I like.. Paris Edition!

Yes, oh yes (oui oh oui?), just 10 days ago I was in Paris, saying au revoir but not adieu to the City of Light.

A lovely way to bookend my year abroad (remember how I taught in Bordeaux?) and see some friends and sights.

I thought I'd collect some happy little snippets from around town.

I like/J'aime:

• The Metro station Bonne Nouvelle (lines 8, 9) and its jaunty Hollywood-style sign

It's Good News Week! Photo credit

• Donut peaches. In fact, France's produce in general is cheap and good. I heard from a friend that it is the only country in the EU that is self-sustaining agriculturally (whatever that means)


• Finding an extra 50€ in my wallet that I'd forgotten about - spent on important things at EuroDisney


• The copper depths of Metro station Arts et Métiers (lines 3, 11), inspired by Jules Verne's writings and designed like the interior of a submarine. Did you know I went to his house? We didn't have a coffee.

Photo Credit

• An ad campaign to boost bread consumption in the country of carbs: "Coucou, tu as pris le pain?"

Photo Credit

Photo Credit

• And finally, on the plane home I watched Funny Face for a lovely Hepburn hit but not knowing that it was set in my beloved Paris! A perfect farewell to France, and multiple laugh-out-loud moments 

Lovely! Thanks Paris!

More lovely things here.

I like...

Ooh, September has been a slim month blogwise. Did I mention that I was patting cats across Canada and the USA? Getting lost in secondhand bookshops? Burying my nose in flowers?

Yes. It's been a good month.

Anyway, time for some stuff I dig right now!

• Paw prints in set concrete (and bird prints are pretty sweet too).


• Using the Notes function on my phone. I use it for everything: places to check out in a new city, books to read, life goals, dinner recipes. Now that I've changed it from the default comic sans (ew), we have a very productive relationship.


• Capsicum (bell pepper) in sandwiches. It's crispy and tangy and delicious.


• Coloured pens. They're a bit juvenile I know, but I really like updating my diary with a purple gel pen or an emerald green erasable!


• Having the exact change for the bus. Bliss.

All picked in the lane behind my friend's house. Yum!

• Wild blackberries - but watch out for the prickles! The West Coast was insane for these. YUM!


• The rich, green aroma of forests. Breathe deep.

Right near Beaver Lake in Vancouver.



• Reorganizing the apps on my phone. It feels oddly fresh.


• Related: the app from xe.com (currency exchange) - how did it take me this long (and so many countries) to download it? It works offline!


• Vancouver radio station, The Peak. I hope I can stream it when back home!


• And finally, trying new podcasts. I'm really enjoying Welcome to Night Vale. Perfect for when I want a bit of human company but am too shy to talk to anyone whilst travelling.

Any snippets of happiness you fancy sharing? The next Like List will be from homebase, Australia!

I like...

Well well! It's been a while since I did one of these. (Does anybody else feel that this year is racing to a close?)

I like...

I started reading Arcadia just yesterday, and with so much time in parks and airports I'm almost finished! Enjoyed the dreamy first half perhaps more than the second but we shall see where the story leads.

Salty liquorice. I know it's polarising. I think that Scandinavia (maybe Iceland?!) does it best!

Have started watching Twin Peaks again, (when I have my laptop!)

Chili powder - spices up plain hostel meals!

Burying my face into roses any chance I get. Mmm.

Also been obsessing over hydrangea, ever since overdosing on them in Brittany, France. LOVE their vibrant colours, and how they respond to varying pH of their soil.

LOVE my velcro sneakers - such a smart buy for airport security and hostels that have a slipper policy.

I'd love to hear your current likes (loves?) in the comments below!

I like....

I like...

• Metro lines that go above ground (line 6 in Paris crosses the Seine!)


• Bananas! (I think I might need to do a post about how to keep your fruit&veg up whilst travelling)


• Bike-sharing (always and forever! Borrowed one in Montpellier on Monday and rode 20km to the beach, then got lost in some country lanes on the way back and found myself at an 18th century chateau, where I had a private tour. Yes!)


• Speaking a second language and not even thinking about it (sometimes I'm having a conversation in France with another non-native speaker and it just blows my mind how our brains can do this)


• Sweet potato and bean burritos (so easy and delicious; I suspect I'll be making it often for my hosts as I couch-surf across Europe this summer)


• Wifi (I think we can all agree on this one)