I’ve never seen anything quite like it. I thought the Palace of Versailles was grand, but Paris’ Opera Garnier blows it out of the water. Every inch is a tribute to opulence. Completed in 1875 by architect Charles Garnier, Opera Garnier is Europe’s largest opera houses. It is the setting for Gaston Leyroux’s Phantom of the Opera, a famous play which is now also the longest-running show … Continue reading The Glory of Opera Garnier, Paris
UPDATE: This post has been updated with useful information about where to find the best gelato in France, Italy & Greece, here. Forget your daily bread, in France & Italy it was all about the daily gelato for us! From fruity to creamy to organic, we put as much as we could to a taste test. It took our mind’s off our blistered feet, cheered … Continue reading France & Italy: The Gelato Diaries
Breakfast may be the first “meal” of the day in Italy but unlike at home, it isn’t the most important. A typical Italian breakfast is a coffee and a cigarette, and maybe a cornetti, cannoli, crostata, sfogli or some other kind of sweet pastry. In stark contrast to every other meal which seems to be a slow, pleasurable sit-down affair, breakfast is a quick pit … Continue reading Eating in Italy: Breakfast
Wander through the labyrinth-like streets of the Latin Quarter in Paris and you’ll be spoilt for choice, if not a little overwhelmed. The narrow, winding streets make it difficult to retrace your steps but despite this, don’t stop at the first restaurant that catches your eye. I like to go before I get desperately hungry, so I can have a little wander and enjoy the … Continue reading Eating in Paris: The Latin Quarter
Everybody knows everybody, the local businesses support each other and community ties are strong. Known for attracting quirky and creative residents, the villages that surround the main road weaving around the mountain have a decidely ethereal air. On one mountain you can find the oldest national park in Queensland and the third-oldest in the entire world, four wineries, a brewery, a distillery and a fromagerie … Continue reading Where to eat & drink on Mt Tamborine, Gold Coast
In every town I visit, markets are always a must-do, and my hometown is no different. My favourite farmers’ market in Brisbane is the Davies Park Farmers Market in West End. We do our weekly fruit & veg shopping here, so we arrive around 6:30 to beat the crowds which come from 8:00-10:00am. Before it’s busy, it’s easy to dart around to the usual stalls and … Continue reading Davies Park Farmers Markets in West End, Brisbane
Sometimes the smallest stars shine the brightest. I visited Sainte-Chapelle in Paris in December 2011 and I’ve never been so in awe of anywhere. It is smaller than Notre Dame, but in my opinion, it is so much more beautiful. There isn’t a square inch of the interior that isn’t painted, coloured, carved or adorned with gold leaf. The lower chapel was beautiful, but I was … Continue reading Sainte-Chapelle: A 13th century treasure
Visiting the famous Chateau de Versailles is a popular and worthwhile day trip from Paris. Built by the lavish Louis XIV, the Sun King, the palace is one of the most extravagant in Europe. The palace itself is impressive, but in my opinion the best part of the estate is the garden. My favourite part of the sprawling garden is Marie Antoinette’s little village at … Continue reading Don’t miss Marie Antoinette’s fairytale village in Versailles
Part reward, part an opportunity to put our French to the test, when I was studying in Paris, my French teacher took our whole class to L’Atelier des Chefs. It is one of my favourite experiences from the trip because it was an unusual experience that I didn’t expect to have, and because I love cooking. The class was conducted in French, but luckily the … Continue reading Paris Cooking Class: L’Atelier des Chefs
The Capuchin Crypt in Rome makes the Parisian catacombs look like a walk in the park. Underneath the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione, the small crypt is not easy to find but is worth the effort. After walking past the church several times, we asked for directions and finally found the crypt. Photography is banned inside the crypt, so I have none, although there … Continue reading Underground Rome: Capuchin Crypt