Easter under lockdown

It is Easter weekend... we were suppose to be in Madrid, maybe Ibiza with a bit of luck even in sunny Ticino. However, we are... once again... in lockdown... this time across all of France. Graciously we will not need to fill out a "justificatif de déplacement" every time we leave the house and we are allowed to venture out 10km rather than 1 km but nevertheless the Parisian have all but resigned and the mood is very subdued. 

All the French aggressiveness has been sucked out of the people. Obviously amiability is still not Parisians' forte but the city has become more liveable. The lack of millions of tourists has calmed the speed and intensiveness of daily routine. The city renowned as global center for art, fashion, gastronomy and culture is unrecognizable. We have now reached a point of utter monotony. All the reasons that make Paris such a unique city are not available... restaurants, bars, museums, cinemas, arenas, concert halls, monuments, galleries, shopping malls, exhibitions, tours, all gone since October 2020!!!!

Still Parisians are showing their defiance. The river banks are full to the rim with picnickers when the sun is shining (despite lockdown) and personal trainers are making a killing giving exercise classes in the parks... who would have ever believed that is what living in Paris boils down to?

Indeed, while the country's first lockdown a year ago meant closed parks and gardens as well as a stay-at-home order that allowed just a single hour a day for getting fresh air, France's latest lockdown encourages venturing outdoors. The new rules allow unlimited time outside within a 10-kilometre radius before the 7pm nationwide curfew and public green spaces remain open. The upshot: Easter egg hunts are allowed.

So, for those of you who have not fled town in search of greener pastures, enjoy your Easter Sunday in an usually quiet city known as Europe's most popular tourist city. Joyeuses Pâques!

Happy Easter from our balcony to yours

Not from Lugano, not from Madrid, not from Ibiza, not from the Swiss mountains but from confinement in Paris... we wish you and your family a happy Easter! Stay safe.

Back on the island

Happy to be back on the island despite the horrendous weather. The good news was that the family was reunited... obviously a great deal of food was involved along with the good times. A few short walks along the beach and some fun games of Cluedo before it was time to say goodbye again.

Ibiza on a bad day

The weather forecast is terrible for the Easter weekend

A great game of family Cluedo

Beachclub off season

The sun is back

Lunch with a view

Paella for four!

When your hike promises spectacular views

10 minutes of suntanning

Another delicious paella...

... followed by a "chupito de hierbas"

A magical sky around "Es Vedra"

Happy Easter from Ibiza

Easter in Ibiza

So, I have been busy enjoying a long Easter weekend in Ibiza with family and friends and in this case pictures can most definitely render the atmosphere better than words ever could.

Arriving from Paris to find the SUN!!!!

Old abandoned fisher huts

Breakfast is served with love at Café Passion

French toast you would never find in Paris

Chilling along the beach...

... Spanish style!

It's too chilly for a dip but soaking up the sun rays nevertheless...

... Beach crawling ...

... Sangria is flowing...

... Celebrating Birthdays and Easter.

All that is left of the seafood paella!

Deliciously invigorating lime&lemon semifreddo!

A visit to the local flea market... 

... followed by aperò ...

... Tinto de verano, olives and aïoli... 

... while enjoying the spectacular sunset.

Happy Easter 2018

A place in the sun

In desperate search of the sun the Expat family flew in from Paris, Dubai and Geneva to reunite for a long weekend in Ibiza. Much to our surprise the island season does not begin until May?!? It is a pleasure not being surrounded by tourists constantly and though we don’t exactly blend in we have a good gang of friends that make us feel at home.

And since it’s a bit too chilly to lie on the beach and the wind is so strong it practically blows you off the cliffs, the only alternative is to enjoy the delicious food along with the exquisite company and memorable sunsets. Viva Ibiza!

Happy Easter

Easyjet is late again...

It seems we are reliving the good old times. A few years back easyjet was chronically late... and by late I mean hours not minutes. I still have visions of us hanging around airports at midnight after waiting at over crowded gates for three or four hours. Until one day easyjet was told they'd be fined if they continued this policy of tardiness. They actually got their act together and started to be pretty reliable ... until yesterday!

It must have been Karma because our journey from Paris to Madrid was the smoothest, fastest one ever. The flight back, however, began with an hour's delay. We arrived at the airport after a lovely long weekend full of R&R and lots of good laughs with friends. One hour's delay turned into two then three. The family bet was on: were we or weren't we gonna take-off at midnight?!?

Checking between the easyjet app and the airport's billboard to figure out which one  gave more accurate info, we finally received confirmation that the flight was cancelled.

Most passengers were French seeking to return home for the next day was a working day. Naturally confrontational, they were in uproar, shouting at the poor stewardess to provide information in French not Spanish. The easyjet employee tried English which just made things worse.

At this point, trying to save what was left of the situation, I reopened my easyjet app and to my surprise was able to check-in online for the rescheduled flight the next morning.

For once, technology was playing in our favour! Tap, click and enter. Four new boarding passes were confirmed while the Parisians were still arguing with the stewardess.

With a big grin on my face, I turned around to my family and announced: "Guys, we are going out to dinner!" My dear friend La mamita Cubana hoped in her car to pick us up as soon as she had heard the news and we all enjoyed a late night treat (Spanish dinner time) of Jamón Iberico, croquetas and cava.

We were just really lucky we had a place to stay in Madrid... a place we still ... after all these years ... call home!

Happy Easter

There's no place like Switzerland for Easter munchies...

Easter bunnies with a twist

This Easter, La Grande Epicerie de Paris pays tribute to the kaleidoscope and unveils a collection of delicious creations. Forget the traditional chocolates. They have associated with chocolatier Daniel Mercier to concoct three facetious designed subjects: a rabbit, a fish and a chicken. Adorned with faceted colour highlights, they exude a good mood as well as an eccentric turn on the "old" chocolate Easter bunnies!

So why do the chefs look so worried, I am wondering, while I watch this video.

See how the team of La Grande Epicerie's visual identity (yes, this team does exist) lift the veil on the secrets of this very limited edition of chocolate exquisiteness.