TDM
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Private tour of Officine Universelle Buly
We took advantage of our two-month stay in Paris to continue benefiting from our LVMH shareholder perks. Two years ago, we had already enjoyed tours of the cellars of Veuve Cliquot and Moët Chandon. In November and December, we were able to visit the Moynat brand, the Asnières workshops of Louis Vuitton and the Officine Universelle Buly on Rue de Saintonge in the 3rd arrondissement. To be honest, I had never heard of this brand until it was acquired by LVMH in October 2021. I had then seen a few photos of the brand’s boutiques and was struck by their very distinctive design. It should be noted that the Buly…
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Tour of the Louis Vuitton house & workshops in Asnières (France)
JB and I are LVMH shareholders and, from time to time, they organize exclusive (and free) tours for their shareholders. We’ve been lucky enough to attend a few of these, and we take advantage of them every time we’re back in France. This year, JB managed to get us two spots for the tour of the Louis Vuitton house and their workshops in Asnières. You should know that Louis Vuitton has a ton of workshops, but this one is the most prestigious because it’s here that they still make trunks (their original craft), one-of-a-kind pieces (like the trunk that carries the FIFA World Cup trophy), and special orders (custom requests).…
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I tried the Tea Time at the George V Paris (Four Seasons)
Several Parisian palace hotels offer tea time. We already tried the one at the Ritz Paris in a beautiful setting, so it’s time to try the one at the George V Paris. I know this palace by name, and I know for instance that they have a Hermès boutique (it’s the only hotel in all of Paris to have one), very well-trained estheticians (a facial or a massage at George V is on my wishlist). When JB suggested going there, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I’ve been so spoiled with many luxury hotels in Asia , and and in Dubai in recent years that the George V lobby cooled…
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Rouen, Harfleur, Le Havre (France): a little weekend away from the Parisian gloom – 2022
After a stopover in Germany, JB and I take the train to the Paris region, where we stay for just over two months for family reasons. The Parisian vibe is never extraordinary, especially when the weather is gloomy and gray. One day, on a whim, my friend M. and I decide to stop putting up with this bleakness and head off, leaving our respective husbands behind, for a girls’ weekend. It’s the first time we’ve traveled together, so I’m a bit apprehensive. We’re both picky, with our own travel habits—will we come back as best friends like before, or as worst enemies? Luckily, everything went smoothly. For the first destination,…
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Frankfurt and Mainz (Germany): Gutenberg Museum
After Vietnam, we had to return to France for family reasons. In recent years, the Vietnamese airline Bamboo has been offering very affordable tickets between Hanoi/Saigon and Frankfurt. We took the opportunity to spend a week in Germany before taking the train to Paris. I haven’t been back to Germany since the start of Covid (March 2020). Yes, if you still remember, I had to flee Germany, fearing that the borders would close for good and that I’d end up in lockdown alone in Germany (a fear that turned out to be well-founded!). On that solo trip, I didn’t get to fully enjoy Mainz, so I decided to go back.…
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Review of my (free!) lunch at Mallory Gabsi’s in Paris
With our card With American Express Platinum, we get a great perk every year: a €400 reimbursement for restaurant expenses at a selection of fine dining establishments. It’s even a perk you can enjoy twice, as this €400 is split into €200 in France and €200 abroad. While in Paris, we took advantage of this offer to have lunch at Mallory Gabsi’s, on Rue des Acacias in the 17th arrondissement. I didn’t know, but Mallory Gabsi is a Belgian chef who became known for reaching the semi-finals of the TV show Top Chef in 2020. Anh, who was supposed to join me, wasn’t feeling well that morning. It was too…
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Ryde Malta: review + promo code for the Uber equivalent
To get a promo code for the Ryde app in Malta, click here or use the promo code 74D5B0BC In Malta, there are 4 ride-hailing apps (Private Hire Vehicles) These 4 apps work in a very similar way and replicate the well-known mechanism of the leader, Uber. Price Comparison However, Ryde stands out with more competitive prices. Here’s a simulation of the 4 apps for a trip between the international airport and the Mercure Hotel in St Julian’s. This simulation was done on November 27, 2022, and fares can obviously vary depending on time, demand, etc. App Rate Ryde 11,55 € eCabs 12,90 € Bolt 14,30 € Uber 13,32 €…
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How to use Google Maps offline / without an internet connection
In this short video, I’ll show you how to download offline maps on Google Maps. This feature isn’t very well known because it’s not heavily promoted, but it’s actually very handy. You’ll be able to find your way and get directions: And if you do have internet, it will save on data usage. A must-do for all the places you plan to travel to.
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All You Need to Know About SCPIs: Investing in Real Estate Made Easy
Three years ago, I wrote an article briefly describing what we do to prepare for retirement. That article was shared with our relatives who are interested in the topic. While stock market investing or employee savings plans don’t interest many people, we regularly get questions about SCPI. Since the topic deserves more than a 10-minute chat over dessert, I’m diving into it in this article. I’ll deliberately simplify some things to make it accessible to beginners, while trying to be as accurate as possible. This article is not investment advice. When it comes to money, more than anything else, advisors aren’t the ones who pay. I strongly encourage you to…
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My Current Favorites [September 2022]: Stardust Ring, Leather Craft Classes, Slim Cera
September is always an exciting month for me because it’s one more excuse to treat myself: my birthday. As every year, I never wait for my birthday to buy myself nice things or experiences, but it’s always cool to have them right in September. As usual, we didn’t throw a party or invite friends, but there are plenty of gifts. Thank you, thank you! P.S.: My parents bought a cream-filled cake just the way I like them, and JB treated us all to an amazing weekend in Yen Tu (see the travel diary here). Stardust at Beautiful Accident Let’s start with this custom ring I had made at Beautiful Accident.…
