Expat with Kids in Paris: travel

Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

March 21, 2021

A quick escape to Madrid

Parisians weary of their strict national lockdown are flocking over the border to Madrid, where bars and restaurants are open and people can stay outdoors until 10pm, even as COVID-19 batters Europe in a virulent third wave.

With France’s cultural venues shut, restaurants unable to serve meals on-site and a strictly-enforced 6pm curfew, leisure-seekers have eyed their southern neighbour’s capital and the Spaniards are everything but thrilled.

Airports have been eerily empty and most duty free shops have been closed. Until recently you could breeze through customs (yes, IDs are required within the Schengen area again) and they whizzed you through the security check. Travelling hasn't been this easy since before 2001.

As a regular commuter between Paris and Madrid, I have noted the increased activity as of late, the aircrafts are fuller and passengers look younger than usual?!

It has been almost half a year, since Parisians could enjoy a drink on a terrace. The overriding feeling, traveling to Madrid, has been one of freedom. It must be said that mask-wearing and social distancing is much more respected here than in France. I consider myself lucky having a valid excuse and being able to escape to Spain regularly to get a taste of what life will hopefully look like again in the near future.

Blue skies awaiting me in Spain

A welcome apertivo of Cava and truffle-flavoured chips

Waiting to serve clients on the terrace

A taste of Argentina

This is pure luxury

Enjoying the sun during a Sunday lunch

Buon appetito!

Suggerencias del dia

A funky bathroom

No day would be complete without an ice cream

Globetrotting and loving it!

February 19, 2021

Busy in the mountains

October 29, 2020

Napule è mille culure

Even after 25 years, Napoli is not a city that makes feel at home, despite the wonderful warm welcome of my family in law. I cannot get my head around the city’s layout and rarely have the chance to explore the streets in a way I would need to become familiar with the place also known as the “City of Five Hundred Domes”.

My main excuse for being hesitant in adapting to this forest of religious buildings is that whenever we visit we spend most of our time around the table with la famiglia napoletana.... eating. It is a feast every single time. Aperitivo, primo piatto, secondo piatto, frutta e dolce. By the time lunch has ended my brother-in-law is in full preparations for the dinner aperitivo! When we finally venture outside, it is time to drive back to the airport!

Napoli is a vibrant city. Napoli is chaotic, it is polluted and it is loud but its beauty is detectable in the people, in the nooks and crannies of the old cobbled streets, in the motorbikes swerving around the sheets hanging down from the balconies to dry, in the ancient churches which are a part of life just as are the coffee bars or the fashion boutiques offering t-shirts at 4 Euros a piece or the street vendors selling Napoli football gadgets.

Napoli is a photographer’s dream. It doesn’t matter where you turn your head in this city, every stone, every angle and every step can tell a whole story.

The contrast of colours, of light and shadows, of old and new, of depth and height, of hidden and exposed, of traditional and modern, of friendly and hostile, of sea and earth, of food and drinks, and of exuberant and timid can be captured in pictures. Everywhere emotions are being laid bare and stories told without necessary understanding the language or the background.

A click and the moment has been captured reflecting emotions that leave interpretations open to each observer ... because unmistakably there is ALWAYS a story behind the scene and it is visible even to the most unobservant.

Napoli is a thousand cultures, Napoli is a thousand flavours, and one day I will conquer them all.

October 28, 2020

Napoli in black & white

October 27, 2020

Streets of Napoli

Crammed with chaos, Napoli is appalling and uniquely captivating at the same time. The beautiful southern Italian city is full of busy streets and neighborhoods. The entire world has passed through the streets of Naples during its twenty-seven centuries of history. Everyone, from Greeks to Spaniards, has left indelible marks on this astounding place.

A walk through the town centre is the best way to capture its essence. Neapolitans coexist with motorcycles, spend lots of time sipping their coffee on a sunny terrace and converse across balconies with each other. Like their signature dish the pizza, Naples is a delicious experience, warm and welcoming.

September 12, 2020

Heading North

It has been 11 weeks... 11 weeks since Spain opened its border with France and we jumped into our car and hit the road. For the first time we drove the 1250km in one go without a pit stop along the seaside at San Sebastian.

It was a smooth ride, not a single tourist car in sight, no French trailer, no Dutch caravan, no Moroccan overloaded car only kilometers of trucks heading South but they all stuck to their lane so we cruised along and made it in 12 hours.

The way back was equally easy. The school holidays were over and many travellers had decided not to leave their country this summer. So, no overnight stop in Arcachon but due to an administrative glitch we needed to stop along the French border for a "contrôle téchnique" during which we had lunch in a rather dull industrial area but ... the Lemon Meringue pie was delicious! Lunch menu for two at 12.- Euros... you cannot beat that?!?