Travel Journal
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From Paris to Papeete: a 27-hour door-to-door journey
I’m detailing this trip because it might be of interest to those making the same journey for a move, and also to preserve the memories of this epic trip. FYI, JB has been transferred to Tahiti, and we’ll be staying there for 9 months. Our move to Papeete took several days because JB insists on being in Paris two days before departure to handle any unexpected issues. Since everything is expensive on this island at the end of the world and product choices are limited, we decided to bring as much as possible from France. So, we decided to bring JB’s computer monitor, our Cookeo, and our rice cooker, even…
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Trips to Paris [2026]
I’ve made several very quick trips to Paris over the past two months (sometimes same-day round trips from Lille) and took the opportunity to visit some museums, exhibitions, and see suppliers. Let’s start with the Boulevard de Bonne nouvelle area. I went there to pick up some tailoring sewing supplies from Lafayette Saltiel. And I took the chance to visit Maison Sézane for the first time. It’s a brand I really don’t like, because their fans follow blindly like sheep. I found the place gorgeous, with beautiful ceiling height, plenty of space to move around, look, take photos. I don’t know if the purchase is satisfying, as there seems to…
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[review] Maison & Objet Show Jan. 15-19, 2026
By sheer chance, we’re in the Paris region right when the Maison & Objet showis happening. It’s a very renowned show I’ve wanted to visit for a long time. And by pure coincidence, Carole M. gave me some entrance tickets (thanks!). It’s a trade-only show, but there are still a few private individuals who go. The entrance ticket is quite expensive, so private individuals must be very motivated or get tickets gifted like we did. We park in the car park (3.6€/hour) and take the shuttle that drops us off in front of the entrance to 5A. It’s perfect because that’s the section with fine craft (métiers d’art). On the…
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Porto (Portugal): Travel Diary
With JB out of paid leave but still wanting a change of scenery, we had to pick a destination that wasn’t too far for December. That’s how we ended up spending a weekend in Porto right after Christmas. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Day 1 There’s a direct flight from Lille with Ryanair, which saves us a lot of time (plus Lille airport is just a 20-minute drive from the city center, handy!). Unfortunately, during peak holidays, prices are sky-high for both flights and hotels. Ryanair is already not great, but the plane we were supposed to take had an issue. They bumped us…
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4 Days in London (United Kingdom): Travel Diary
For several years I’ve wanted to go back to London, mainly to visit the Warner Bros Studio Harry Potter. But when we were nomads, spending a month in London seemed way too expensive, while going to London as residents in Lille seems more reasonable now. Despite the proximity to France, this is only my second time in London. The first time, I was an intern in Oslo and spent my Christmas holidays in London with my best friend. The contrast between Oslo and London was striking: compared to Norway, everything seemed affordable and the variety was immense. I brought back lots of English books (which cost a fortune in Oslo…
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A Summer in Paris [August 2025]
Another summer where I’m cat-sitting. This time, it’s for friends. Three cats in total. It’s surely my (late) Rosalie who sent them my way. I was looking at Rosalie’s photo, thinking how much I missed her; that being sedentary was useless if you don’t have a cat, etc., when we were asked to take care of the cats during the August holidays. In Paris / Île-de-France. Since JB can work remotely unlimited and I have no geographical constraints, we happily accept. Lille is only a 1h30 train ride from Paris, but it’s quite a hassle to do a round trip in one day when we have quite a few museums…
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[review] Gastronomic restaurant Les Chemins in Guainville (chef Géraud Dupuis)
To celebrate our birthdays, JB booked a gastronomic restaurant an hour from Paris. Note: this article is NOT sponsored, we booked ourselves and paid out of our own pockets. The restaurant is called Les Chemins and is located in the Domaine de Primard, a hotel that is part of Relais & Châteaux. Here’s the hotel. There’s a large outdoor pool, but since we weren’t hotel guests, we didn’t dare go check it out. And here’s the restaurant. JB tells me there’s a “regular” section and a gastronomic section. There’s a single menu. The only choice is between a 5-course or 7-course menu. 7 courses = an extra starter and cheese.…
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[review] Exhibition: Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry at the Château de Chantilly
Apparently, it would be easier to meet the Pope or the President of the United States in person than to see the manuscript Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, carefully kept at the Musée Condé in Chantilly. Even researchers struggle to access this treasure. But we are very lucky because right now an exceptional exhibition is being held dedicated to Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry. This presentation, running until October 5, 2025, is a major event in the world of medieval art. A truly exceptional manuscript finally unveiled Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry represents one of the absolute masterpieces of medieval illumination.…
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2 weeks of vacation in Vietnam (2025): Ha Noi, Da Nang, Hoi An
JB, back to being a salaried employee is “forced” to take two weeks of vacation before August, and here we are “obliged” to go somewhere. We decide to spend two weeks in Vietnam, with the dates simply determined by the flight prices. Even though it’s not the best time for Vietnam since it’s the start of summer aka scorching heat. Since the goal is to rest, we have a very simple plan which involves returning to places we’ve already visited, where we’ve been several times, so there’s no pressure to sightsee and we can just enjoy these cities like locals. All the addresses & info of the artisans are provided…
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Where to buy real silk in Hanoi? Visit Lua Lang Shop
The first time you touch this silk, you have a strange reaction: “What is this wonder?” It is neither shiny, nor thick, nor smooth like those from department stores. And yet, it is soft; it’s the silk of my childhood, the one I have been searching for for years. Real traditional Vietnamese mulberry silk. Today, I finally find it again thanks to Lua Lang. I discovered Lua Lang on Instagram and despite several years of ordering (remotely, even though I occasionally find myself in Hanoi), I never had the time to go there because it is a 30-minute scooter ride from my home. It’s a shop nestled in a peaceful…
