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A Canadian in Paris

Wendy writes:

I stumbled upon your blog and I love perusing it! I’m in Paris just now and am staying for two months, and since you’ve been, I wanted to know some of your favourite places to shop (Printemps being one of them bien sur)?  Any good open markets for trinkets that are not overly touristy?

oneandonlyparis

Wendy, you lucky ducky! I am so envious of your two-month Parisian adventure. Now, I was there five long years ago so my shopping memories are limited — we did frequently frequent Printemps and the gorgeous Galeries Lafayette (our little atelier was near the Grand Magasins). I also remember loving the boutiques in le Marais.

But where do I dream of going in Paris? That, I can tell you:

There’s Colette, of course, whose artsy-fartsy funkiness is so irresistible, it would be my first stop.

 colette-interior-paris

Then there’s the shop by Canadian designer Tara Jarmon, who Haute World introduced me to in a guest post she wrote for the Anthology.

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And there’s the brilliant Merci, where you can feel good about stocking up on everything from books to fine jewelry — profits benefit impoverished children in Madagascar.imgmerci1

And finalement, there is Laduree, whose macarons are so beautifully pastel-y, they inspired the colour palette for Sophia Copola’s gorgeous film Marie Antoinette.

Laduree Paris shop window

Hope this helps, Wendy!

So, mes amis, do you have any tips for a gal embarking on a Parisian adventure? Any Paris wishes? Share, please!

Paris image found here. Tara Jarmon photo by Haute World. Merci illustration found here. Colette image found here. Laduree image found here.

P.S. Add the Anthology on Facebook, mes chéris.

April 8, 2010 by

La playa, oh, la playa

Wish I could spend all my days in Playa del Carmen.

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I could get used to a beachy-keen lifestyle.

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But my favourite spot to swim? It wasn’t the beach but a giant freshwater cenote (sinkhole doesn’t sound nearly as romantic, does it?). Cenote Ikil was cold, full of fish and dripping with Lost-style vines. Add to that the fact that it was a reported 54 metres(!) deep and you’ve got the coolest, spookiest swimming hole in the Yucatan.

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I’ve been back in Vancouver a few weeks now but I desperately want to head back to Mexico. Now.

My tangerine dress? It’s from Zara. My suitcase? It’s bulging full of ridiculously bulky sweaters and scarves.

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Seriously, who goes to a place like this and buys big woolly things?

P.S. Add the Anthology on Facebook.

April 4, 2010 by

There are things you expect to stock up on

When you’re in Mexico — beaded accessories, silver jewelry and tequila.

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And then there are things you do not expect to stock up on when you’re in Mexico: oversized bat-winged sweaters…

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and giant scarves. Both of which made it home in my suitcase. The sweater is from Shalom in Playa del Carmen, which you should stop into if you’re ever there. I have a feeling you’d like it.

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The scarf is from a stall on Playa’s Fifth Avenue. And I should point out that it is made of — and I am not even kidding you — llama wool. Which might actually be something you would expect.

P.S. Add the Anthology on Facebook. Because it’s about time we were FBFFs.

March 21, 2010 by

Viva Mexico!

When we were in Mexico last week, we stayed at a resort in Playa del Carmen. Now don’t get me wrong, it was beautiful, but I love Mexico Mexico. valladolid-mexico

The part where pesos (not American dollars) are the most common form of currency.

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Places like Cuernavaca, Mexico City and Valladolid, a town that is beyond picturesque.

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We stopped at Valladolid — all too briefly — on our way back from Chichen Itza (whose pyramids, unfortunately, you can no longer climb).

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We were there as the sun was setting so it was cool enough to walk around (temperatures hit a scorching 36 degrees earlier in the day).

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It was all so beautiful it made me want to buy a hammock, learn Spanish, and move there.

P.S. Follow the Anthology on Twitter.

March 16, 2010 by

When I was in Paris

I stayed in a converted artist’s studio on Rue d’Amsterdam near the Place de Clichy (can I say I “lived” there? I was there for a month).

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Every day I would walk through a gate that looked almost identical to this one, carrying my groceries, my school books or whatever I picked up from Printemps.

This shot from The Selby took me right back there. And makes me want to return to that pretty city. Bad.

March 11, 2010 by

If you could fit in my suitcase

I’d take you with me. But alas, I’m heading to the Riviera Maya without you.

The Anthology will still be updated regularly, it’ll just take me a bit longer to respond to your emails (theanthology@live.com) and tweets.

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I’ll be sure to send you a postcard.

Image from My Polaroid Blog.

March 5, 2010 by

T minus one week

until I head off to Mexico. And I could not be more excited.

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The weather forecast calls for rain but I am a born and bred Vancouverite so I’m not going to let a little sky water stop me.

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When I went a few years ago it stormed every afternoon for an hour. But that only added to the beauty of it all.

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People pay big money to go storm-watching, don’t they?

Want to see more travel photos? Check out The Anthology on Flickr.

February 26, 2010 by

Take me to Montreal

Just try to outbid me at the Hope in Haiti auction Wednesday night. The spa packages, the Opus Hotel in Montreal, the baseball signed by Alex Rodriguez. Yes, that Alex Rodriguez.

I’ve got my eye on them all. Plus, The WZRDZ, DJ Flipout, and DJ Soo will be there. And so will your favourite bloggers.

A few tickets are still available online so get ’em before they’re gone.

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Image from the New York Times.

January 26, 2010 by

If you’re a foodie en route to Spain this year

Then my friend Surina has a plea for you: submit a reservation request to El Bulli. Now.

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The world’s best restaurant only takes reservations in January for the entire year. And these reservations are very, very hard to get.

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Which means even if you submitted your request on New Year’s Day there’s no guarantee you’d be eating there in mid-November.

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Chef Ferran Adria’s creations are that good. Otherworldly, apparently. Or “alien food” as the amateur gourmet calls them.

Thanks for the heads up, Surina! Images from here and here and here.

January 9, 2010 by