Spring in Normandie

(Yes, that’s Normandie as in French, sorry but I cannot bring myself to write Normandy, I think the y removes all the French glamour immediately.)

I had been thinking about traveling to that region of North-West France since a few years now, after seeing pictures of Honfleur and Deauville in some travel article, and falling in love with the coloured front row houses and vintage beach changing rooms. I also wanted to see the disappearing Mount Saint-Michel, but didn’t have time for that this time. (They say every time you travel, it’s better to leave some things off for a future visit 🙂 )

Giverny or the impressionist dream

If you come from Paris, as me and my sister did, I would recommend making a first stop by Giverny before heading towards the beach and visiting the Fondation Claude Monet. Especially if you’re coming in Spring. Remember those marvellous huge Water Lilies paintings? They were painted here.

Monet, one of my favorite painters, built his own garden with flowers that would grow all year long in front of his house. Once I saw the scenery, I realized that 2 hour-drive and the 40-minute waiting in line under the sun to get in were well worth it. I will let my pictures speak for themselves.

The Art of Jerusalem

Picasso once said, “Todo lo que puede ser imaginado es real” (Everything that can be imagined is real). So when Ahmad and Oren imagined a safeguarded space for citizens of Jerusalem where they could express themselves through art and leave behind any cultural, political or religious differences, they made it real.

They first found a rooftop in no man’s land in the old city of Jerusalem. A misused space full of garbage somewhere in between the Christian, Muslim and Jewish quarters. Anyone who has visited or lived in the Holy City, will know that the population usually stays around their own neighborhood and rarely intertwines with their neighbors. So, to find a place which is easily accessed from the different quarters appears to me like a sign that this project, called Jerusalem Art,  was simply meant to be.

Finding my roots in Israel

A trip eternally postponed. I recall my father repeatedly expressing his desire to go on a trip to Israel to visit his aunt since I was a small kid. And I confess, for some years, I wasn’t exactly thrilled to visit a country that appears on the press as being almost constantly on war. Also, being a teenager, you don’t listen much to your parents or you just want to do the opposite of what they tell you.

Anyway, long story short, after many years of indecision we finally packed our bags and left for 9-day trip to Israel last August, a month before my father’s aunt turned 100 years old.

For some reason I knew this wasn’t going to be an ordinary trip, but I didn’t expect I would feel the connection I felt. It’s called the Holy Land for some reason, there is a special energy at the place.

Best Pictures of Sakura Trees in Japan

I had planned it for a long time, but always found excuses to delay it. Once I’m fully recovered and don’t have to worry about where and what to eat, I told myself. However things do not work this way, but rather the opposite.

Once you dare to do the things that truly motivate you, once you’ve bought your tickets to Tokyo for a 3 week Japan trip on your own, once you arrive there and realize how great and free you’re feeling, how easy it is to connect and meet inspiring people, how plans and opportunities arise, then it’s when you actually don’t care about recovering because there are no limitations to enjoying life as it is.

You forget any struggle and focus on how amazing your life can be and all the beautiful places you get to discover and keep in your memories… and camera.

But enough about me. If you’ve landed here, I guess it’s because you like Japan and the cherry blossom trees right? Let’s get down to business then.

The first time I saw a Cherry Blossoms in Japan was in Kurashiki near Okayama. I highly recommend visiting this historic town, and wander around the Bikan neighborhood alongside well-preserved wooden old houses. Sakura season might be the busiest period, but it’s also the most beautiful time to go.

It’s quite an unrivalled setting for wedding pictures, and so you will probably spot newly weds in traditional wedding costumes sailing along the Takahashi river. You can also say hi to the swan while admiring the sakura.

Next stop in my way up back to Tokyo was Kyoto. Until then I had seen the first cherry blossoms of the year, but was a bit afraid I had planned my trip too early and wouldn’t be able to fully admire the Sakura.

However, as I took my first steps down Kiyamachi Dori, I found myself surrounded by delicate white sleek flowers sprouting from numerous cherry trees. I understood then all the frenzy and even obsession Japanese people have towards their beloved sakura.

Paris for the recurring traveler – Day 1

I’ve been to la Ville de l’Amour a few times, visited different areas, seen the main attractions as well as not so well known neighborhoods, but maybe not enough time to just live the city and make it my own.

Taking advantage of my sister’s hospitality I went back in the beginnings of November for 5 days. And it made such a difference! Maybe it was the sun that accompanied me during most of my journey, maybe it was a more open and carefree mindset or maybe it just was that – and please forgive my cheesiness-  Paris is probably the most beautiful city in the world. Period.

So, if like me, you’ve visited the capital of France more than once, let me share with you some of the routes I took wandering around the city. We’ll start with the fancy 5ème arrondissement, on the left side of the Seine.

Day 1- 5ème: Jardin des plantes, Mosquée de Paris, Rue Mouffetard, Saint-Étienne-du-Mont

So this time I decided to visit the Jardin des Plantes by Gare d’Austerlitz metro station encouraged by a friend.