Not that I ever need one, but it seems like it would be worth a plane flight to see this "Sleepy Chick" (Poussin Endormi) in Nantes, right? It's so cute—especially the big belly and beak. You can find this larger-than-life topiary tucked away in Le Jardin des Plantes, one of the oldest and largest botanical gardens in France. The bird was designed by children's author and illustrator Claude Ponti.
PS: How sweet is the oversized alarm clock that's there to wake him up? Love it!
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At last! The final leg of my European vacation this summer—three days in Padua and Venice, Italy. When Matt and I finally made it to Padua, we let out a small sigh of relief. We had trekked rom Sweden to our destination, and now we could truly kick back and relax. And since Matt had lived in Padua before, he was in his element playing tour guide here...
At last: all about Antibes! For anyone who has been keeping up with my travelogue of my trip to Europe this spring, this was the next stop (links to the other places I visited are below). From Provence, we took the high speed train to Antibes—a gorgeous coastal spot in the South of France, just past Cannes. After checking into our hotel, meandering through the streets, and finding a delicious café for an al fresco lunch, I already knew: this would be my favorite spot of the entire vacation. Here's why...
Happy Bastille Day! Given my love of French culture and history, this holiday is one of my favorites to celebrate. In honor of the day, here's a tip for anyone interested in brushing up on their French: download the Duolingo app! Remember when I took French lessons in Brooklyn last year? I wanted a way to practice everything I learned, and keep my new language skills top of mind. Duolingo turns studying into a game with daily challenges and point values you have to earn to reach the next level. I love it! I practice on my subway commute to work.
For those not interested in French, the app offers other languages, too.
Another fun way to celebrate? Eating macarons! :)
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Remember when I first mentioned Woody Allen's next film, starring Colin Firth and Emma Stone? It comes out in theaters this month! Even better, it now has a name—it's called Magic in the Moonlight—and looks so fun. It's about an Englishman (played by Firth) who hopes to uncover a possible swindler (played by Stone). It's set in the 1920s in the South of France—oh la la!
The clips I've watched make it look Great Gatsby-esque, at least in style. It comes out July 25th, so only a few more weeks to wait. :)
Will you see this film?
Watch the trailer here!
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As I mentioned last week, I'm recapping my travels in Sweden, France and Italy. Next up: the South of France! After four hours on the high speed train, we made it from Paris to Aix-en-Provence. This was the one place we decided it was worth it to rent a car, since we knew there were so many wineries nearby that we wanted to check out and explore. I didn't realize how much I was craving that country air until I stepped off the TGV train from Paris. Whoa, what a difference! We made our way to our hotel, located just a 5-minute walk from the Cours Mirabeau, Aix's most famous street that's filled with cafés and shops once frequented by locals like Paul Cézanne and Albert Camus.
The first time I heard Carla Bruni—the former First Lady of France—sing, it was on the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack. The song that was included, called "Quelqu'un m'a Dit,"
is breathtaking. I listened to it over and over again before deciding I wanted to hear more. When I discovered her latest album, Little French Songs, I was hooked. Now, Carla's music is a part of my regular morning routine. There's something so soothing and peaceful about her voice. It totally calms my brain before a hectic day.
Right around the time I found Carla's music, she announced an international tour with a stop in New York. I'm going to hear her perform at the Town Hall this week, and I can't wait. It will be my dose of French culture, which is perfect timing since I leave for Paris four weeks from today.
Are you a Carla Bruni fan?
PS: My favorite song on her new album.
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I stumbled across this bookstore thanks to Bri over at DesignLoveFest. It's called the Cité du Livre, and it's located in Aix en Provence. Apparently, it used to be a match factory, and to get indoors, you have to go through three giant books! The titles that lead you to the entrance are Le Petit Prince, Le Malade Imaginaire, and L'Etranger. Don't they look so cool supersized? I've just added this spot to my list for my trip to Aix en Provence later this year!
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Are you a fan of French cinema? When I was in college, I took a course entirely devoted to the topic, and I loved it. Recently, I've been brushing up, courtesy of the Film Forum in New York and all the terrific films they play. As I mentioned, I finally saw Contempt, starring Brigitte Bardot, and directed by Jean-Luc Godard. Next up, I'm watching The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, this time starring Catherine Deneuve, and directed by Jacques Demy. Both movies are distinct—one a drama, one a musical—but both deliver loads of French charm, humor, and, of course, fashion. :)
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Where was the last place you traveled to? If you're looking for ideas, spend some time browsing through Peggy Wong's travelogues on bluepoolroad. On European holiday, she visits France, Denmark, Spain and more, narrating her journey through breathtaking photos of her experiences abroad. In case you're wondering, Paris is next on my list. With a new job, my vacation plans got delayed, but my next travel adventure is not too far away! Tell me — what destination are you planning to visit next?
More Paris here, here and here.
(Image 1, 2, and 3 via bluepoolroad)
