Paris, Marseille, Barcelona… Montreal

Poésie trouvée au coté du Canal St-Martin, Paris

De retour d’une aventure magnifique, un voyage excitant qui m’a permis en 2 semaines de m’éloigner de mes tracas, et comme pour tous mes autres voyages, j’ai su m’étourdir juste assez pour qu’une fois reposée, la poussière retombée, je puisse facilement me remettre à jour sur ce que qui me fait vibrer, me reconnecter à mon intuition, et retrouver la clarté dont j’ai tant besoin pour avancer.

Terrasse des Galeries Lafayette, vue sur Paris, moi sérieuse

D’abord Paris
Arrivés à 7h du matin après 6 heures de vol, nos 3 jours à Paris étaient bien planifiés : marche, terrasses, marche, terrasses. Trois jours avec mon amoureux, à déambuller et visiter nos endroits préférés dans le marais, le 10ième, St-Germain et le cimetière du Père Lachaise, s’étaler sur les terrasses pour enfiler des cafés crèmes* et croissants au beurre infiniment plus succulents que ce qu’on a comme pâtisserie au Québec, regarder passer les gens, observer leur va et viens en s’imaginant leur quotidien, contempler la vivacité et la nouveauté autour de nous.

Canal St-Martin, et repos au Louvre

Ensuite, 3 jours à Marseille, via le TGV
Encore ici, 3 jours à marcher, et surtout à chercher quel sera notre prochain repas, la France n’étant pas facile à gérer pour des végétariens. Nos 3 jours à Marseille nous ont servi de base de repos, entre nos 2 destinations principales, Paris et Barcelone.

Port de Marseille

Barcelone!
Ah! la ville dont j’ai tant rêvé! Dès notre arrivée, je m’y suis sentie comme un poisson dans l’eau, le beau temps, la chaleur, et la méditerranée aidant.

Notre itinéraire s’arrêtait dans cette ville magnifique, où nous avons passé une semaine entière à admirer un rythme de vie qui m’était jusqu’ici inconnu : le déjeuner se prend vers 11h, et le dîner entre 14h et 16h (ce qui est aussi l’heure de la sieste, donc tous les magasins sont fermés). Entre 19h et 22h, c’est l’heure des terrasses et des tapas, et s’en suit le souper entre 22h et minuit.

Le café Cortado, et notre terrasse

Nos journées débutaient autour des 10h avec un excellent café Cortado, avec lequel on se décollait les paupières pour ensuite mieux déambuler dans les quartiers qui nous semblaient intéressants (Barri Gothic, El Raval, Riberba, MontJuic, Gracia).

Le beau Chris posant au coté des mosaiques du parc Guell

Vers 14h, soit après 3 heures de marche, nous nous attablions dans un des nombreux restos végétariens pour profiter de ce que les Espagnols appellent le “Menu”, un dîner complet autour des 9 euros. Vers 15h, de retour à notre appartement pour un petit repos avant de nous diriger vers la plage, à environ à 15 minutes de marche pour nous. De retour autours des 19h, c’était le temps des tapas et verre de vin dans une des superbes petites terrasses de la ville, pour ensuite terminer la journée autour d’un souper vers 22h. Encore ici, beaucoup d’excellents menus autour des 9 euros étaient disponibles, ce qui fait de Barcelone la ville où nous avons le mieux mangé, même en comparaison avec New York où il y a de nombreux restos végé.

Ce rythme de vie nous convenait parfaitement, et nous fait rêver d’une vie là-bas, où la qualité de vie semble encore avoir sa place. J’envie à ces gens la mer, le climat doux à l’année (la température descend rarement sous les 6 degrés en hiver), le climat multiculturel, la culture, l’architecture de cette ville colorée et garnie de superbes pièces d’arts sur les places publiques. J’étais par contre dérangée par le tourisme agressif qui dévaste la ville : entre juin et septembre, des hordes d’Européens, Asiatiques et Américains débarquent chaque jour et remplissent les rues de manière absolument non transparente, ce qui change pour beaucoup le paysage et l’ambiance de cette ville magnifique.

Architecture de Gaudi

Barcelone nous a donc fait rêver, et beaucoup de questions restent en suspens dans nos esprits, nous qui sommes depuis un temps à la recherche d’un nouvel endroit pour vivre, à savoir comment serait la vie pour nous là-bas, comment assimilerions-nous cette nouvelle culture, en sachant que ça implique d’apprendre une nouvelle langue. Nous allons peut-être préférer le sud de la france, une petite maison loin de la ville…

Pour ce qui est d’ici maintenant, de retour au Québec, en amérique du nord, paradis des autoroutes, des parcs commerciaux et chaines de fastfood et de cinémas Guzzo, Christiane Charette est à nouveau en ondes, et le show de Languirand a du être déplacé à cause de TLMEP – je me dis que c’est vraiment le temps d’aller voir ailleurs si j’y serais pas. À suivre!

* cafés-crème à 4 euros, comparé à 1,40 euro à Barcelone, ça vous donne une bonne idée de l’échelle des prix de consommation dans une ville comme Paris à l’heure actuelle…

Pour voir l’album complet de nos photos, cliquez ici!

Holi

Holi – the Festival of Colors: absolutely amazing.

On march 11th, people in India and other countries with large Hindu populations celebrated Holi, the Festival of Colors. Holi is celebrated as a welcoming of Spring, and a celebration of the triumph of good over evil. What that translates to in action is an enthusiastic dropping of inhibitions, as people chase each other and playfully splash colorful paint, powder and water on each other. People also attend bonfires to commemorate the story of Prahlada, a Hindu figure and devout follower of Lord Vishnu who prevailed over his father and the demoness Holika with the power of his devotion. Collected here are photos from this year’s Festival of Colors.

field

Path

We took a much needed vacation on the country side, from where we wandered around 40 km of beauty along the 70 km bike path between Victoriaville and Warwick.

Our small adventures will soon lead us to bigger ones, since we are planning on leaving for Europe to establish a second home base there in the next months. For now, i wish you all a nice monday!

New York pictures, part II

Familiar grounds

Sitting at Cafe Gerbeau in Budapest. A short stop while i am trying to let my intuition guide me through the streets of this city i am into, with a small travel guide as my only ally.

I feel small and alone, but so far, i had only 20 minutes of homesickness, as planned. I am now learning to cope and accept this known but so often avoided feeling. I am also learning to be aware of the people placed on my path by the universe, and furthermore, learning to open myself to them, instead of shutting myself off as i always used to do.

I feel sorry that i did not acknowledge the traveling girl trying to help me at my arrival as i was waiting for my flat’s keys – she looked willing to help, and friendly, but i was so stressed out, i did not realize that the universe was sending me someone to give me a hand in my loneliness.

Same with the men renting me the flat, who’s also all there to help. I see this with eyes wide open – i am not at all alone, just on unfamiliar grounds, and that is what my travels are about: discovering myself in unfamiliar situations. I’ve been so used to close myself off from people, discarding them if they did not look familiar as friends or family.

I am here to explore the unfamiliar until i feel comfortable and secure in it’s harms. I am here to learn to open myself to people, to accept the inter-dependance between all of us, and stop aiming for self sufficiency at all time – this i tried for 34 years, and it ended up being a little boring, and overwhelming.

I must learn to let people be there for me, and myself be there for them.

Entry from Dec. 2th 2008, taken from my traveling journal.

Hello from Budapest

After spending some days in Salzburg, eating pastries and visiting a traditional hut-stop high in the mountains from which sliding down was like an adrenaline kick, i headed to Budapest where i have spent my first day walking around traditionnal coffee houses and enjoying myself.

The city remembers me of Paris, exept that there is no Marais. It remembers me of Berlin, except that there is nowhere a sign of the city inhabitant’s identity crisis.

I wish Budapest would have some of the artsy area which i most like about european cities, streets to wander around and look at artists work – jewelery, fashion, kiosks… Maybe i did not walked enough yet, but right now i miss the clash caused by the contrast of the old and the new, the visible mark left in between generations. This i have not seen yet, neither in people’s style and in the architecture. But again, there are still 3 days to this trip. Right now, i am enjoying myself in views which look like they could be taken out from Maira Kalman’s journal.

Ode à l’aventure

Selon mon humble avis, on n’entend pas assez souvent parler de grandes aventurières, de voyageuses qui sont parties seules, carte ou gps en mains, avec l’aventure comme objectif. La plupart de nos mères et grand-mères ne pouvaient même pas se permettre ce genre d’idée fantaisiste, et le voyage au féminin est encore un sentier brouillé qu’il nous reste à défricher, à explorer, à partager.

À lire sur jesuisfeministe.com

Safari moments

me, pacific ocean, costa rica.

There would be so much to write from this last trip, how could i translate all this beauty i’ve seen.

One thing is for sure, traveling is what makes me feel most alive. I’ve seen so much beauty, met many people, visited lost corners of the world and all of me wants more.

It is now clearer, my life should be filled with safari moments. I loved the monkeys, macaws, toucan and other species who shared their space with us for 2 weeks.

And i cant complain that it’s already over – i’ve been there for every minute, me in the now at all time, enjoying all parts of our adventure: the lost luggages, the constant moving from a to b, the pouring of rain over us every day, the sickness, the unknown and so on.

I am filled with a need to see more. Filled with the need to be more of who i really am.

Wondering, who’s agenda is that on my table? Who’s house is that? As if, i know too well that i have changed, and my outside world will soon follow.

Jungle goodbye

Leaving with the wind and the sun,
ready to visit new parts of my beloved earth,
greeting the monkeys, the birds, croco & other inhabitants of the jungle,
leaving to find a place of adventure, love and excitement for my heart.

Leaving so that i can be in the place where i most feel alive,
where everything is new to my eyes,
a new breeze on my skin, new sounds to my ears.

Leaving for many new mornings with nothing familiar around,
the new, the unknown,
sparkling jewels to be found everywhere in and outside,
feeling at my most alive and safe, in completely unknown territories,
nothing else than me, my love, and our sense of adventure.

Hello from New York

The thing i most love about NYC is the freedom of choice when its about fashion – wear your favorite head-to-toe-rainbow-jumpsuit and no one’s gonna mind. One thing i least love about NYC is all the fashionata slaves women – they abound everywhere.

This is just a part of an absolutely amazing piece by this Quebec born artist, to see at www.andrearosengallery

Eyewear Shopping: I bought some, not the ones you see me here with… but i still love these, that is why i took a picture. What do you think?

i totally felt in love with Agatha Ruiz’s clothes – colorful, lovable, reality sizes available, and affordable. NY Soho, wooster street

What i most totally enjoyed in this trip is the time i spent alone in my favorite coffee places. After spending 3 trips running around in the city, i felt it was time just to have this trip to enjoy the places i like, and discover a few new ones.

Chris’s portrait by me

Chocolate Martini, a must in nyc, hard to find in little Montreal

Chris’s portrait of me

Free, really!

Dancers, Union Square

Rare Device Brooklyn, last days: the shop was full, and so small. Now closed, new location in SF.

Lotta Jansdotter, Design Brooklyn: At the Design Brooklyn event, i found Lotta introducing herself to me while i was looking around – i did not expect her to be there and to be so available, i just could not find anything to say, shut off by suprise!

jansdotter.com

Downtown

Orchids on streetcorner, Mother’s day: little glimpse of nature and fragility in the middle of busyness

Me @ Moma: The moma is, the moma. Top floor exhibition is a must, the cafe is also a must, and the moma shop is absolutely and completely over priced.

Me @ Moma

Walking dancing running in NYC

foots, originally uploaded by shohei.

We’re about to head to New York City, once more. At this time of the year, the city is a must. Of course, it is nothing like the nature and stillness i crave for, but a vibrant on-the-go city like New York has a unique energy which i always feel compelled to be part of.

I’ve got to travel a little after this long winter, be on the go for adventures, this to feel myself alive again, see-hear-feel new things, get a little sense of newness and freedom, so bear with me while i’ll be visiting Rare Device Brooklyn shop (just before it closes), PictureBox, some of the best Gluten free and vegan restaurants (Babycakes), some rare venues such as MonkeyTownHQ where we’ll see a live performance via skype while enjoying our meal, Etsy labs, Marimekko store, art galleries, museums, parties and so on. No schedule, just us and the city.

DIY travel agent