Colourful Napoli

One of Napoli's most famous songwriters Pino Daniele wrote a song called "Napule È Mille Culure" which translates into "Napoli Is A Thousand Colours" a loving tribute to the city's fascinating contradictions.

Napoli is a city in constant motion, which surprises and amazes me every time. It is a city that smells of salt. It is chaotic and colourful. It is a criss cross of pedestrian alleys with cars and motorbikes speeding through them and old ladies sitting in front of their door step observing and commenting. 

It is about the art of improvisation in order to survive while enjoying the good things life has to offer. Naples is a city that enchants, that surprises for its mysticism and its enigmas. It is history and art, but it is also a state of mind that envelops you and accompanies you through its streets and neighborhoods.

Napoli's biggest asset, however, is its people's kindness. Luckily I am married to a lovely Napolitano which means we get to spend Christmas with "la famiglia" (it's a big one) and I can take photographs to my heart's delight... in a thousand different colours!

Forza Napoli... where football is religion!

Food in Napoli is another very serious matter...

... as is meeting up with your 500 best friends for a pre-Christmas aperò!

Definitely on my shopping list!

Gli struffoli... a Neapolitan Christmas tradition made of deep fried dough balls bathed in a syrup of of honey and citrus rinds and decorated with coloured sprinkles and candied fruit. 

It's just not Christmas in Naples without it. 

Yeah, the metro is not on strike!

I have a soft spot for kitchy souvenirs

A typical Neapolitan scene

Diego is still omnipresent and widely adored!

Time for lunch in the sun... tutto azzuro!

Napule è ’nu paese curioso

è ’nu teatro antico, sempre apierto. 

Ce nasce gente ca senza cuncierto

scenne p’ ’e strate e sape recità.

Nunn’è c’ ’o ffanno apposta; ma pe’ lloro

‘o panurama è ‘na scenografia,

‘o popolo è ’na bella cumpagnia, 

l’elettricista è Dio ch’ ’e fa campà.

Ognuno fa na parte na macchietta

se sceglie o tip o n’omm a truccatura

L’intercalare, a camminatura 

pe fa successo e pe se fa guarda. 

(Eduardo De Filippo)

The best of 2019

According to my best Instagram photos from the past year, my life is clearly divided between the Swiss mountains and the beaches of Ibiza. Somewhere in between Paris pops up in all its grandeur. Yep, that would just about sum up my last 12 months. I wonder what 2020 will bring? Which are your #BestNine2019?

Wishing you a great, prosperous, blissful, healthy, bright, delightful, mind-blowing, energetic, terrific,  and extremely happy, happy, happy, 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2020!

Buon Natale and Merry Christmas

Galeries Lafayette at Christmas

No Parisian Christmas would be complete without a visit to the Galeries Lafayette, known for its epic Christmas tree under the dome and the work-of-art window displays that kids and adults line up to admire. Did you know that more than ten million visitors are eager to discover the Christmas windows every year?

Originally, the Galeries Lafayette started illuminating their facade in 1912 for specific events. But it wasn’t until the 20s / 30s that it became recurring and spectacular.

The Christmas celebrations started in 1920 with the annual internal Christmas party. The employees were invited, with their children, to come and enjoy an on-stage show and admire the Christmas tree, both of which were placed just in front of the stately staircase, under the beautiful dome.

I might add it is the ONLY time of the year I visit this department store which a is Parisian icon but sadly has become overrun by tourists.

Galeries Lafayette have prepared a buzzing Christmas this time! How come? Because this year's theme of the department store, it's the Christmas beehive! All off the 11 windows are inspired by the precious bees helping with the Christmas magic while preparing their own party.

The traditional Christmas tree is sprinkled with winter flowers and XXL bulbs while at the top, queen bee is be proudly sitting, admiring the work of the Christmas beehive that awakes every 30 minutes and has the bees flying under the cupola.

The magic of Christmas usually takes hold of the capital a few weeks before the holidays but these past two years no matter how hard anybody tries the "gilets jaunes" and the general strikes are taking their toll on the festive mood throughout the city and the country!

Bienvenue aux Galeries Lafayette de Paris

Little hands all over...

Christmas deco reflections

Love this colour combination

From Galeries Lafayette's rooftop terrace, you can have fun looking out for the Opera Garnier, the Eiffel Tower and the other jewels of the French capital!

Adding to the holiday joy that makes the charm of winter in Paris 

is Galeries Lafayette's own skating rink.

Enjoying an unobstructed view on Paris 

Montmartre and Sacre Coeur in the background

Queen bee towering above all

Loving all the glitter and sparkle but not so much the price tags!

Time for a holiday cheers!

A little Swissness

Visiting Expat Boy and his housemates is always a pleasure. Their friendship forged during the first year at uni and now a soft-spoken Brazilian, an audacious Bulgarian, a self-confident Luxembourger and my diplomatic boy are sharing a rather cool abode in the Swiss countryside. They might have a TV in the kitchen, however, they are not protected from water leaks... gosh, this is just like Paris... encore une fuite d'eau?!?

So what, if the wallpaper is coming apart, some improvised deco will do the trick.

A little jog through the Swiss country side is always a good idea. After all, I cannot spend the entire day cooking and cleaning for the boys! ;)

A true Swiss invention: the Vita Parcours. A fitness trail/path through the woods with outdoor exercise equipment or obstacles installed along its length for exercising and promoting good health. Invented in 1968 by Swiss architect Erwin Weckemann with support from Swiss life insurance firm Vita.

The latest Swiss phenomena: little free libraries built in garden sheds or old telephone booths. A cabinet which may be freely and anonymously used for the exchange and storage of books without the formalities associated with libraries.

Welcome to the insect hotel! Also known as a bug hotel or insect house, is a manmade structure created to provide shelter for insects. It consist of several different sections that provide insects with nesting facilities – particularly during winter, offering shelter or refuge. Their purposes include hosting pollinators.

I can smell the cows!!!

What a wonderful Swiss scene. Unfortunately these kind of barns are dwindling in numbers as modern construction along with technology takes over.

Nothing beats a Swiss Birchermüesli with berries and a banana smoothie for breakfast!

What my Christmas tree says about me

All that shopping for presents and food, all those Christmas cards to write but what about your Christmas tree? 

Do you choose a colour scheme or a special theme? Apparently the new Christmas colours include dusky pink as seen on the fashion catwalks and although I absolutely love the baubles I bought over a decade ago, it may be time to consider getting something new to add to the tree.

They say having a colourful Christmas tree means you are bold, accepting of the latest trends, and not afraid to speak your mind. You can also tell a lot about a person from what they put at the top of their tree...

Servelats as Christmas decoration seems a bit over the top?!?

I like these guys, even though they seem vintage.

Too neutral for my taste but no doubt elegant.

Much more my style... I love Christmas kitch!

Father Christmas with feathers? Maybe not...

Classy but not unique

Definitely an option for Expat boy!

Oysters including pearls... the kind of kitch I love!

For all those Kitchenaid fans... love it!

The perfect gift for my Neapolitan hubby

Body-building Father Christmas 

A bit of glitter is always good.

THIS is what tops my Christmas tree!

Love these guys...

... an intimate moment of friendship and conviviality...

A Swiss-Parisian Christmas photo challenge

An Aussie blogger who fell in love with Switzerland and has been calling it home for nearly two decades has inspired me to follow an Instagram challenge for the first time ever.

Her account called Swiss Family Travel produces the best Swiss Gift Guide for Christmas and tops this by compiling a Swiss Gift Guide for Kids as well. Both lists are filled with true authentic Swiss experiences, ideas and products that make me smile and feel terribly homesick at the same time.

Last week Swiss Family Travel invited readers to join her by documenting the Swiss festive season with a very Swiss Photo challenge. The selection looked so tempting I could not resist, and at the risk of jumping a bit out of line - given that I live in Paris - I decided to join the fun of capturing December Christmas vibe.

Dear Swiss Family Travel, I hope you'll forgive me if I slightly highjacked your very Swiss Christmas and that you'll enjoy the Parisian branch-off as the hashtag was to be #averyswisschristmas19 to which I added #averyparisianchristmas19.

Take a look at this weeks' photos on Expat with Kids Instagram account...

#christmaswindows

#baking #thanksgivingleftovers #myamericanside

#deckthehalls

#drink #myparisianside 

#redandwhite

#tradition #mybritishside

#grittibänz #myswissside