Pre moving to Paris in 2004, did I give a hoot about salt? Negatory. But since spending time in France and becoming obsessed with salt, this condiment and other seasonings were at the top of my gourmet shopping list. So off we went in search of our fav sprinkles at the street markets and La Grande Epicerie (Le Bon Marché) in the 6th. Then of course the exquisite Galeries Lafayette Gourmet in the 9th – now housed in, and combined with,
31 Days in Paris in October (Day 1 – Lax Border Controls)
Paris in fall. The best. Pourquoi? Let me tell you the ways. First of all, the massive tourist crowds have thinned, the weather is still good (20 C today!), wine events are plentiful and travel kicks into “off season” – so that means deals on hotels and airfares. I am still astounded, even more now (see more on that below), that as a visitor landing at Charles du Galle airport, all one has to show to enter the country is a
Discover West Kelowna’s Westside Wine Trail
What do you get when you cross a 60 million year old volcano (now dormant), a mountain range that juts up from a pristine 135 km long lake formed by glaciers and fertile vineyards and orchards that produce some of the world’s best wines and succulent fruits? Answer: The Okanagan Valley! And specifically, West Kelowna’s Westside Wine Trail has it all. September is the perfect month to explore this plentiful wine region as the tourist crowds have thinned. Read on for
Vacay Rental in Heart of Okanagan Wine Country with Lake Views
We’re SuperHosts with a 5 Star rating! Welcome to Beach Walk, your 5 star lakeview home-away-from-home at a beautiful resort in the heart of Wine Country! Newly updated, 2-bedroom/1 bath condo with peaceful canal and lake views. The deck is sun-drenched starting very early in the morning. Walk just steps to our sandy private beach, lounge for hours by the pool (so fun there!), have happy hour on one of the docks or enjoy some R&R in the condo after a
Restoring a 70s Boler Camper
Flashback to the 70’s. This is the era when the Boler made it’s Canadian debut and today, these cute campers are highly sought after. After I left home, my parents had a Boler and my friends and I would take it camping. This was the first “glamping” back then. With the Boler, you were protected from the elements, could fully stand up in the trailer and if you had access to power, could plug in and have a heater, fan and
Getting Immersed in Love in Sayulita, Riviera Nayarit
From the moment we stepped foot onto the property of the charming, family-owned Casa Corazón in Sayulita, love was in the air. Everywhere. Corazón means “heart” in Spanish and there were many of them adorning the rooms, reception area and walkway stones. Once a jungle getaway (how exotic), signs of love and hearts can be seen everywhere throughout this laid-back Mexican surf town, just 30 miles from Puerto Vallarta. The Sayulita vibe is youthful, hippy-ish, yoga loving, beach bummy and upscale
San Miguel Shoes For Comfort AND Style
San Miguel Shoes Handmade in Mexico The discovery of San Miguel Shoes, an iconic brand, will keep me coming back to Mexico on a regular basis. I’m completely serious. As a person with long term back issues resulting from a botched spinal fusion, I constantly search the globe for comfortable shoes that won’t kill me after two minutes of wearing them, and that are also stylish. It’s a tall order to find “orthopedic” shoes that are not butt ugly or look
Rincón de Guayabitos: True Mexican Beach Town in the Riviera Nayarit
No wonder legions of Mexicans, Americans, Canadians (including many, many French Canadians from Quebec we discovered), and increasing numbers of Europeans roll out their beach mats in the Riviera Nayarit, particularly in the small beach town of Rincón de Guayabitos. Family-friendly and ridiculously affordable, this laid back resort is situated in a protected bay with 2 km of sandy beach and gentle waves and is a mecca for Mexicans and tourists alike. One of our goals while in Puerto Vallarta was
Mexican-Style Caesars (Micheladas) Deconstructed: Muy Deliciosa!!
Having had my first Mexican Michelada (pronounced Mee-chay-lah-dah), I will forever pine for this version of a quintessentially Canadian invented cocktail that the Mexicans have managed to elevate to new heights and flavours. The one I had at the El Malecón beach restaurant in Puerto Vallarta is a meal in itself and is really a cocktail and salad all in one. It literally took two hands to get the 1 litre drink to my mouth! Before I deconstruct this delicious concoction,
Prescription Medications That Can be Bought Over-the-Counter (OTC) in Mexico
On vacation in Puerto Vallarta and forgot your Prozac? Penicillin? Sleeping pills? Ritalin? Or Viagra (wink)? No problemo! Just head to one of dozens of Farmacia’s and especially to one of the discount pharmacies. There are many in downtown PV (El Centro). Beyond intrigued, I entered a discount Farmacia on the street Basilio Badillo and as a creative type who finds it difficult to sleep sometimes, I asked which sleeping medications were available. The young senorita whipped out a laminated “menu.”