Some hours in Gent

One of the most beautiful old towns in Europe is Ghent. The government hired a lightning expert to brighten the city. At night the old town looks just like a fairy tale.

Start with breakfast at Simon Says. I love their tables!
Visit Cafe Theatre for a delightful hot chocolate and splendid cocktails in a grandeur atmosphere. The owner recently opened a bar in London as well, Cafe Luc.
To stay in a chocolate mode, restaurant Vintage offers a marvelous dessert. Four glasses of (dessert)wine along four excellent bites of chocolate. Also their main courses are beautiful as is their choice for wine by the glass.

Highway 1 (part III) – Back to city life

(continued) Just a few exits past Morro Bay the exit of Los Osos leads to Montana de Oro State Park. This national park offers beautiful nature and rocks that are spread like fingers of a hand. Here you can hike, go mountain biking or horseback riding. It’s great for spending some hours in nature. Our trip continued to Santa Barbara. A lovely city where you find some nice places to hang out. State Street has many shops, cafes and restaurants. The last stop before arriving in Los Angeles is made in Ventura where we had lovely omelette and coffee at Savory Cafe and Bakery. Summarizing, Highway 1 is beautiful, diverse and breathtaking. Take your time exploring the road and everything that is to experience alongside it. (the end)

Beautiful view

 

Highway 1, California, US

Highway 1 (part II) – Listen nature calling

(continued) Big Sur attracted writers like Henry Miller and Jack Kerouac. Nowadays this area still has a mystical radius. When leaving this buzz of creativity you’ll pass Ragged Point. A wonderful cliff with fabulous views on the ocean. It is also a resort so you might want to consider staying there for the night and enjoy the water twinkling under the stars.

From Big Sur we headed further down. We passed Hearst Castle. The palais of William Randolph Hearst. He traveled a lot through Europe and shipped his ideas and the inspiration to the United States. A Roman swimmingpool decorated with gold, antiques and gardens full of flowers.

Our trip brought us along the beautiful nature of Cambria and we ended this second day in Morro Bay. Make sure you find a place to 

stay near the harbor, opposite to the giant rock that is located in the ocean. At night you’ll hear the seals and fire house.

 The next morning we had breakfast at Sunshine Health Foods on Morro Bay Blvd. This street has some lovely little shops and coffee houses. After a big smoothie we were again set to travel further south. (to be continued).

Highway 1 (part I) – Wondering at first

Highway 1 is by far one of the most beautiful roads of the US. Stretching on the east coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Go from north to south so you’ll be driving the seaside of the road. In three nights there’s so much to experience, but if you wish to stay longer there’s enough to find for a seven day trip as well. Find yourself surrounded by the endless Pacific ocean on the right and cloud covered mountains on the left. You’ll gently drive up and down the hills and pass beautiful sites.

Already a few miles south of San Francisco the cypress trees, that grow into the direction of where the wind blows, take away your breath. Drive further down and have a stop over at Santa Cruz and later on in Monterey to watch the large colony of sealions play in the water or resting on the shores. They are fun! Between Pacific Grove and Carmel by the sea is the beautiful 17 mile drive. It is definitely worth the couple of dollar entrance fee..

Make sure you catch the afternoon sun during the trip. The way the light reflects in the water is magical. Choose a nice spot to watch sunset before you check in to one of the many motels along the road or make your tent ready on one of the campgrounds. Not all towns are nice to stay, so be pickey. Big Sur is lovely. A true artist residence, where you’ll find lots of art work, nature and liberal natured people. (to be continued)

Breakfast

My most desirable moment of the day is breakfast, early breakfast. Being in San Francisco gives me the wonderful experience of pasteries, bakeries and coffee houses opening up at 7! So there I am, just freshend up, all lively. Early in the morning during my holidays. A wonderful place to go to in North Beach is La Boulange at Columbus Avenue 543. They have delightful coffees. Not only tasteful, but also beautifully served. The atmosphere and bites are also wonderful. www.laboulangebakery.com

Kijkop in Stockholm

‘kijk op’ translated to English is ‘Look UP(wards)’. That’s what we did in Stockholm.

 

Lovely food and cocktails in the nostalgic atmosphere of Berns

 

Taking the subway is like walking in a museum

 

Crispy air, lovely view, no more to say

Paris in threefold (3) – The Cosmopolite

The last part of the Paris diaries comprises luxury experiences. Starting with a delightful hot chocolate at Paul. Drinking hot chocolate is serious business. When it comes to this liquid I am very picky and the cup I had here was the best one ever. A beautiful day lies in front of me. I wandered around the streets of St. Germain, now experiencing this part of the city by daylight. When looking through all the shop windows of galleries and ateliers, it feels like walking in a museum. So much creativity. The streets breathe the cosmopolite personality of the city. Although France is considered a nationalistic country, in Paris you feel the Arab influences and spirit of great European philosophers. Going ahead, a visit to Paris isn’t complete if you haven’t experienced the luxury shops. Rue St. Honore is filled with the most delicate brands and exquisite goods. Paul Smith is my all time favourite. I vistited ArtClub Gallery at Rue de Rohan and fell in love with a sculpture of Yves Pires that will now drive me to save money for my first serious art buy. The day full of walking, seeing and experiencing ended of course in a parade at the Champs-Elysees.

Paris in threefold (2) – The Target

The second day in Paris was one of obtaining the target. Fashion director GJ advised me to go to Montmartre. It is the place to go to, to buy fabrics. I walked towards the Sacre Coeur and found out he was right! Lots of streets full of shops selling the most beautiful wool and silk. Target fulfilled, including fabrics to make a party dress for a wedding I will attend in Sweden in May this year. After finising the dress I will go back to Paris to find myself a suitable hat at Mira Belle. Lunch was taken at La Sancerre at Rue d’Abbesses. They served the wonderfull dish of grilled tuna with preserved ginger and a pesto vinaigrette. The side plate was lovely French fries with French mayonaise. This dish I am about to make this weekend. Walking back to the hotel at Rue de Tiquetonne I passed the streets where Thierry told me the bobo’s live. These are the bohemian-bourgeiosie gens. Being liberated and living the bohemian live while at the same time enjoying wealth and chic apartments. At night I had a walk through the city enjoying all the lights.

Paris in threefold (1) – La rencontre

Already the first turnaround after leaving the metro station Etienne Marcel gave a lovely surprise. I looked into the shop window of Declercq Passementiers. Over 80 percent of their offerings is handmade and every first Tuesday of the month they have a workshop on how the beautiful pieces of art are made.

The day continued with wandering around the streets of Le Marais and I decided – based on the news paper reviews next to the door – to have a lunch at Le Coude Fou. The interior was typical French, or at least what I believe is typical French, and the food was very nice. Right across the street there is Le Studio des Parfums, where you can compose your own signature sent. Many shops to discover in this area.

Heading back to the hotel I passed Jazz club Duc Des Lombards and noticed a concert of Oumar Thiam at eight that night. I decided to take a short rest and to come back to listen music. It was Thierry, the French guy I met at the Jazz club, we both arrived alone, who showed me the streets of St. Germain afterwards.

Under the full he took me to Rue des Arts, the two most famous restaurants of Paris Des Margots and Cafe de Flore, Basilique Ste Clotilde, St. Sulpice, the National Library and many other places about which he told stories. He was reading Camus a L’Indie. There was of course no other possibility than to talk literature on the Left Bank of Paris.