Scenes from the Riviera

En route from Paris to Nice via train

Roses in Valbonne

Speculos & banana, violet & fleur de lait at Fennochio's in Old Nice

The house of Christopher Columbus in Genova, Italy

Spremuta at an oceanside cafe in Nervi, Italy

A glimpse of the red carpet at Cannes

Hotel to the stars at Cannes

Antibes

An early birthday present -- original Tropeziennes from Atelier Rondini, St. Tropez

The docks at St. Tropez

Bidding adieu to Nice, with hopes to return again soon!

august 19 and 20

august 14

Gare de Nord: morning train to Cologne, Germany

Benjamin's first-ever schnitzel

him: chocolat, me: café

Travels in Ireland: Cork and Cobh

One week last May, I tagged along with Benjamin on a work trip to Ireland. While he was at the office doing office-y things, I wandered the narrow, grey streets of Cork, taking in the sights and popping into the shops for warmth and the occasional nibble and beverage. For a relatively small city, it does have a pretty great choice of restaurants -- absolutely everything I ate was delicious. My favorite dish was a bowl of simple tomato-basil soup at the historic English Market (where apparently HM The Queen had just visited, only days earlier than I).

It was my first time in Ireland, and I have to say I did notice the high concentration of redheads (of every shade and hue) -- more than I've ever encountered before -- all completely gorgeous. And the accents... I do love a good accent, and the ones I heard here were a delight for my ears.

Banoffee Pie (Banana + Toffee = Yummmmm)

On the weekend we hopped the train over to the tiny seaside town of Cobh (pronounced "cove") to spend a night at a B&B. You'd think this is where all rainbow ends are found, what with the abundance of Skittles-esque color schemes painted everywhere.

If you ever find your way here, please reserve yourself a table at Gilbert's -- our B&B hostess recommended it to us, and she did not lead us astray.

Next time: our twelve-day trip to the green and gorgeous slopes of Switzerland!

Travels in Thailand: Koh Samui

After the lush, earthy green of Chiang Rai, the island of Koh Samui was a pastel palette with vivid splashes of bright white, turquoise, and dragon fruit fuchsia. 

We spent five days at the Elements Boutique Resort and Spa, and apart from two day-trips to nearby Chaweng and Bo Phut, our time was spent indulging in blissful, utterly hedonistic lounging. 

In the mornings we'd roll out of our rose-petal-strewn bed, open the glass bathroom door and plunge straight into the private pool, dry off, and then amble over to the outdoor hotel restaurant for THE best breakfast EVER (cappuccino, freshly-squeezed juices, mango salad with yogurt, two perfectly done eggs sunny-side-up, and toast). 

We'd set up camp poolside with a towels, sunscreen and books, and when we got hungry we'd order club sandwiches and smoothie concoctions (my favorite was the mango, mint & coconut) which were then delivered right to our deck chairs. Every now and then I'd head off to the spa and come back with feet pedicured, skin salt-scrubbed raw, and muscles deeply massaged. (I understand if this makes you want to throw moldy cabbage at me -- believe me, I couldn't begin to grasp how I'd managed to end up in such luxury either.)

Our last night we dined at a beachside restaurant in Bo Phut, the sun obligingly setting in purple splendor just as we sat down at our table. And then the next morning, one last perfect breakfast, one last coconut-scented massage, one last splash in the pool and then goodbye to Thailand. 

Next up on the blog: time for something completely different, with a hop over the pond to Ireland!

Travels in Thailand: Mountain Paradise

While in Chiang Rai for a few days I was *incredibly* lucky and got to stay at the Phu Chasai Mountain Resort and Spa. It was, in a word, HEAVEN. Tucked into the mountainside up a (very bumpy) dirt road, a series of buildings blending so seamlessly with the surrounding jungle you'd think they grew that way out of the ground.
I imagine a life lived close to nature would look a lot like this -- flowers and lush green plants intertwined with thatched roof huts, petals strewn along the walkways, birdcalls echoing in the misty dawn and a chorus of insects at night.
Speaking of which, the bug population here is... thriving. Not by inclination an outdoorsy, hey-let's-go-camping kind of gal, I spent the first evening flailing and freaking out at every be-winged and/or creeping creature in the vicinity. We were dining on the terrace under the hurricane lamps and at one point a rather large beetle flew into my salad and burrowed under a lettuce leaf. I can neither confirm nor deny that someone was verging on hysteria at this point. But our server very kindly came to my assistance and gently scooped the beetle up and away.
Apart from the bugs, there were also a few very laid-back, fluffy white dogs roaming the grounds and sleeping wherever they pleased, one shy little cat who sat in the middle of the breakfast buffet room every morning, and our own personal Tokay gecko in the rafters of our room who'd swear* at us intermittently during the night.
Sleeping under the white netting of a bamboo canopy bed, indulging in an utterly relaxing Thai massage, breakfasting in the open air dining room looking out over verdant hills -- I don't know if I've ever been anywhere more peaceful and organic-feeling. A palatable reminder of how far removed sanitized city living is from the vibrant, earthy reality of raw nature.

*the lizard produces a call that sounds almost exactly like "f*ck you"

Next in Thailand Travels: we fly down to Koh Samui for a completely different version of paradise -- sand, sunshine, and mango smoothies.