tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-81246922121320204 2011-05-02T22:35:18+10:00 TypePad tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0120a546c26f970b014e883325a5970d 2011-05-02T22:35:18+10:00 2011-05-02T22:35:18+10:00

Forget about Le Louvre and Versailles. For a slice of true Parisian history, skip breakfast, grab your shopping bag, rob a bank and head to ‘A la Mère de Famille’ on rue du Faubourg Montmartre, in the heart of the 9th arrondissement. The heritage-listed, family-owned confectionery store celebrates its 250th anniversary this year. It is an absolute must-go destination for chocophiles and food lovers in Paris [...]

Myriam tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0120a546c26f970b0147e3503b19970b 2011-03-19T12:05:39+11:00 2011-03-19T12:05:39+11:00

When comes to cycling in Sydney, I'm a total newbie. I don't have a bike, to start with, and I'm a bit scared of being run over by a reckless cab driver. However, I've recently embraced the joys of cycling thanks to Paris' fantastic 'Vélib' street bike hire scheme, one of the first and largest schemes of its kind in the world. Such a fantastic way to re-discover the city - especially comes spring and summer, when you can ride to your favourite sunny cafe terrace while perfecting your tan (and keeping your carbon emissions down). So when I read about Art Month Sydney's free "ART Cycle" guided bike tours, I jumped at the opportunity to explore Danks St, Redfern and Waterloo by bike. It looks like cycling is the new black these days, and I didn't want to be missing on that trend [...]

Myriam tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0120a546c26f970b0147e2ce6af7970b 2011-02-25T18:10:15+11:00 2011-02-25T18:10:15+11:00

Travellers frustrated by flimsy paper maps will appreciate "Crumpled City", a soft collection of Rome, London, New York, Paris and Berlin maps you can crumple up and stuff in your pocket. A super smart way of not looking like a tourist anymore and sparing oneself of the usually frustrating exercise of unfolding and refolding maps constantly [...]

Myriam tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0120a546c26f970b0148c875c444970c 2011-02-09T20:12:30+11:00 2011-02-09T20:12:30+11:00

Dear friends, you want in on a little secret? Laurent Dubois is my all-time favourite cheese shop or 'fromager' in Paris. The crème de le crème of brie and camembert, the Coco Chanel of cheesemongers. Dubois opened his first cheese store about 15 years ago and hasn't looked back. Nowadays people travel from all over Paris - and beyond - to stock up on his amazing cheeses [...]

Myriam tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a0120a546c26f970b0148c8408740970c 2011-02-02T18:59:44+11:00 2011-02-02T18:59:44+11:00

Today is Candlemas (or La Chandeleur in French). In France, that Catholic holiday is celebrated with crêpes, which must be eaten only after eight pm - and in great quantities (nothing wrong with that!). On that night, we also do a bit of fortune telling while making the crêpes. It is traditional to hold a coin in your writing hand and a crêpe pan in the other, and flip the crêpe into the air. If you manage to catch the crêpe in the pan, your family is supposed to be prosperous for the rest of the year [...]

Myriam