorite photos of London? What’s your favorite thing to do, or place to go? Do you have good memories in the city?

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Harrison and McCartney's birth homes

The tour features several significant points in the Beatles life, including the birthplaces of Lennon, Harrison and McCartney. It was kind of surreal to be there! Who knew, at that time, just who these little boys would become? Only the members of the most famous band in the world!

My favorite stop, though, was definitely the famous Penny Lane. According to the tour guide, the city of Liverpool has to replace the street sign several times a year, either because of theft, vandalism or other profanities. Truth or myth?

The next stop on the Magical Mystery Tour is the Strawberry Field, well-known for being Lennon’s playground in his younger days. It’s gotten a little run down with time, but it definitely has a little magic to it. It even has its own song!

Strawberry Field

Last but not least, the one place that made the Beatles famous. They played in this location almost 300 times! The Club also received other notable guests, like Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Queen and the Who. To say that this is an ordinary club could not be farther from the truth!

John Lennon and me at the Cavern Club

Even though I had little time for anything else in Liverpool, I’m still very glad to have been on the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour. Although I did have a hard time setting my ear to the Scouser accent… And if you happen to have more time than I did, while you are in Northern England, why not check out these Peak District cottages?

Have you been on the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour in Liverpool? Or any other music tour? What’s your favorite music related attraction?

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So in honor of the many travel plans of 2012, here’s a photo I took during my flight. Who doesn’t like sunrises on the plane?

Pretty early morning colors - I don't get to see these very often!

I noticed that the sun rises a bit later in France than it does in Montreal – this photo was taken at 08:00! It reminded me of the early November sunsets in the UK… see the difference for yourself in others countries with these cheap vacation packages!

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As my friend used to say: “For 10 euros, you can get totally drunk and sated“. And that’s absolutely true! And as much as I wanted to simply write a tapas crawl in Granada, it really doesn’t make sense on its own – I have to talk about all the booze involved!

Aw, how sweet we looked so early on in the night...

That was our first stop. Don’t we look sweet and reasonable? The boys discovered the local beer, Alhambra, while we, girls, tasted tinto de verano. It’s a mixture of red wine and Sprite, very easy to make and even more easy to drink… profusely! Very similar to sangria, it is however a little more sweet but less acid.

A few of the many, many drinks from that night...

The second bar on our itinerary was Bodegas Castaneda. That’s when it started to get serious. The drinks got bigger, as did the smiles. Sounds got louder and laughs got more frequent. We were on for a nice time, without a doubt! We were served some excellent fried fish with homemade patatas fritas… tasty! Although there were no seats available, people are welcome to have a drink standing near the bar.

Al Mundo de la Cerveza

Then we went to Al Mundo de la Cerveza. It was one of the prettiest tapas bars of that night, and I absolutely loved the many different beers offered (including the famous Duff!) and the beer memorabilia scattered everywhere.

La Chupiteria - be warned!

And last but not least, we ended up at La Chupiteria. Not so much of a tapas bar, but more of a shots bar. We were at the point where we didn’t want to eat anymore, just drink! And that’s exactly what we did. We tasted lots and lots of shots from the 120 available, covering all the colors of the rainbow and possibly every type of alcohol.

At around 5AM, we called it quits for the night and made a quick stop for kebab, the European hangover cure (as opposed to poutine in Montreal). We went to bed at 6AM, and decided that our motto for the trip would be “La fiesta y la siesta!”.

And that’s pretty much all we did!

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And boy, did I indulge.

Sleeping cat in Camden

That was during my first days in London. I decided to walk around my new neighborhood, Camden, and on one of the residential streets near Camden Street, I met this napping kitty. I couldn’t help it, I started petting him! In exchange, I was spoiled with all sorts of purrs and dirty moves only cats can do.

Cat petting in Évian-les-Bains

While my dad was wine shopping in the store next door, I decided to wander around, but only got this far when I spotted this lovely thing begging to be petted. How was I supposed to refuse him?

King of Azay-le-Rideau

If you’ve read my Loire Valley Castles posts, you know I fell for him. He looks exactly like my 19 year-old cat (you read that right!) I have at my parents home, and I just completely phased out the guided visit to play with him. So what do I remember from Azay-le-Rideau? Yeah, something about a mirrored castle, cute living room, oh and the kitty!

Alhambra Cat

Although this cat I found at the Alhambra in Granada probably couldn’t understand a thing I said to him (maybe it was the high-pitched voice, too), he certainly understood the body language. I only leaned towards him and he immediately started purring like crazy. I must have spent a good 15 minutes there!

And last but not least, while I do admit that I’m borderline obsessed with cats, I also have a thing for dogs. Still in Granada, this time on the Mirador de San Nicolas, this dog was just playing around with a plastic bottle, which ended up on my feet. The dog arrived in no time, super excited at the idea of playing the insanely cool, amazing fetch game. I guess that, in the end, as long as I don’t end up like her, I’ll be okay.

Over already?

Are you also a crazy cat lady? Or man, that’s okay too! Do you often photograph pets when you travel?

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