Night Noodle Markets Sydney

Switzerland Magic - Video Diary

Switzerland is magic. Music by BenSounds - Memories.

Switzerland is magical with its crystal clear waters that look as if they would all but vanish if you were to reach out to touch them, alps covered in ice, snow and other greeneries... and on some occasions, water that ebbs and flows. 

You can't help but think of how the houses in Swiss towns resemble charming pictures from fairy tales. The air is crisp and fresh, with each gulp breathing new life into city lungs as the mind is awash with blues and greens. Granted, it's not quite Austria but believe me - the hills were worthy of a frolicking among. 

Switzerland is magic in the Spring.

Paris Travel Guide: Sweets

Paris is the home of sweets. Deciding on which patisserie to go to is just as difficult as deciding on which attraction to visit. There is no denying that anything and everything in Paris is carefully constructed with finesse and ease - you can't go wrong anywhere you go, however each place has their specialties and their signature options and it does take a little while to navigate yourself around the best that is on offer. Just make sure your tastebuds and stomach are ready.

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Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki

For beautifully made, delicate and delicious morsels of flavour, you can't go past Sadaharu Aoki. Born in Japan but trained in both Paris and Tokyo, Sadaharu Aoki's skill and heritage are displayed in every treat in his patisseries. The only problem is then choosing which to eat out of the many amazing cakes, pastries, chocolates and macarons and then trying to convince yourself that you've bought it to eat, not just to admire! Notable selections include: Ginza (pictured), Tarte caramele sale, Citron praline, Matcha azuki, Tarte yuzu and any, if not all, macarons. 

Dalloyao

Since dazzling the Court of Versailles until the French revolution, Dalloyao has been dazzling the French with its gastronomic delights. It's most famous pastry is the Opera cake - cake and biscuit soaked in coffee syrup, layered with butter cream and topped with chocolate ganache. Layer upon layer of chocolate guiltiness.

Angelina

Angelina is as famous for its hot chocolate as it is for it's signature Mont blanc, a ball of meringue and fromage blanc (soft cream cheese), covered in whipped cream and chestnut imple. The Millefeuille vanille is also just as good, with thin sweet pastry cracking and crumbling when your spoon submerges itself in the vanilla cream.

Pierre Herme

It is said that you 'haven't done Paris if you haven't visited Pierre Herme', demigod pastry chef and king of macarons. His macarons are a cacophony of colours and flavours and are so sought after that Galleries Lafayette have three boutique stores set up throughout the shopping gallery. Each mouthful is a balance of interesting flavours with sometimes two or three combinations.

Les soeurs sucrees

Maybe I'm swayed because I visited this bakery/patisserie almost every day in Paris, but I wouldn't go back if their pain au chocolat, meringues and baguettes were not as good as they were. The pain au chocolat is reason enough to re-visit. Light, buttery and filled with just enough chocolate, these were our go-to. Everything is handmade fresh that morning.

L'Eclair de Genie

Who am I to ignore possibly the most incredible and interesting eclairs Paris has to offer? Eclairs have certainly been brought back, with copy-cat stores trying to reach that level of simplistic elegance L'Eclair de Genie is all about. I am not usually one for eclairs but these are by far an exception. Flavour combinations include pistachio and orange, passionfruit and raspberry and yuzu, cassis, and salted caramel praline. The flavours are unreal and a bite will lead to an explosion of delicious filling and are beautifully presented little works of pastry art.

Boulangerie Aux Castelblangeois

Living so close to this boulangerie, we tried many a delicious pastry. The views at the window are hypnotic and instead of just purchasing one sweet, you may find yourself doing what I did - purchasing four which I then had to somehow get home in one piece. Each day holds a different selection to choose from, however their amarys framboises (pictured) is one of the staples, as are their opera, tartlette caramel and tartlette citron pastries.

Pozzetto

Of course my list would not be complete without at least one gelato - from Pozzetto. For gelato handed to you through a window above a selection of amazing flavours, Pozzetto is the way to go and it is the best gelato I have ever had. The pistachio gelato (my favourite, and pictured with hazelnut) is made from Sicilian Bronte pistachios and is spatula'd out, not scooped - onto the cone or into your dish. I know this because as we ordered, the owner was teaching her new employee the technique of setting the gelato into the cone with the spatula. The gelato is smooth, light and silky. Like good gelato it melts quickly but is eaten just as fast!

Dear Paris

The Arc is by far my most favourite place to view the Eiffel Tower and most of Paris, to that extent. Houses, apartments, boutiques and boulangeries stretch out in well organised rows along symmetrical streets outwards of the Arc de Triomphe. Not only do you obtain a good leg work out (be prepared to go up 284 steps) but also sweeping views of the city, come sunrise or sunset. One ticket admission required and you're free to meander about from dusk until dawn, watch the people pass by, lovers meeting, or cars attempting to manoeuvre through traffic below.

Musee d'Orsay

Built before the 1900s, The Musée d'Orsay was previously an old train station. Situated on the left bank of the Siene, it is easily reached a short and fanciful walk from the Jardin des Tuileries and offers beautiful views of Paris, the Siene and Sacre Coeur from the top floor. 

The museum features temporary and permanent collections of Impressionist and Post Impressionist eras, where Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, Cezanne and Renoir are hung to be adored. The ground floor of the museum boasts sculptures and large scale portraits. I don't have too much more to say about this beautiful museum, instead I will let the photographs leave you in awe.

Living in the First Arrondissement

Our days were long and the nights were dreamy in this sixth floor apartment we called our home for a week in Paris. Although the living room and bedroom was newly renovated, the kitchen retained its Parisian charm. Floorboards creaked and birds chirped outside the windowsills. Not only was it super lovely, it was also in the best location in that it was close to the Louvre, coffeeshops (Telescope for instance) and boutiques.