Food & Travel
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Sant Pau: The Other Modernista Wonder of Barcelona – Part 2
When I first caught a glimpse of the Modernista wonder, Sant Pau, from atop my ‘hop-on-hop-off’ bus tour of Barcelona, I was so taken with its beauty that I immediately hopped off to take a closer look. As I peaked over the wall at the colourfully tiled roofs of the turrets and domes of the red brick pavilions, I made a mental note to come back the following day when I would have time to roam the grounds of this truly unique site. And I’m so glad I did. For the glorious view of its sun-washed pavilions from inside the Administration building alone was worth the price of admission.And once…
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Sant Pau: The Other Modernista Wonder of Barcelona – Part 1
Barcelona is a city well-known for its incredible Catalan Art Nouveau architecture, locally known as Modernista. The Basílica de la Sagrada Família, Park Güell and Casa Batlló are three of the Modernista wonders that come to mind when I think of this amazing Spanish city. So I was more than pleasantly surprised to discover the Recinte Modernista de Sant Pau during my first visit there this spring. Since I was new to Barcelona, I had decided to start my trip with a ‘hop-on-hop-off’ bus tour to get the lay of the land. And it was during this enlightening ride that I happily came upon, what turned out to be, one…
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The Prettiest Street in Paris: Rue Crémieux
The prettiest street in Paris can be found just down the street from this beautiful city’s most gorgeous train station, and home to the incredible Le Train Bleu restaurant, Gare de Lyon. Situated in the Bastille neighbourhood of the 12th arrondissement – district – this short street is filled with an array of unique and whimsical houses. And if you ever have the chance to walk it, it will be one of the cutest strolls you ever take. Most of the townhomes lining Rue Crémieux were constructed in the last half of the 19th-century as a housing development for Parisian workers. Today’s inhabitants have brightened them up by painting them…
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Schokoladenmuseum: The Chocolate Museum of Cologne – Part 2
My visit to the Schokoladenmuseum – Chocolate Museum – of Cologne continued with a look at the earliest known peoples who processed and enjoyed this rich treat. Food of the Gods The Aztecs and Mayans of Mesoamerica didn’t just use cacahuatl or kakaw, as they each respectively called it, as food. For them, it also became a currency and a sacrifice to the gods. So great was its use that they developed their own stone cacao grinders. And, as I shared in Schocoladenmuseum – Part 1, these would be mimicked in the industrial age by huge, automated machines. Luxury Item In the 17th-century, Spanish invaders of South America introduced hot…
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Schokoladenmuseum: The Chocolate Museum of Cologne – Part 1
On the shore of the Rhine in the heart of Cologne, resides an attraction that is sure to delight all ages. For what was once the customs office building that served a bustling port, has now been transformed into the Schokoladenmuseum – The Chocolate Museum. A Chocolate Journey Through Time Fittingly, the architecture of the northern end of this refurbished building now resembles that of the bow of a ship. And, it also offers visitors a cacao-scented journey through the history of chocolate. I paid my first visit to Cologne this spring to visit a new friend I had made last summer while on A Rowing Tour of The Meuse.…
