Zulu Nation

Blog hiatus is gladly coming to an end, as I settle into Nola life.

Moving around so much has actually left me with a funny nagging feeling of "Am I actually going to stay in one place!?" I do miss Paris dearly, but it just takes a little Mardi Gras to melt my heart for New Orleans. It's impossible not to lose yourself in the sounds of the marching bands, smiles of the crowds and the taste of fried chicken. This city really is Magic.

Ended out the parades with Zulu yesterday.

These Days

Goonie Dreams

Today's Brocante - featuring One-Eyed Willy and other treasures....

Yesterday

more here...

Carnival

Feeling a little homesick for New Orleans, missing out on all the Saints celebrations + another Mardi Gras. We packed up our bags + headed over to Venice to fill the Carnival void!

Venice did not disappoint...we caught the very start of the celebrations, we threw on some masks + ran into various mini-marching groups along the way. We traded our usual Mardi Gras beer for wine + tasted some amazing local food! We ended up stumbling upon a little oesteria, Ai Rusteghi, serving up some heavenly little fresh paninis (I'm a sucker for miniature sized foods). Venice is enchanting, leaving me eager to see more of Italy...

Meat Party

In Colombia for the holidays enjoying some quality time with mi familia and stuffing my face with arepas on a daily basis. Besides enjoying the a nice little rest and soaking up the holiday spirit, I have managed to eat an astounding amount of barbecue. No complaints here, the standard feast includes a heaping amount of guacamole, fresh grilled plantains, salted papas, a nice chunk of corn and meaaaaat!!! (view exhibit A)

Colombia is a beautiful place and I fall in love with a little more every time I have the opportunity to visit...

Pinch Me

Every morning when I open the door*, it's the same feeling...like walking into a dream.

Even after being here for a couple months, I wonder around wide-eyed overwhelmed with the beauty of my surroundings... I'm holding on to my Paris moments. It's been a busy couple of weeks but I can't wait to be a better lil' poster - write more / share more...


*This is my street + freshly decorated with christmas lights

L'Atelier de Henri

I had the opportunity to spend a lovely afternoon with my teacher Henri Matchavariani in his Paris studio or Atelier. It's always so interesting to step inside a creative space, it definitely plays an essential role in the artistic process.

It was a real treat to take a closer look at his oodles of work, check out his library, and enjoy some apple tart...Henri's graceful strokes are inspiring and he's truly a great teacher.

Sunday Stroll

A walk around the our hood in the Latin Quarter and then over to the Marais to stuff our selves silly at yummy L'as du Fallafel...I could walk this city for an eternity...

To flea or not to flea.....

Sundays are sacred. The day usually begins by burrowing into the sheets for as long as possible, followed by slumping out of bed at the last possible moment + sitting down for a proper breakfast. No rushing to classes, no worries about clients e-mailing, no nothing.

The best thing about the Sunday's here in Paris - is that they are all of the above, plus the open-air markets! This might be one of my favorite parts of my new Parisian life...and besides the regular fare from the boulangerie or patisserie, the flea markets are open for the picking.

This morning, I took a stroll with my buddy Chase through the Sunday flea market in the south of the city. I felt like I was walking through a treasure chest, such beautiful interesting objects everywhere I turned...

Once upon a time in a town called Rüst...

Pardon my lack of posting, if anyone out there in the great wide inter-web has noticed a complete halt of posting. The summer has swept me away - far far away from dependable internet connections.

While I've been trekkin' around - I came across a little slice of wonder I wanted to share. The charming town of Rüst in Austria looks like every other little town - cobblestone streets, brightly colored houses, but all it takes is a quick glance up and something strange catches your eye....GIANT STORK NESTS! The skyline is filled with these huge silhouettes of bulky nests, with these large graceful birds poking out.

They fly Africa every summer and nest in Rüst - so if you ever find yourself meandering through Austria, check out this little gem.

London Town

Whenever possible, our feet are the preferred mode of transportation. We took full advantage of the sun shining in the sky this week with one epic walk. London is enchanting in the summer time, smiling people, full sidewalks, outdoor dining and all the green...

My hubs + I live in the southwest so we began by wandering through Fulham / up to South Kennsington / with grande-finale stroll through the lovely Hyde Park. After this 6 hour escapade we hopped on the Marble Arch Tube - to give our feet some deserved rest. Here's some highlights: