Ms. Ellaneous

In my almost empty-nest stage,I am finding more time to travel and do new things. By sheer chance, I started a new hobby almost two years ago: painting. I arrived back home from the Philippines and found a complete, huge supply of painting materials. After some inquiries,I found out that my husband had bought them as he wanted to take up painting. Since he was traveling, I asked if I could use them. I was challenged by his reply. He said that if I knew how to paint, to go ahead, but otherwise not to waste the materials. I had not taken any formal painting lessons. All I had was my art activities in grade school. I wanted to prove to him that I could paint. I took the canvass, the paint bottles, and had an idea in my head. "Flowers for Mom" After spending a month with my mom who was suffering from the terminal stage of uterine cancer, I felt really sad. The reality of her end was nearing. I painted the canvass background black, and my daughter asked "why are you using black?" My answer was, so that the subject matter would come out...for good contrasts...for dramatic effect... and I began to paint. In psychotherapy, art is used to expressed one's feelings. Interestingly, enough, what started to take shape in my canvass was totally different from what I had envisioned. After painting for twelve hours straight, my daughter arrived home and saw my finished artwork. She exclaimed " Wow! How did you do that?" Immediately, my youngest daughter took a picture of it and emailed it to the rest of our family. They were all surprised that I could paint. So was I!!! I entitled it "Flowers for Mom." Two days, I emailed it to the members of my family of origin, with a caption for my mother as it was mother's day. On May 11, 2008, my youngest sister printed it and showed it to my mother. As she read the message "Happy Mother’s Day, Mommy. I thank God for giving you to us as our mother, for you gave us the gift of motherhood. I will miss you terribly. I love you very much. Yogi." My mom, then, nodded her head and smiled. " Roses in My Garden" My husband and my children asked if I could paint one with a white background...and I came up with this triptych. Again, I noticed that what comes out on the canvass is different from what I was planning to do. I planned to paint some roses as I remembered my rose patch in my garden in California. And I was amazed at what I turned out using the brush, a sponge roller, and other unusual things as a painting tools. My family liked it. I, then, realized that I had a new hobby...and I was excited to continue painting. "Vicky's Farm" Within the same month, I started on my third painting, a pentatych. I had always loved gardening, which is something I picked up from my mom. I used to win "Garden of the Month" awards in our neighborhood. I missed gardening so much when we relocated to France, so I looked for other means to still be connected with plants. When my flower ministry came up, to arrange flowers for the church altar, I was delighted and considered it a blessing. Because of my love for plants and flowers, I find it logical that these would be my themes in my paintings. Three years ago, I had the chance to visit the farm of one of my high school classmates in Tagaytay, Cavite, Philippines. I was so impressed by the variety of rare tubers, bamboos, and other plants that were planted in her farm. All of a sudden, various images of the farm came to my mind...and they became the inspiration for my third work. "Pink Lilies" The stargazer lily is one of my favorite flowers to arrange. It looks good, it last long, and it is fragrant. Based on an arrangement I did in church, I ended up with a more realistic style in this painting. Something different, I thought. "The Winters, Springs, and Summers of Life" One of the things I like do here in Paris is to go to museum exhibitions. After attending a guided tour of a Jackson Pollock exhibition, I thought I would try painting something in the Pollock style. I poured the paint in some controlled fashion and pattern. I found this to be so much fun! I still have two unfinished paintings and I just need to stay put to find time to finish them. Painting has been a way of expressing my emotions, whether I am aware of it or not. As I look at my work, some feelings are stirred up and I begin to relate them to what is going on in my life. Do something fun for yourself. Try something new...something different. My teacher in grad school said that all great painters are bi-polar but not all bi-polars are painters. I am not bi-polar and I am just a hobby painter with my own style. I think I want to start taking painting lessons, soon, so I can paint in other styles and even try portraiture.

Yesterday, we woke up to find that the city was blanketed with a light dusting of powdery snow...and that was a good reason to get out in -6*C temperature, to see how the look of familiar places had changed... on the street where we live... an entry to a known French personality's home...where the persimmon fruits look like tree ornaments... the church where I do my flower ministry... as we walked to our destination point: le Tour Eiffel. In front of this golden flame, by the entry to Pont de Alma (bridge) is the informal memorial set up to honor Princess Diana, who had passed away, underneath this spot, on the roadway. We retraced the steps we took to go to the new year's eve welcome celebration, along the Seine River. Here are some boathouses along the Seine...a pricey place to moor your boathouse. To the left side of the Seine is the Eiffel Tower disembarkation point , for visitors who come cruising on the Bateaux Bus (water bus) or on any other scenic boat ride. The snow plow beat us to the punch... as the bridge leading to the tower had been cleared of snow. At this point, I remembered Haussmann - the architect of the city of Paris, as I noticed the position of some monuments. Note the small structure at the perspective point of this photo...that's the Ecole Militaire.... and le Trocadero is directly across. Baron George Eugene Haussmann was commissioned by Napoleon III, in 1852, to renovate Paris. After one more look at this place, my daughter suggested that we go to Printemp, the department store, to check out the panoramic view from their top floor, at La Terrase restaurant. Back to Haussmann...his urban planning to renovate the medieval city of Paris and the surrounding districts included many aspects, such as cutting through medieval alleys, new regulations on facades of building designs, public parks in neighborhoods and along the boulevards, sewers and water works and other city facilities, and public monuments which were designed and situated in some patterned alignment. Out the door and to the terrace, this was the first view I had...of buildings without the typical Haussmannian look. As I looked around, I began to recognize some building monuments. That's the dome of les Invalides , where Napoleon is buried. Of course, you recognize the iconic French monument in the background! There's the back view of the top of le National Opera de Paris, le Palais Garnier. At the perspective point of this picture is the Arc de Triomphe... and here, you can see l'Eglise de Madeleine (church), back side view, at the center. In the distant background is la Basilique du Sacre Couer , also so known as the cake in the sky as it noticeably stands out when you drive into the city from the CDG airport. Although, Haussmann was strongly criticized by some of his contemporaries in modern city planning. Today, he is widely credited for his revolutionary ideas in urban planning and for having given Paris its present look and form, with its long, straight, wide boulevards, dotted along by cafés and shops. This new type of urban renovation made an influence on the Parisian way of life then and now, and for the tourists who come all year round. Haussmann's influence is also present in the planning of the cities of Washington D.C. and Chicago. And presently, so many cities have adapted having outdoor cafés and shops in different states from New York to California, in other European countries, and in Asia, from what I have seen. On our way home, we found this Egyptian mummy sitting out on a cold bench... while the police were patrolling on horseback. Today the forecast was for more snowfall. But it was milder than the day before and the sun was up...a perfect day to meet up with a friend for breakfast, near the Place de la Concorde. While walking, I decided to cut through le Jardin des Tuilleries, which is centrally located between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, re-designed and renovated between 1660 and 1664 in French formal style by André Le Nôtre, the celebrated gardener of the Sun King who is best known for his design of the Versailles gardens. Just like the feathered creatures on the fountain I, too, am learning to live under wintry conditions. With a double pair of warm socks, these Croc boots were made for walking, even on snow. I'm almost at Angelina's Café to meet my friend - this is a "must visit" for you when you come into this town....as it is known for their thick-hot-chocolate beverage, the Mont Blanc, and their macaroons , and many more sweet creations. Paris is one of the best places to live or visit, where walking is an enjoyable means of getting around. I'll catch you next time, when I discover more places to tell you about!

The Eiffel Tower is now a global icon of France and happens to be one of the tallest buildings in Paris. It has become one of the most recognizable structures and is the most visited paid monument in the world. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair. It was my first new year's eve to celebrate in Paris. There was so much excitement about what was in store for the tourists and locals, alike: a light show at the Eiffel Tower. All bundled up, at 11:00 p.m. my daughter and I walked along the Seine River to get into position. There was so much traffic on the road as cars made their way through the throngs of people walking on the street...in a celebratory spirit...drinking, eating, talking, and singing. Some had too many drinks and were so drunk that they were falling all over the place, being rowdy as a group, and became unsightly when they could no longer handle or keep their drinks. Armed with my camera this is what I watched and captured: From afar, we could see that the light show at the Eiffel Tower had began. Along the way, we found some enterprising people catering to the needs of the crowd: Champagne for sale by the glass and food to go. The show was a set program of light patterns, in different colors, changing quickly. It was somewhere here that we stood, in front of the Trocadero... which is directly in front of the Eiffel Tower. I just kept my camera focused on the Eiffel Tower the whole time, clicking away as fast as I could. Just about everyone was taking pictures, using high-powered lenses, point and shoot cameras like mine, and mobile phones. The tower lights momentarily stopped... and the running lights began to run from one side to the other...the people got excited and began to buzz...as this turned out to be the countdown... et voila...all the lights turned white... and 2009 had ended and 2010 had arrived. Everyone turned to greet the person next to them "bonne année!" Then it was just twinkling lights... and then the lights went into their usual mode, the color yellow, the light color that the Eiffel Tower can be seen from many places in Paris, all year round. When it was over, I asked, "Is that it?" It did not have the same pizazz as a fireworks display, but it was uniquely French! When you come to visit at another time, be sure to see the Eiffel Tower when it sparkles with twinkling lights for 10 minutes, on the hour, every hour! Happy 2010!!!

I loved gardening and that is one of the things I greatly miss in apartment living. But God knew this and He sure made a way for me to still be involved with plants and flowers, somehow! There is a small church about 3 minutes from where we live. One day, the pastor spoke to invite the parishioners to help in whatever way possible. After mass, I asked how I could help and he asked me if I could help with providing flower arrangement for the altar area. It's been 3 years ago since I started my flower ministry. This was something new to me. I now make arrangements for the different seasons. To get started I looked for flower shops...those were too expensive. Soon, I found a wholesaler at the market and a flower outlet store. With these 2 suppliers, the costs became a bit more reasonable. My flower ministry begins in the fall when the church calendar is still in Ordinary Time. I try to design my creations symbolically, through the choice of colors and in the materials I use. When Advent comes around, the first thing to prepare is the Advent wreath. For the rest of the season, I use lilies and mums, with eucalyptus and some berries in anticipation of the forthcoming season... and add some evergreens and the color gold for the festive Christmas season's celebration. In the early spring, more colorful flowers are in bloom. I used to help out in this church, too, taking turns with another lady doing the flower arrangements. In the season of Lent, when the church is preparing for the Passion of our Lord...roses with their thorny stems remind us of Christ's suffering. For the Triduum, a side Altar of Repose is prepared. The red tulips are a reminder of the blood our Lord shed for us. During the Easter mass celebration, all white flowers adorn the altar...a symbol of the resurrection...a sign of God's pure love for us. And in the weeks after - back in ordinary time, before summer, the flowers and the colors can be as colorful as they can be until the church closes its doors for the summer. My flower ministry takes a half-day each week, whenever I am in town. It is a blessing in disguise for me, as I have learned more about flowers and how to arrange them, and be in my own world...like paradise! The latest thing I had figured out on my own, is to put a little bleach in the water in the vase. This makes the flowers last a little bit longer and the vases stay gunk free after a week, and so much easier to clean. uh oh...I have just less than 24 hours to prepare the flowers for the New Year's vigil mass...then, we will attend the vigil mass and be on our way after to celebrate ringing in 2010. Happy new year!!!

Much of what I do creatively had their beginnings when I was still very young. I used to hang around my mother a lot as I had very few playmates in our neighborhood. My brother, who used to be my playmate when I was little, now, had his own group of friends. I ended up spending a lot of time at home when I was not in school. My mother was quite creative with her hands and she used to design her own clothes, Christmas lanterns, very unique custom curtains, her landscape design, as well as other things. She was going to be a teacher, but after she and my father got married, the two of them made a decision that my mother was going to be a-stay-at-home wife and mother. As my father used to say, being a wife and mother was more than a full time job. The choice of grade school for me to attend was based on it's proximity to our home. This turned out to be the school that was within walking distance from where we lived, almost quite literally behind our house. The school was JASMS in Philam Life, Ouezon City, and it was a very progressive and experiential grade school. Our classes were held outside of the classroom whenever it was appropriate, and a lot of the subject matter we had were built in mini proportions inside our classrooms, detailed in molded clay then paper mached, acted on stage, or observed in the environment. I only realized later on, that what we were learning in my grade school was not the typical curriculum in other schools. Aside from the academic subjects, we also had sewing, arts and crafts, electronics, farming and carpentry. Between what I learned from my mother and from my grade school, at the age of 8, I was starting to be productive: sewing my pairs of pants, cooking simple recipes, doing arts and crafts projects with my mother around the Christmas season, and had taken an interest in gardening, as I shadowed my mom all around the house. She took the time to teach me how to do things in the house, the kitchen, and in the garden by showing me and by explaining step-by-step. By the time I got to school, I knew a little bit more than my classmates when it came to our cooking, farming, and arts and crafts classes. As I grew older, in the intermediate grades, I learned how to put together a radio and fashioned out a wooden tray. As with most Filipino parents, my mother wanted me to learn how to play the piano, just like my older sister whose ambition was to be a concert pianist. After a classical music teacher told my mother that I was not cut out to learn the classical way, but had a good ear for music, my mother got me a teacher to teach me to play by ear. So when I hear something, I can go home and play it in my own version. At my age now, I have developed some hobbies because I have more time on my hands. I am not professionally trained, except in sewing and dressmaking, but a course or two here and there, reading about it, watching a demonstration, or simply daring to experiment or try something new have gotten me to doing a number of things which I find enjoyable and worth my time. I count among them experimental cooking, sight seeing, ceramics, flower arranging, photography, and the most recent one is painting. Just like in my piano playing, when I taste something, I can pretty much duplicate it in my kitchen. When I see something I like, I get inspired to create my own design whether that be a ceramic piece, a fashion item, or something. When I need to come up with a design, I can picture it in my head - as it is in flower arranging. When I take pictures, there's some kind of a story that I follow and then it gets its structure once the pictures are organized into an album. As for my painting, that is a most fun activity for me as I just start to put my feelings, thoughts and ideas onto a canvass, where the words are the colors I use in the strokes I make.

Christmas markets are about to close...the holiday season is almost over. For a last visit,I went to the one at the Trocadero. New this year, the bonus to this location is having a good view of the Eiffel Tower, up on the Trocadero courtyard. As I mingled with the crowd, I was more attracted to check out the food stalls...a glass of VIN CHAUD was just perfect for this very cold evening. Families were having fun at the skating rink...how I wished I had my kids with me...except, they are all grown up now. There was a big to do by the staircase...a man on his bike was entertaining us with his stunt - to bike/jump down from the top of the banister to the ground without falling...and he succeeded! Briefly, I paused to watch the Eiffel Tower light show, changing hues and color patterns. An hour at the market was getting to me...I was freezing. By the time I took one last look, the half moon was out. The Trocadero will be the place to be this New Year's eve...to watch the light show and a fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower, and to view the blue moon that will happen because of a partial lunar eclipse from December 31 to January 1. Well, I need to prepare for this celebration...pack my pic-nic bag with some glasses, a bottle of champagne, some toast and foie gras, nuts, cheese and fruits...to ring in the new year! Happy New Year, everyone. May 2010 be a year of many blessings for you and your family!

After a day or two of eating the holiday foods, I begin to look at ways to recycle the leftovers, so they can get eaten right away. For left over meats or poultry, I recook them into Twice-Cooked Adobo style or make Taquitos out of them. Procedure: TWICE-COOKED ADOBO Style 1. Shred the left over meat or poultry (in this case, its turkey) and set aside. 2. Chop some garlic cloves - this is what gives the adobo flavor. In a warmed skillet or low-deep frying pan, put in a Tbsp. of cooking oil (not Olive oil) and brown the garlic in medium-low heat, until it turns light brown, while stirring constantly. Then, add the shredded meat, a little bit at a time so it is spread out evenly on the bottom of the pan and will get crispy. You may need to add a little bit more of cooking oil from time to time. Add salt and pepper to taste and cook until the shredded bits turn into crispy flakes. Toss around, every now and then, for even pan-frying. Repeat the pan-frying step for the remaining shredded meats until your supply is all recooked into crispy flakes. Serve with a sunny-side up or scrambled egg, with garlic fried rice. This can be your breakfast or luncheon meal. Procedure: TAQUITOS 1. Shred the left over meaty parts and set aside. 2. Place a number of corn tortillas on a plate, and drape over a wet paper towel that has been wrung out a little beat. Cover with a bowl and microwave for about 20 seconds. This will make the tortillas more pliable when you start assembling the taquitos. Warm up your skillet at medium heat, then drizzle some cooking oil on the pan. On a tortilla, place a row of shredded meat, off centered, and roll it to form a taquito and pan fry in your skillet, turning it around to get it browned on 4 sides. Continue the process, until you have the desired number of taquitos done. Calculate at serving 2 to 3 pieces per person. Serve with a dipping sauce of soy sauce, with a touch of lemon juice. Then, prepare a side salad of mixed greens as accompaniment. * Note that my taquitos are a bit darker as I used whole-wheat tortillas. It actually taste better when you use corn tortillas. These are really simple recycling recipes that will be well liked by whoever you are cooking for. Get started and finish up your leftovers!

The Christmas markets are all over Europe during the holiday season. In Rome, I had a chance to go to the one in Piazza Navona. This piazza is long, as the buildings around it are built upon the ruins of the Circus Domitianus (Domitian's Stadium). The piazza used to be the area for the races in the stadium. In ancient times, the stadium was the site of the Agonal games. The name has changed from "in agone" to "n'agone" to "navone" and now "navona". Today, it is surrounded by beautiful old buildings, a church, and adorned with three fountains. At the northern part of the piazza is the "Fontana di Nettuno" (Poseidon Neptune - god of water in Greek mythology). The basin design was by Giacomo della Porta (1576) and the statues of Neptune and the Nereids (sea nymphs) were just added in the last century. To the western side of the piazza stands the church of Sant'Angese in Agone. The story goes that in this arena, a twelve-year-old Christian, Agnes, refused to marry a pagan. On the spot, she was exposed naked, but miraculously covered by the unusual, instant growth of her hair, then martyred. The building of the church was commissioned by Pope Innocent X in 1652. Not long after, Francesco Borromini took control of the project and was responsible for the completion of the dome, the concave facade, and the twin bell towers. Across from the church, in the center of the piazza is Bernini's most spectacular fountain, "La Fontana Dei Fiumi" (rivers) which was erected in 1651, featuring a central rocky structure that supports an obelisk, an ancient Roman imitation of the original Egyptian form. Around the obelisk structure are four giant statues, which were executed by Bernini's pupils according to his designs, representing the Nile, the Danube, the Ganges, and the Rio della Plata, as a representation of the four corners of the world. At Christmas time, the piazza is filled with stalls selling toys and other items for the Christmas gift giving... with attractions to make it a family affair, where the children can have a balloon, a sweet treat, or take a ride and have a fun time... and pose for a picture and talk with Santa about the gifts they want him to bring. As I walked around, I came upon some Italian delights...an assortment of caramelized nuts and "turrones" (nougats)... stockings filled with candies and an array of other sweet confections to eat or for you to use to design your own gifts... and giant donuts!...that were, likewise, being packaged for gift giving...plus chupa chups and candied apples. Of all the Christmas markets I have gone to, this one at Piazza Narvona seems to be the most dedicated to the season of Christmas. Figurines of all sizes, stables, forms, and cribs are prominently displayed and sold so you can make your own manger scene. There were ornaments galore...snowballs, candle holders for Kris Kringle presents... or unique ornaments for an ornament exchange... wreaths and other decorations to make the house look festive... and colorful metallic, wooden, and glass ornaments for trimming the Christmas tree. After an hour's walk around the market, it was time to go and have dinner. Piazza Navona is an extremely lively place, with open air cafes around it. During the summer, there are numerous artists who offer to draw or paint passers-by, for a fee, of course. The place is crowded each day with a variety of entertainers, including mime artists. Perhaps, my next visit to Italy should be in the summertime, next year!?!

My friendship with Becca goes back to my "Ms.Ellaneous" days. So when I found out she had a concert coming up in Los Angeles, I made sure to reschedule my departure to catch her show. This was a night to remember...Becca Godinez in concert at the Heritage Forum, Anaheim, California...a dynamic performer whose style is so versatile, captivating, and entertaining. For those who watched her for the first time, they were so pleasantly wowed by her. Becca's opening number was a medley of Christmas songs. As she talked to her audience, she noticed her former singing group members from Calvary Chapel, and invited them to perform with her. "Prime Note Ensemble", composed of Filipino men who came all the way from Saudi Arabia, entertained us with their acapela songs - such talented singers who don't even read a note of music... and soon, Becca joined them for a number...what a beautiful blending of voices. Tasha Kaiserman, Becca's beautiful and talented daughter, gave us a jazzy rendition of ”O Holy Night.“ Then, out came Ner de Leon, a Filipino saxophone player...in his rendition of Chuck Mangione's “Feels so Good.” He thrilled us. Ner is such a dynamic performer... who captivated the audience with another 2 songs. I'm sure he will make it to the top...someday soon! Becca shared his story with us...his conversion from his Las Vegas life style to who he is today. Becca, along with her long-time back-up singers who were entertaining, as well, with their Christmas hats and their singing and dancing, sang “Shining” which has earned her one of two gold records. In her rendition of “Drummer Boy” 4 drummers came to accompany her. That was a very nice touch that added to the theme of the song. In Her finale number, all her guest performers joined her - her back up singers, Ner de Leon on the sax, and Prime Note Ensemble. Becca thanked her guest performers as she clutched her bouquet of flowers. An encore number...and the people were clamoring for me. If you missed this concert, be sure to catch her next time. Our grateful thanks to Katz Entertainment for producing this show. We are looking forward to another one in the Spring or summer, or winter...next year!

Walter Elias "Walt" Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) is particularly remembered as an American film producer, known as an innovator in animation and theme park design. After winning fifty-nine Academy Award nominations and twenty-six Oscars,seven Emmy Awards, he, along with his brother Roy, put up the Walt Disney Company. He and his staff created several of the world's most famous fictional characters including the ever popular Mickey Mouse, a character based on a mouse he had adopted as a pet while working in a Kansas City studio. With many more animated characters to populate his own fantasy-theme park, soon Disneyland was opened as the happiest place on earth, for all who spent a day or so in this magic kingdom. The The Walt Disney Company, today has annual revenues of approximately U.S. $35 billion. The magical, holiday season is here in Disneyland! Two friends and I went there for a couple of hours to experience this season in Disney fashion, along with about 40 to 50 thousand others, that day. Our plans were to have a late lunch at the Blue Bayou Restaurant, catch up with each others' lives, and visit a section or two. And so we did. The Magic Kingdom's castle was our gateway to our fantasy land for the next hour or so. By the time we were queuing for "It's a Small World," the lights went on... and soon the international doll characters paraded before us... followed by a number of lighting effects on the Small World castle...like magnified snowflakes falling... and after the snow-falling, the blue lighting effects came...and that's when we got on for our boat ride to... it's a Small World!...a place where hope for peace on earth from a child's point of view is celebrated — to the tune most of us are familiar with, on a joyful boat ride around the globe... where different countries and continents are featured...and different languages are "spoken"... with a message about "Peace on Earth"... and in living in harmony with one another. The magical minutes came to an end, but the joy in our hearts warmed us on this cold evening. And, soon the sky was going to be lit up...pop, pop, pop...and the fireworks display was underway! Those pyro-technicians surely entertained us! Then, the evening shade finally fell over the Magic Kingdom... and we started to trek out...along lit up streets... and taking one more look at the castle that brought us to another world. We joined the crowd on Main Street...as we headed out... and finally, we took a good look at the towering Christmas tree, admiring the big-sized ornaments...which, at one point, will be auctioned off for charity. After taking a break at the California Hotel, we went to the other park: California Adventure, to ride, "Soarin' over California," where in one ride we "flew" over all the scenic places to visit in this Golden State. This visit to Disneyland was reminiscent of days past when we used to bring our children. This time, we were alone in our child-like mode, to enjoy the happiest place on earth!

All around Paris are accessible historical places to visit. Here is one, the Chateau de Vincennes. The Chateau de Vincennes is located at the end of Metro Line 1. From the center of Paris, it is about a 20 minute ride, and very accessible through other metro line connections depending on where you are coming from. This was the permanent residence of the French royalty until the 17th century, before the court moved to Versailles. It had its origins in a hunting lodge, set up for Louis VII, in about 1150, in the forest of Vincennes. Louis IX is reputed to have departed from Vincennes on the crusade from which he did not return. Vincennes was more than the grim fortress: Philippe III (in 1274) and Philippe IV (in 1322) were each married there and three 14th-century kings were born at Vincennes: Louis X (1316), Philippe V (1322) and Charles IV (1328). In the 13th century, Philip Augustus and Louis IX erected this more substantial manor. There is a Gothic church, which was unfortunately closed for renovation. The relics of the Crown of Thorns were temporarily housed here while the Sainte-Chapelle was being readied to receive them. entrance to the Chateau...The castle was surrounded by a deep stone lined moat. We walked through the drawbridge to get into the fortress. We went up and out into the terrace to take a look at the panoramic view... Beyond the moat lies the Bois de Vincennes, now a landscaped forest with ornamental lakes and a zoo. The park was landscaped in the English landscape style in the 19th century. In 1860 Napoleon III, who after having employed Viollet-le-Duc to restore the keep and the chapel, gave the Bois de Vincennes (9.95 km² in extent) and its château to Paris as a public park. Walking back inside, we looked at the features that made it a fortress...this was where the soldiers were stationed... they shot the intruders or enemies through narrow, vertical openings like this... and poured boiling oil or pelted them with stones through openings on the floor of the long corridors. As we continued on, we found the king's office space where he received his visitors...The room was warmed by a giant fireplace... the ceiling details had the symbols of the 4 evangelists in the corners and angels in between. There were also marks on the wall which means that it was used, sometimes, to house prisoners. The king had a private chapel...where the priest said mass, sometimes in very cold temperatures...while the queen stayed in a much warmer little space and looked through a rectangular hole to follow the mass. There was a latrine system...here you can see the gutter on the right side of the floor... with a light source - a little window all the way to the top ---it would have been hard for the prisoners to climb up to escape through this opening. This was the assembly room, the biggest space in the chateau...here you can see the details of how large the fireplace is and the stone details of the floor. The ceiling had wooden strips - this was part of the warming system for the room...and tapestry on the walls, too In the king's dressing room were little things that told you something about their taste...Charles V loved music, thus the decors included angels carrying musical instruments. Next to the king's room was the study and the treasury room. We started to descend to another part of the Chateau through the "L'Escalier d' Honneur" which was taken by noble personalities who became prisoners. Among them was the Marquis de Sade who wrote about his sexual exploits...the other prisoners who were members of the royalty were Diderot, Mirabeau, and Raspail. This was how the prison doors looked like. This was a very deep well that was used to store water for the chateau. Abandoned in the 18th century, the château served as the first site of the Vincennes porcelain manufacturer, the precursor to Sèvres; as well as a community of nuns of the English Benedictine Congregation from Cambrai. From 1796, it housed as an arms factory, and today it is the home of the historical sections of the French Armed Services. As you can see, this was a more austere palace compared to Versailles.

Last year, in early December, my daughter - along with her friend - and I took a day trip to Brugge, Belgium. I had heard how this city was so picturesque, and I imagined how much more it would be during the holiday season. We boarded the TGV and in a couple of hours, we got there. It was a frigid, gloomy day. We started to walk, following the big crowd ahead of us...to the center of town, along the canals. After stopping by a number of old churches and small specialty shops on the old city streets, we made it to the Grote Market - "Big Market square"...and noticed the Christmas market from afar. On one side of the square, we noticed a sign for an indoor Christmas market...it was so cold that we opted to go here, first, to warm up a bit from the arctic cold...and walked around to find... ceramic products:Christmas ornaments, figurines, candle holders, vases...and more... hand-made gift items using Belgian lace... artisanale fruit jams and marmalades with that home-made look... chocolate products produced by an NGO in Africa... hand-blown glass with the artisan making his creations on the spot...like glass ornaments, rings, and earrings...it was quite a show to watch... figures made out of soap and paraffin. It was time to brave the cold temperatures again...to get to see the rest of the Grote Market square. We headed straight to the Christmas market section...just to look around... while taking note of the old buildings surrounding the square. Out in the cold, we needed a warm drink... and some Belgian fries! We were so tempted to join in the fun in the ice skating rink right next to the market...where most of the kids were at while their parents were going around the market stalls. There was a Salvador Dali exhibit going on in one of the galleries... horse-drawn carriages for hire to take you around the city. And when more Christmas lights outlining the buildings switched on... it was time to head back to the station. Inspite of the negative temperature reading for that day, we sure enjoyed our day trip to Brugge. The extra-ordinary beauty of the place, it's rich history and culture...the whole experience lingers in our fond-memories bank. Hopefully, we get a chance to go back soon, before this year is over.

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. As a young child, my mom and I spent many hours making decorations and preparing our home for the Christmas holidays. Anywhere in the world I go, I look forward to the preparations undertaken for the holiday season. Particular to Europe is the "Marches de Noel" - Christmas Markets. Tonight, the Christmas lights will brighten up the Avenue de Champs Elysees, from the Arc de Triomphe... to the Place de la Concorde. Somewhere in between, the Marches de Noel - the Christmas Markets have been set up and will be open from now 'til December 28th. The first Marchés de Noël was held in 1570 in front of the Cathedral in Strasbourg, as a manifestation of a municipal protestant community. Now, Christmas markets are put up in many European countries as part of the holiday experience. Today, it represents one of the most picturesque experiences of the Christmas spirit - with hundreds of stall holders offering traditional, hand-made, artisanale gifts...like this collection of "Santon" characters to create a creche... chocolate bark treats by the kilo... macaroons, cookies, mini rhum cakes, and many more baked goodies to pick up and eat while shopping... spiced baked goods, with fruits and nuts from the region of Alsace... serve-yourself candies, sold by the kilo for the young and old... chocolate coated apples, marzipan and other sweet treats to enjoy or give as presents. During the whole day...but especially on long winter evenings...the smell of mulled wine, cinnamon and hot doughnuts charm the visitors... and the different food stands' aromatic flavors invite one to stop, look, and try out something that is pleasing to the palate... cooked over big, giant grills and extra large pots, they serve different sausages, schwarma, casoulet...in a pita, a baguette, or a barquette... you can even request your own concoction, as my daughter did - French fries topped with caramelized onions and a dollop of ketchup and mayonnaise. For the families that come, usually, the main attractions of the Market are the big Christmas tree ... and here, there is even a fake-snow making machine... and the rides for the children. For this gift-shopping experience, you will also find other products from here and other parts of the world...such as these unique items... one-of-a-kind hand-painted, Christmas ornament glass balls... practical and attractive woven products from Mexico, made from recycled materials... a varied selection of tea for the tea drinkers... lamps made with a drift wood/stone base... towel art...in tasty-looking shapes... artisanale soaps... and these tantalizing, moving, metallic mobiles! There is so much more to see. I shared with you what I found palatable, attractive, quaint, and useful! Make a visit yourself to one of these markets. If you can't, I hope you were delighted to make this visit with me. Happy holiday shopping!

The designers' fashion houses are well represented on Avenue Montaigne. Here is a sampling of what their window displays are showing for fall: I am taking the cue from the House of Chanel, color wise...pink and black....and the classic flattering lines. Prada: studded pants with a matching coat for men. What do you men folk think about that? Those caught my attention...something I would wear myself! Fur trims are back. They look so nice, soft and warm. But NO thanks. After seeing a documentary on how the animals in China are caged and inhumanely treated for the fur trade...I will go for faux fur. Leather is back! It can be a unisex thing. But, it has very little insulating capacity during the cold months...sleek looking,though. On second thought, this is also a by-product of the fur trade, no? Evening wear for the ladies: soft, drapey gowns or... turn that logo shirt into formal wear by matching it with a fully-sequined long skirt and a Pashmina wrap. This is my favorite look...casual elegance! So...which one are you inclined to follow? If you haven't found anything that grabs you, the window displays change so often...and surely something else will catch your eye. I'll check on Jimmy Choo, Louis Vitton, Dolce and Gabanna, Dior, and the others...in my next walk.

On Fridays, I get to join a group of mostly women, who go around exploring places to visit in Paris and the surrounding area. Here is one tour that was both educational and entertaining.

I had been naughty this week, finishing up a whole box of chocolates given to me by a friend who had attended the "Salon de Chocolat" Exhibition. Feeling guilty, I have been walking more than usual, and today, I decided to have a healthy start. So for breakfast I figured I better start my high-protein diet: a crust-less Quiche Lorraine with Spinach. RECIPE: Crust-less Quiche Lorraine with SPinach PREHEAT OVEN: 190*F (375*C) 100 gm. of lardon (or cut up bacon) - cook in low-medium heat until it is semi-crispy. Place on a paper towel to drain off excess fat. 1 tbsp. chopped onion - caramelize in the same pan lardon was cook on for a minute or 2. Set aside. 1 handful of spinach - cut up into fine strips 6 eggs - whisk to aerate a bit 1 tbsp. of shredded parmesan cheese ( or you can use other hard-type cheese) Mix all of the above ingredients and season with pepper. Pour into a greased/floured baking pan and put into the oven. After you close the oven door, bring down the temperature to 175*F (350*C) and bake for 10 minutes; after which, turn on your browning element if you have one and bake for another 7 - 10 minutes. I am using a convection oven...baking time may be a little longer for regular ovens. Serve this with your usual fruit juice, or in my case... I served it with a glass of freshly juiced green apples, spinach, carrots, and broccoli. Or, you may opt to make a light meal out of this. It can be served with a side salad...in this case I made spinach salad sprinkled with dehydrated echalote, herbes des Provence, salt and pepper, and drizzled with apple-cider vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil, and garnished with a tomato. To round it off, for dessert, the choice of fresh kiwi and raspberries made it a more anti-oxidant packed meal! I'm being good and have avoided the carbs, so far. If you want some bread with this, go for the whole wheat or cereal breads. NUTRITIONAL NOTES: When I eat kiwifruit, I wait for the skin to get a bit wrinkled as this is the time they get to be sweet. Kiwis contain about as much potassium as bananas; rich in vitamins A, C and E, and its black seeds can be crushed to produce kiwi fruit oil (I wonder how many fruits we need to get 1tsp. of kiwi oil?), which is very rich in alfa-linoleic Acid (an important Omega-3 essential fatty acid. Kiwifruits are useful in improving asthmatic conditions in children, and in decreasing the probability of colon cancer by providing a good amount of dietary fiber. Please be aware that kiwifruits can cause an allergic reaction in some individuals.(Kiwi-Fruit.info) So colorful and decorative for dessert preparations, raspberries contain significant amounts of polyphenol antioxidant; a rich source of vitamin C, manganese; contain B vitamins 1-3, with considerable amounts of folic acid, magnesium, copper and iron. You get as much as 20% fiber per total weight. (WikipediA) I am a big fan of spinach. I incorporate it in my meal planning as much as I can, when I can get a hold of it. It is a rich source for iron and a little bit of calcium. It is extremely rich in antioxidants, especially when fresh, steamed, or boiled for about 4 minutes (to benefit from it's folate content). It is also rich in vitamins A (and lutein), C, E, K; magnesium, manganese, folate, iron, vitamin B2, potassium, vitamin B6, folic acid (vitamin b-9), copper, protein, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids.(WikipediA)

Walking around Paris can, sometimes, be like going to an open-air museum. This afternoon, I came upon an installation along the pedestrian walk, starting on Avenue Franklin Roosevelt, near the Champs Elysees/Clemenceau metro station... featuring the Vogue covers, going back to the 60s. Marilyn Monroe was a standout. Some cover themes were artsy. And you guessed it! This warholized picture of Caroline of Monaco was one of my favorites. Kate Moss made it in one of the more up-to-date covers in 2009. As I continued my walk, I got to the Champ Elysees rond point and walked around to enjoy the fall garden pattern of mums...all around. This exhibtion slowed me down, but it was a most welcome sight. Bon weekend!