The colorful display windows at Le Dolci caught my eye as I walked by. I stepped into the store only to discover there is also a whole studio inside. When I arrived, the morning class on designer cupcakes - think Coach bags and Tiffany's bracelets on cupcakes - had just finished and the team at Le Dolci was getting ready for their afternoon group. This gorgeous place offers custom-made cakes and cupcakes, as well as lessons on how to make these baked beauties. I was surrounded by pastel-colored cakes and everything looked almost too good to eat.
Heading to Porto Portugal with Kensington Tours this summer was one of the most interesting trips I've been on. I was drawn to the city's plethora of cafes and restaurants old and new. Naively, before I arrived I thought Porto would be a very small town with lots of old buildings that hasn't seen change in decades; I was genuinely surprised by Porto's modern and contemporary beat. My article on Where to eat and shop in Porto is now live on Untapped Cities.
A tribute to beautiful images of flowers that always grace the pages of Alice's blog Lingered Upon. It's been a quiet few weeks for me since the trip to France and Portugal in the beginning of the month. So let's just look like lilies.
Just like Toronto has been obsessed with oysters, I also find myself eating more oysters everywhere I go. On my recent trip to Paris, I visited Huitrerie Régis - a specialized oyster bar that offers some of the best oysters you can find in Paris.
Snuggled in the 6th arrondissement, Huitrerie Régis is a small place that seats 20 people and offers both dine in and takeout oysters. Most oysters in Paris come from Brittany France and that's the origin of the dishes from this shop. Here, freshly-shucked and juicy oysters are served quickly and offered at a very affordable price. Don't forget to ask your server to recommend a great wine that goes with your meal.
The list of places to visit in Paris is long. Having once lived there during college, I no longer feel the need to see all the sights when I return to Paris, but I still make it a point to see a my favourite sights in the city. Here is my top 5 places to visit in Paris, for those stopping over for a short stay.
1. Notre-Dame-de-Paris
The famous cathedral overlooks the entire city of lights and it’s free to enter. For a panoramic view of Paris, climb to the bell tower of the cathedral and see Paris spread out at your feet
2.Musée du Louvre
The Louvre is always packed and its expansive wings could take days to go through. To make the most out of time spent at the museum, it’s best to go with a plan of which exhibits you’d like to see. To avoid long lines and wait lines, go in the morning when the museum first opens.
3. Eiffel Tower
The symbol that many associate with Paris, the Eiffel Tower is definitely worth a visit for first-time tourists. Take the stairs and go to the top of the tower to take in a stunning view of Paris. The best spot to view the Eiffel Tower is at the Trocadero - across the Seine from the tower itself. 4. Arc de Triomphe
Stroll the Champs-Élysées all the way to the Arc de Triomphe, avenues spread out from there. For a different view of Paris, climb to the top of Arc de Triomphe at night, and see the streets below it all lit up. 5. Pont Des Artes
These days, there are love locks on several bridges over the Seine. Lovers come to Paris and hang a lock on Pont des Art to symbolize their everlasting love.
The 2 weeks I spent in France was divided between the French Riviera and Paris. I returned with so many pictures on my camera and my phone, so here's France as told through my Instagram.
Paris rooftops - beach at Cannes - coffee from my favourite cafe in Cannes
Macaroons from Ladurée - reading room at Shakespeare & Co - bike ride in Jardin du Luxembourg
Me sporting Google Glass in Cannes - taking off from Nice - people watching in Paris
Oysters in Paris - top of Notre Dame cathedral - inside the Louvre
Palais du Festival at Cannes - morning coffee at Cannes - flying over French country side
Beach day at Cannes - panoramic view of Cannes - beach party with Tinie Tempah
Lately, Toronto has been crazy about oysters. Restaurants everywhere are adding the seafood to their menu. Enter Cool City Oyster Yard, a new oyster bar that just opened on the patio lounge of 99 Sudbury in Queen West. Tucked away on the West end, Cool City Oyster has a very specialized menu with a large selection of oysters and even a juicy crawfish.
The folks there let me sample some oysters and taught me how to properly eat crawfish - although I'm not sure there is really a proper way to eat something so messy and fun. With a real southern atmosphere, I think this spot would be a great place to hangout in the summer evenings.
While in Paris last week, I found a rental apartment from a French art student through HouseTrip. Located in Saint Germaine Des Pres in the 6th arrondissement which is home to many art galleries and famous cafes, the apartment became my home base as I took up a Parisian lifestyle.
In the days, I walked the streets, ate croissants, and enjoyed late dinners. In the evenings, I worked away in the simply but tastefully decorated apartment on the 5th floor of a walk-up building. To the left of the dining room table which became my office, a window overlooked a pitter-patter of Parisian rooftops. I ate way too much bread and drank way too much wine. Despite the train that switched between drizzling and downright pour, I felt right at home in Paris.
The barista beats away behind the counter. He is cleaning plates, steaming milk, orchestrating a loud symphony, yet the patrons are undisturbed. Occasionally, he carefully paints the coffee with steamed milk, leaving a delicate leaf shape in the cup.
I’m at one of my favourite coffee shops in Paris. Although it has been 2 years since I lived in Paris, I still remember my regular spots from those few months I spent studying here. On my short return to Paris, I had just enough time to revisit some old-time favourites of mine and discover some new places on the recommendation of friends.
Forget overpriced and crowded touristy locations, here are some spots I recommend checking out when you’re in the city of lights:
For brunch: Coutume 47 rue Babylone Paris, France
A popular spot for locals and tourists alike, Coutume serves delicious coffee along with light lunches - a departure from the typical heavy European lunch.
For coffee: Télescope 5 Rue Villedo Paris, France
Known for its filtered coffee, Télescope is for serious coffee lovers. Your drink will also come with the friendly explanation of the barista who usually explains where you coffee came from, its flavour, and how it’s made.
For shopping: Astier de Villatte 173 Rue Saint-Honoré Paris, France A porcelain shop located close to Jardin du Luxembourg, this is the place to visit for some quaint handmade plates, dishes, and soap.
For art-lovers: Saint-Germain-des-Prés 6th Arrondissement Paris, France
You can spend your entire day wandering the art neighborhood of the 6th arrondissement. Pick any art gallery and admire the beautiful paintings, photographs, and sculptures.
For pastries: La Patisserie des Rêves 93 Rue du Bac Paris, France
I stepped into when seemed like a museum of pastries - all the desserts were kept in glass cases. Indeed, these beautifully crafted dessert please both the eyes and the taste buds.
For toys: PIXI & Cie
6 Rue Echaudé
Paris, France
Tiny figurines keep visitors glued to its windows. When you step inside, you’re in wonderland. Adults are brought back to reminisce over childhood days over delicate toys and figures.
For oysters: Huitrerie Régis3 rue Montfaucon Paris, France These guys offer some of the best oysters in Paris. Tucked away in the 6th arrondissement, this small shop provides delicious and affordable oysters out of a shop that looks like it belongs sea-side rather than in the bustling city.
I had only been to 2 different European cities over 10 days, yet by my own oversight and lack of planning ahead of time, I had already switched hotels 4 times. Of these, my favorite by far was Hotel Infante Sagres, in the heart of Porto, Portugal.
Because they offered free chocolates every night. And a glass of complimentary port wine upon arrival. And because I returned to my room one night to find that the maid had folded my pajamas. (You know the staff really care when they go so far as to fold your clothes!)
Within walking distance of the Unesco World Heritage Ribeira district and the main shopping street of Porto, Hotel Infante Sagres is situated in a 1950’s building and combines a classic decor with friendly staff and the comfort of home. I met some great hospitality students who were doing their practicum at this small luxury hotel. They told me that they chose to come here because this hotel had the reputation for being the best in Porto.
Each morning, I woke up to a maze of orange-tiled rooftops overlooking a quiet street in Porto. This was followed by a quiet breakfast on the open patio before hitting the streets for the day’s work. I loved that although the hotel was within walking distance of all major sights, it was quiet and serene.
Welcome to Just-in-Time (JIT), a travel photography blog by Tracy Zhang. Began after a year of backpacking around Europe, JIT is a time capsule of 6 years of wanderlust.
As of August 2016, JIT is no longer being updated. For more projects from Tracy, find her at www.tracyzhang.com.
To read more about JIT and its original purpose, visit our About page.
