I have always thought that the first book I’d read by Gabriel García Márquez would be One Hundred Years of Solitude. To be honest…
Title: The Lover Author: Marguerite Duras Genre: Memoir Published: First published in 1986 I am reading Modern Classics this month. As if my reading…
Half of a Yellow Sun is about the Biafra war of the late 1960s. A war that was fought between Nigeria and the newly…
I had just finished Petina Gappah’s first novel, The Book of Memory when I got an invitation to the launch of her recently published collection…
I am still trying to get the right vocabulary on how best to describe Hanya Yanagihara’s 724-page tome on struggle. Not a struggle of…
Homegoing is a work of fiction about a family history that spans two continents, the North America and Africa. It is the story of…
Title: The Woman Next Door Author: Yewande Omotoso Published: 2016 Genre: Fiction When I bought this book, I thought that I would be drawn…
Title: Letters of Stone: From Nazi Germany to South Africa Author: Steven Robins Published: 2015 Genre: Memoir This book was a Book Club, which…
Title: When Breath Becomes Air Author: Paul Kalanithi Published: 2015 Genre: Memoir Paul Kalanithi’s memoir is heartbreaking. I read this in two days and…
Title: Negroland – A memoir Author: Margo Jefferson Published: 2015 Genre: Memoir This book was an eye-opener. It was revelatory in not only its…
Title: The Quiet Room: A Journey out of The Torment of Madness Author:Lori Schiller and Amanda Bennett Published:1994 Genre: Memoir Again I seem to…
Title: How Does One Dress to Buy Dragonfruit? True Stories of Expat Women in Asia Author: Edited by Shannon Young Published: 2014 Genre: Memoir…
Officially opened this year, the Zeitz MOCAA is an impressive space housing contemporary African art and art from the diaspora. It’s in the…
Performance art, new and established artists, endless walkabouts in the immense space of the Sandton Convention Centre, interspersed with visits to…
Directed by Makhaola Ndebele, with music directed by Hugh Masekela, Gone Native was an afternoon, well spent, at the theatre. Set in…
Food discoveries that end well warm my heart. After last week’s adventure to this part of town and its burgeoning eateries, we…
Last Thursday night started off what is definitely going to be a regular attendance for me: Joburg’s First Thursdays. Loved the atmosphere…
It was my very first time at the Circa Gallery, even though I have walked past it on numerous occasions on my…
The Cube Tasting Kitchen has a new home in Maboneng, at the Cosmopolitan Building. But even more interesting is The Cosmopolitan Bar…
Friday brunch, as we learnt, is as sacred as Sunday lunch in Christian countries. So much that restaurant websites stipulate that bookings…
I have been sitting on this post for a while not quite sure how to sum up Dubai. With past travels, most…
Happy New Year everyone ! I have not made New Year resolutions this year, nope. But I am armed with lists. List of…
The publicists were hard at work in the months preceding and following the opening of Marble Restaurant. There was not a single…
I am not usually a breakfast person. Coffee and a yoghurt normally do it. But occasionally meeting friends for breakfast can be…
There is something that feels rather illicit about being at The Saxon. This luxurious hotel, right in the heart of the city…
Lest the title of this post be deceiving, the food is not old school. If anything, a modern take on everything, more…
This has been my go-to place all year-long. One of my very favorite places in Joburg. It is the ideal place for…
The menu at Licorish Bistro is extensive and has a lot going for it. My children go solely for the Street Food.…
Perspective. It can be changed by something as subtle as the way the light falls on something you see every day, which…
Ten courses of a fusion-molecular gastronomy mélange. It was wonderful. In equal measure it was a lot of courses. I am still…
Writing, being the solitary pursuit it is, does not allow for that constant affirmation that one gets from the more conventional careers. Success…
I have been to Café del Sol twice this month alone. I am obsessive that way – find something new and I…
There has been a growing trend amongst restaurants lately, where tapas-style meals are all the rage. This can work very well with…
I have been to the EB Social Kitchen & Bar and each time have had a different, yet still delightful experience. They…
Sure, not quite the village, but close enough. That’s how I aways feel when in Parkhurst though – small cutesy shops and…
As much as I loved the more formal section of The Grazing Room, DW11-13, I was slightly disappointed with The Grazing Room.…
It has been a while since I have indulged my other interest – that of all things art- so when the chance…
I have never defined myself as a feminist. It is simply an identity I embraced, whilst still in my teens, without truly…
Touted as a student hangout for quick meals, Daleah’s is a delightful small, intimate place that has a varied menu of light…
The food at the interestingly-named DW11-13 is fantastic . I met my fiends here for a mid-week dinner and came away fully…
Still a firm favourite for the early breakfasts or calorie-loaded brunches. Nice on 4th in Parkhurst has become quite an institution. Their…
Eight months. Eight months in which I have moved countries, settled into temporary accommodation whilst house-hunting for more permanent accommodation, and settled…
Signature offers fine dining with a relaxed ambiance. The service is always exceptional, the waiters are present but unobtrusive, and the food…
I don’t know if its distance from the city is what makes it feel like a real treat each time we go.…
I had not been to the Silver Orange Bistro since almost seven years ago, so it was a pleasant surprise to find…
I finally made it to the Dîner en Blanc, after being on the waiting list in Paris for almost two years. The…
Six weeks ago my children and I left France for good. We left behind an apartment with our furniture, clothing and books…
Held on the grounds of the Montecasino – I did not even know there was a whole other section to this sprawling…
It has been almost a month since we have been back in South Africa. To say it still feels surreal is an…
This was a go-to place on more than one occassion. We went for the fresh, well-prepared fish, their mashed potatoes drizzled in…
This one we had been looking forward to since arriving in Nice. I had read some really good reviews prior to coming…
We decided on lunch at La Voglia after seeing it completely full the first couple of times we passed it. Seeing as…
Incredible Italian food again, and this time again in the Carré d’Or. Le Bacchus serves Italian food, really good Italian food in…
The restaurants in the “Carré d’Or” – Golden Square tended to be a lot more low key than those in Old Town,…
Walking through Nice Old Town trying to decide on where to eat is extremely difficult. There is a draw to every restaurant,…
I could wax lyrical about the cultural side of our experience in Nice, but that would not be an accurate telling. It…
My daughter had a long-time friend visiting her over the start of the school holidays, and I volunteered to be the driver/guide…
This restaurant wrapped up our week of trying restaurants that we had always been meaning to. Anne Sophie Pic made headlines in…
Being the season for late sundowners followed by terrace dinners, we’ve been taking advantage of the good weather. Le Peninsula Hotel has…
Hidden away just off Rue Royale, on a quiet pedestrian street, Cité Berryer. It is quite close to Place de la Madeleine.…
Feeding the hunger. That’s what it felt like. La Gare, located in the 16th arrondissement is an enormous restaurant. We went there…
L’As du Fallafel is an institution in Paris. Ask about where to buy the best Pita Shwarma sandwiches, or where to have…
We stopped for a completely unplanned lunch here on our to the Pol Roger exhibition at Fondation EDF. It was the name…
One of my friends, who had been in France for three years, left this year. Why is this significant given the peripatetic…
Sunday brunch in Paris requires thinking ahead if you’re planning on eating out. Brunch hours for most restaurants run from 12:30 until…
Finally tried out the much talked about Frenchie to Go for their breakfast. This is the small, coffee shop next to its…
Today was a scorcher! The intense heat we have been having for the past week is unrelenting. As I sat there on…
Lured by some of the restaurants that were present at last month’s Taste of Paris, I decided to try Guy Savoy’s Les…
The last time I went the Fondation Cartier was almost three years ago for the Ron Mueck exhibition. As with many of…
I met a friend here for lunch almost two months ago, and we both enjoyed the food so much I knew I…
The Pol Bury “Moments in Time – 50 Years of Sculpture” exhibition, a first retrospective since 1982, which is currently on at the…
One would have to be living under a rock to be unaware of the migrant crisis facing Europe at the moment. For…
So we found ourselves in the 7th arrondissement on a random Saturday morning. Early morning birthday soccer game for my son’s best friend,…
Nathan Sawaya’s The Art of the Brick exhibition is currently on at Porte de Versailles. It is incredible to see the talent…
Funny how when everyone is winding down and readying themselves for their two months of vacation, I feel at my most inspired.…
I have been watching the news and the reporting on Greece’s situation – at the moment the highlight is on it now…
Building up to last month’s Taste of Paris event, the organisers of which had gone to great lengths in advertising on billboards,…
I met a friend here for lunch recently and can say that I will definitely return. I made reservations for a table…
The pleasure of a short stroll around the neighbourhood and a late afternoon family lunch over the weekend. As much as the…
I had friends from South Africa visiting Paris two weeks ago, and it was during our moments visiting the tourist spots and…
A guided walking tour of Belleville a couple of weeks ago revealed a world I would otherwise not have stumbled upon. Belleville…
Having read several reviews for Les Chouettes – which I thought to be the adjective, meaning fantastic or terrific , but when…
“Browsing bookshops then buying online is a ‘genteel form of shoplifting’”, this according to David Nicholls, in an article in The Guardian…
It is Spring and in readying myself for a new season I have been tossing, restoring and organising. The closets, the book…
Not quite a traditional Easter Sunday lunch, but it was for us in that coming here has become something of a tradition.…
I have been sitting on this write up for a while now, just trying to workout how I felt about Lisboa before…
In the past week I have had numerous conversations with different people in my life about the challenges of ‘getting the words…
The sheer size of the Fondation Louis Vuitton is intimidating. Designed by Frank Gehry to look like ship’s sails, it has an…
I finally got to see the recently opened Frank Gehry-designed glass monument that is the Fondation Louis Vuitton. It truly is a…
Being a sunny, if chilly day, we bundled up and headed out to Montmartre. My daughter, with her keen interest in street…
A photo essay of a day spent out in Montmartre.
I had lofty ambitions of regaling you with weekly tales of my Sorbonne stories. But between daily grammar classes, 7:30am classes on…
It has been more than two weeks since the heinous attacks at the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, but their…
There are times when some of the exhibitions I go to leave me with just the visual memories, and not much else.…
Ron Mueck‘s enormous life-like sculptures are on show at Fondation Cartier until 22 February, 2015. Go early. I waited for no less…
This parade happens every year in my neighbourhood. Our apartment is directly opposite a historical monument, Place Winston Churchill. Along with the…
I always know when there’s something bothering my children. The indicators are fairly simple really: like the flurry of questions or the…
We decided that exploring other slightly off-the-tourist-trail paths was required during our stay. So we succumbed to the sales pitch of the…
Having recently written about Frank Gehry’s newest architectural marvel in Paris, I was eager to see the building he has designed for…
Exploring Prague’s Old Town was a morning filled with the sights and sounds of a truly vibrant city. Armed with our list…
Described as one of the ‘most impressive example of Prague Baroque ‘, the St. Nicholas Church in Lesser Town Prague, is described…
Fuelled on a huge breakfast, we decided to walk through the city and make our way towards Prague Castle, loftily situated up…
Excellent service and really tasty food. Though admittedly the ambience could have been warmer, the impeccable service and scrumptious food more than…
I am always scouring websites, blogs and newspaper articles on books – looking for recommendations by readers, writers, bloggers,…Oprah! My FOMO (Fear…
Winter’s finally come and with it enough art exhibitions to see us through to January. We have set our clocks back and…
There is an interesting array of shows and exhibitions currently on and upcoming at the Musée du Quai Branly – making for…
On a random walkabout on Sunday, my husband and I, sans les infants, decided to detour for lunch to one of our favourite places,…
Photo: Lionel Bonaventure / AFP / Getty Images French parents and teachers have been up-in-arms again about the government’s reforms to the…
The powers that be of French Institutions did something surprising a couple of months again. The hallowed floors and ceilings of the…
La Rentrée is almost upon us yet again, which means the restaurants are reopening, the local boulangeries are reverting to their normal…
This year The Grand Palais has invited Russian artists Ilya and Emilia Kabakov to exhibit at the annual Monumenta exhibition. The nave…
After renovations that lasted four years, the Paris Zoo finally re-opened its doors again last month. I took my son and a…
The tweet that started the online campaign for Nigeria’s government to take action, and bring home the more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by…
My muguet and a single rose are on the dining room table in water, thanks to hubby. He was out early this…
Today marks the 20th Anniversary of South Africa’s first democratic election of April 27, 1994. South Africans will go to the polls…
I made reservations early and we apparently got the last table for four. Who would have thought that St. Jean-de-Luz, a small…
One of the things we delighted in was the local custom of saving those few hours before the sun sets for tapas…
As if the Basque region had not been a gourmande’s delight all on its own, we found yet another gem in Biarritz…
We hired a car and decided to explore a bit further beyond Biarritz. I have always been curious about the the town…
There is a fairly laid back attitude among the locals in Biarritz, almost typical of most towns with a high community of…
A five hour TGV trip from Paris to Biarritz, a walk around the town for an hour or so, and we were…
Not quite high tea, but good enough. I met a friend, who is a very good designer and photographer, for tea this…
“A wealth of history can enrich us” This trip was an entire history lesson wrapped up in a holiday. A visit to…
When Wanderlust – that is the venue – opened in Paris two years ago, a friend was quick to let me know…
The Spring school holidays are almost upon us, and I just got around to organising all the pictures taken during the last…
A couple of weekends ago, looking for a bit of inspiration on what to get up to on a Sunday afternoon, I…
The Economist recently published an article on a study about the worth of a foreign language. To briefly summarize: the overwhelming negative…
Out with the old, in with the new. Photo: www.dw.de After his Socialist Party’s crushing defeat at the…
Zeng Fanzhi’s first French retrospective is currently on at the Museum of Modern Art in Paris until this Sunday, 16 February. It covers the…
Source: Picture-Alliance/DPA The Swiss voted in a referendum on Sunday to curb immigration from the EU. Granted it was a close vote,…
Photo Courtesy: Anitra Michelle One of the many things I really enjoy about being an expat is the numerous encounters with people…
The weather has been fairly mild in Paris for this time of the year, and an added bonus has been the sunshine…
In the interest of making the most the recommendations of the New Year, we started with the sampling of authentic cuisine .…
I am officially acknowledging the start of my new year today, on the day of the official Chinese New Year, the year…
Few inspired the kind of reverence and admiration that he did. As tributes pour in from leaders from around the world, South…
The waiting rooms of immigration halls are the few places in the world that bridge that vast social divide. I was recently…
What does this day mean to you? This was the first year I ackowledged it, even though the issue of tolerance is a…
Poverty tourism, slum tourism or the industry of poorism – whichever label you give it, I have always been very uncomfortable with it.…
Château de Chenonceau for me was the best of the châteaux that we saw. It is a magnificent chateau with its landscaped…
Le Patio in Amboise did not disappoint. We steered fairly clear of the restaurants right in front of the Château after reading…
The Château d’Amboise was our first stop in Amboise – a tour that lasted about 45 minutes. We we there during the…
Tours makes for a good base for exploring the châteaux of the Loire. Small, animated – especially in the evenings- and a…
One of the pleasures of travel within France is the ease of it. A fairly short train or car ride and you…
If you’re a fan of Gregos‘ work, head to Galerie 59 on Rue de Rivoli, for an exhibition of his work, with…
Brunch is one of those wonderful meals that can be extended from late morning to early afternoon with absolutely no guilt. It’s…
I went to see Dada Masilo’s Swan Lake a couple of nights ago with an unlikely date, my son – who came…
Château de Chantilly is located 40km north of Paris – an approximate forty-five minute drive. Wikipedia lists it as a historic château…
Once of the reasons I started this blog was to share, at the time, my culinary discoveries in Ghana. I soon realised…
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will know that living in the fashion capital of the world is…
The leaves are beginning to turn, which just goes further to confirm that it’s almost over. Les vacances with their hot summer…
Today in Nelson Mandela’s 95th birthday and South African’s celebrate Mandela Day by making at least 67 minutes of their day count by dedicating them…
I finally went to the Keith Haring Political Line exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art a few days ago. It is impressive.…
More pictures here and below.
I was doubtful at first whether two days was enough for a stay in Brussels. It is. Between indulging in some of…
Spring break and the weather has actually felt like spring. My children had never been up to the top of the Arc…
I was around fifteen when I first read Things Fall Apart. It was a set book for our English class. We were,…
It was when I created my LinkedIn page earlier last year that the reality of it all hit me. Writer and editor?…
In high school, I used to doodle, draw and cover every surface of my school files with images and words, which whilst…
I went to the Edward Hopper exhibition at the Grand Palais yesterday. It was refreshing to walk through an exhibition and not…
He is first an artist, then a baker. This is what Bruno, just Bruno, the man who plies students and passers-by alike…
The last time I was at the Grand Palais, under its expansive nave, was for the Monumenta 2012 exhibition. Yesterday we went…
So off to the circus we went again. This time around, it was pure acrobat-infused fun, sans les animaux. I didn’t realise…
I had not really wanted to linger after our meal, but we found that the Relais de l’Entrecôte does not lend itself…
I took in the Salvador Dali exhibition at the Pompidou Centre on Sunday; the first retrospective of the artist’s work to be…
It seems like it was just yesterday that I was writing about the Christmas markets in Paris. Well here we are again.…
Last night we went to the Diana Krall concert at the Palais des Congres de Paris. I am not a complete jazz…
The United Buddy Bears are in Paris until November 18th. I saw them a few weeks back and enthusiastically went about photographing…
Cirque d’Hiver was a hit with my children. It is a long show – almost two hours long, with intermission only after…
From the distance, the walled city of St.Malo seems imposing, but once within its walls and on its cobbled narrow streets its…
I have been caught up in a post-rentrée funk that I’m trying to shake myself out of. The vacances came and went in a…
It was definitely not as interesting as the Seine cruises are, but it was good to learn about the Paris canals. We…
Yesterday was le 15 août – Assumption Day, and my family’s one year, two day anniversary in France. I cannot believe that…
“The much-anticipated collaboration between Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama and Marc Jacobs by Louis Vuitton…” reads the Wall Street Journal article on what’s…
That time of the year again – bidding farewell to friends who are moving on. I had a farewell brunch with a…
After the past week’s gastronomic hedonism, I am running every morning to let my body know that we’re home now – holiday’s…
We got good food and service at Le Roi de la Lune. It was nestled between other restaurants, that looked just as…
We walked around the city, taking in the festive atmosphere at the Place de Ducs de Bourgoyne. Ahh summer…something about the good…
With Milan behind us we made our way to Dijon. From Chamonix to Milan, then Milan to Dijon I alternated between being…
Faced with restaurant menus for four days, my kids zoned right in for the simplest Italian fare; pizza and pasta, and each…
Housed in the Armani Hotel, it’s all minimalistic chic, lounge music and beautiful people. Tripadvisor ranks it at around 300 out of…
A mere 40km north-east of Milan, the old city of Begamo is nestled atop a steep hill with narrow, cobble-stoned pathways. It…
We walked in without reservations, and were fortunate enough to beat the lunch time crowd. Minutes after we were seated, the restaurant…
A friend had warned me that two days in Milan would suffice, and this was accurate advice. Thanks Silvia. Milan is a…
Bianco Latte became our go-to place for the great good coffee and creamy gelato (it sounds so much better calling it gelato…
The Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano) is a sight to behold. Europe and its cathedrals: each with its architectural history; with its…
Between Tripadvior, Time Out, and the myriad other online options at one’s disposal for travel advice, local advice still trumps all. The…
We stayed in Chamonix overnight on our way to Milan. I love road trips, but with kids they require a bit more…
Wine by One: Bar à vins, Caviste, Club de dégustation. We went for late drinks tonight and stayed for longer. If you…
La Mère Poulard’s speciality is omelettes. The egg whippers sous chefs make quite a show of whipping the eggs that go…
Last week Wednesday I packed our bags, charged all phones, made sure the car had a full tank of petrol, and set…
We spent a day at Jardin des Tuileries last week. It was a busy day of the Fête des Tuileries, the annual…
Today was the first day of the summer holidays for my kids. This means for the next ten weeks, yes that’s right,…
Ordinarily I would not go to a cemetery unless it was absolutely unavoidable, but living in Paris makes you do strange things.…
This post was meant to be about Notre Dame Cathedral, then I realised that there were pictures I had taken over a…
I am such a girl. I went for the pretty crystal. I could say I was curious about the process entailed in…
When visiting Paris, there are always the usual places to see which must be ticked off and are popular with all kinds…
The French celebrate the summer solstice with music. In and around Paris, as well as in other parts of the country there…
Daniels Buren’s colourful transparent discs suspended on black/white columns has been this year’s grand display at the Grand Palais. Buren’s exhibit is…
Two months ago, Jardin d’Acclimatation had a Japanese exhibit in their gardens, with workshops, shows and presentations of all things Japanese. This…
It being Museum Wednesday – a new thing in our family – we tossed a coin to decide between the Museum of…
Château de Versailles was the seat of power from 1682 to 1789. With every every king that lived there, three in all,…
Photo courtesy: www.telegraph.co.uk La République Française has a new president. After weeks of constant debates on TV, endless campaigning and heated election…
Alliance Française is renowned for giving young and old burgeoning artists a platform on which to show their work. It’s done it…
There has been plenty of things South African in Paris this week. We celebrated Freedom Day on the 27th April, took in…
I am finding that school Holidays in France require a full itinerary. The luxury of just being outside in the garden playing…
Gregos. I am curious as to what his full name is. He lets me in, but am sworn to secrecy – well…
It’s not summer yet, but one can see the potential of the throngs of people that will gather once the weather warms…
A month ago, breezing through a Ralph Lauren store, a whimsical dress in a mud cloth-inspired fabric caught my eye. Could it…
My neighbourhood has quite a large offering of the restaurants and parks to venture to. A trip worth making is to Jardin…
Hidden away in the 16th Arrondissement, Musée Dapper seems incongrous in its surroundings. High-end clothing boutiques, designer stores, an elegant Nespresso boutique,…
After a week of reports on the big chill sweeping across Europe and my daily conversations with both our gardienne and the…
“All my life I have drawn…in fact I started my life drawing” – Auguste Rodin (1840-1917).
The Winter Sales started today and I was trying by all means to avoid any place that would lead to encounters with…
I thought it being a Sunday, not to mention a cold day it would be fairly quiet; this was not the case.…
Suddenly the window displays and counters of my favourite boulangeries are lined with these pastries. I became wisened to this celebration a bit…
With ominous warnings of a tough economic year ahead, despite what many felt was a rather hard 2011, revelers worldwide brought in…
I have brought back a few extra kilos and left plans to return again. Gaudi will have to wait, Catalan cuisine another…
This came recommended by the barman at Zahara. Newly-opened, it’s a restaurant with a lounge bar. The food was really good- I feel like…
Always tricky striking the right balance between the ideal entertainment for adults and kids when on holiday. Took the kids to the…
CDLC, Carpe Diem Lounge Restaurant and Lounge Club in Port Olimpíc combined all my favourite things- lounge music of course, chilled wine and…
Funny how I am more than happy to be the happy tourist in another city and not in the one I live…
I tend to take fairly random photos when discovering new cities- or so they may seem until months later I see an…
Being in Spain I feel like I should probably be having Sangria, but the Mojito has made a comeback onto my list…
I would have been glad to just sit at a sidewalk cafe somewhere, people watch and feel the sun on my…
Friday night was our night of discovery. After our day out doing the tourist thing on the Bus Turistic, we had sundowners…
Merry Xmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah…whatever it is that brings you together with your loved ones this time of the year. Do…
Yesterday I made gravlax, a salad with a balsamic vinaigrette, magret de canard with honey and balsamic vinegar and dark chocolate fondant…
A month ago, before the chill started creeping in we tried Le Bastille, right opposite Place de la Bastille in the 4th.…
The nonchalance of the French is the image I have been going for for the last three months. I’m not entirely sure…
This exhibition has been on since July- and on my ‘to see’ list from around the same time. Olaf Breuning has re-worked…
If you’re in Accra next week from Wed 30th Nov – Sat 3rd Dec, Studio Kurtycz has an exhibition on titled “Neither Black Nor White”,…
If you have seen the All Blacks performing the haka before a game, you will understand my fascination with the Maori culture.
The strange phenomenon that is branding. Walked past Louis Vuitton on the Champs Elysees on saturday and the masses had gathered, yet…
My children were mopping up the remains off their plates and declaring it the best food ever. Hunger will do that to…
We started out early – well, past midday and the weather was beautiful. There were already throngs of people at the marché,…
Armed with my ticket from yesterday, I set out early for the Matisse, Cézanne, Picasso: The Steins Collect at the Grand Palais…
It is grey outside. Gone are the long, balmy evenings; a far memory the Indian summer that drew itself out to the…
Tributes extolling the genius of Steve Jobs have been and will continue to be written following his death yesterday, and every one of…
It’s called Sleepless Night and is meant to be an all-nighter; from 7pm to 7am. We tried last night. We went- we…
Lounge music, I guess I am just a sucker for lounge music. Evokes images of chilled out cocktails on friday nights, lazy…
Writers, artists, designers, foodies and your average francophile are drawn to Paris by one thing- Inspiration. There is something about the city…
Discovering my neighbourhood has never been such a pleasure. Le Bistro de Neuilly is on rue du Commandant Pilot in Neuilly-sur-Seine. A…
While I was busy walking around yesterday doing my best impression of ‘tourist with camera’ I had completely forgotten it was fête…
I almost missed this, but it is still on for two more days. Santu Mofokeng, renowned South African photographer has an exhibit…
I went on a tour of the Opera house; Palais Garnier on Monday. This is home to one of France’s most splendid historical…
In Paris most neighbourhoods are defined by firstly, whether they are on the left or right bank, which determines whether there are…
Here I was thinking that this blog would gradually move away from its food theme, not quite yet it would seem.Had a…
Today my kids went back to school- after almost two and a half months off! Am I the only person who thinks…
Yesterday, armed with a good review from Oubruncher; literally ‘where to brunch’ a website dedidated solely to great places to have brunch in Paris,…
We are here! Arrived in Paris this morning – feeling excited, not to mention anxious about the new life. Staying in temporary…
Another week gone by, and the countdown to leaving sunny but cold, oh so cold SA, about to get underway. In the…
Allow me a moment to whinge…I am freezing and absolutely hating the weather right now! There. Now that’s out of the…
The Green Mamba at close range, yes with reinforced double glass in between me and the snake but still at close range,…
We have just over three weeks in SA, and have a carefully drawn up schedule for things to do with the kids;…
In the midst of the flurry of activity around packing away our three years here; as well as the farewell teas, lunches…
Last weekend was the Miles Davies Tribute Concert at the Golden Tulip and this weekend +233 – I love that they’ve taken…
My daughter, the feminist. In a random discussion a couple of days ago about recent age-appropriate sites she’d been on, she was…
I ventured out to Burma Camp; the Army Barracks in Accra last week, to seek out the weavers of Ewe Kente. I…
Finding a good steak in Accra is no longer a case of playing Russian roulette in the culinary search. Restaurants have now…
The Letters from Africa exhibition which has been on at the Brazil House in Jamestown (Old Accra) comes to a close today.…
Alabaster Box, sing what they call ‘Afroppella’, uniquely African sounds mingled with their perfect acappella repertoire. They are an all-male, gospel…
I am loving the changing dining landscape in Accra. Three years ago, the dining scene was completely different from what it is…
Maternal mortality remains one of the biggest killers in sub-saharan Africa. In 2000, the United Nations estimated the number of women who died…
Roots Flavours is in the W.E.B Du Bois Centre in Cantonments. Varied menu from garlic bread and barbecue chicken wings, salads and…
Candelaria was one other place that was on my list of places to visit while in Paris. I constantly trawl Hip Paris…
Again all in the name of venturing to the less well known…Espace Dalí in Montmartre was by far a different experience. I love…
Along the way to Espace Dalí…literally happened upon Miss Cupcake – and could not resist. Hey! It was a long walk getting…
I decided to forego the usual tourist haunts…No to the Louvre and the crowds there to see the Mona Lisa; but yes…
A popular breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea place, filled with both locals and tourists alike. It is more popular with tourists I…
Last night I watched a Supersport tribute to Seve Ballesteros who died on May 7th. Described as a maverick, daring and passionate…not words…
Yesterday it was Adventurers in the diaspora and Cinco de Mayo – did not realise that Cinco de Mayo is a big deal until I…
The rainy season is upon us and at the moment I am not loving the weather. Normally I am one to relish…
This post was not meant to be about food…I have been meaning to post more about my other passion; golf and the…
Il Cavaliere Pazzo has been open for over two years and whether you’re there for drinks after work, for a meal or…
Bespoke fashion always hints at a certain luxury and appeal. Renée Q offers just that with her bespoke t-shirts; which are T’s glammed…
Sushi at The Lounge . I wrote about Chase last month, but only tried out The Lounge recently. I went for sushi…
Thai food in the heart of Osu. I had some amazing Thai food on Thursday. It was meant to be a quick…
Last night I took my daughter to the My Dream Charity Show put on by the China Disabled Peoples’ Performing Art Troupe at the…
How do you say Safari in French? What I do know is that Safari French Restaurant -formerly Safari Livingstone- serves up veritable…
I fell in love this weekend. I fell in love with art of a different kind. I was equally charmed by confidence,…
A lounge bar that combines a delicatessen and a restaurant all under one roof. Bella Roma has managed to draw crowds given…
It was my second visit to Magnolia’s and this time I was more than impressed with the level of service. There has…
These are some of the pictures taken in Paris in the Summer of 2010. Taken from the top of Les Cars Rouges…
It was a history lesson about the Ashanti Kingdom and it definitely had us enthralled for the two hours that the entire…
The service was quick, efficient and friendly. The menu offers everything from continental breakfasts of croissants and coffees, croque monsieurs, to banku…
A sacred place on the outskirts of Kumasi (approx 30km). Lake Bosumtwi, (or Bosumtwe as per the signs) is the only natural…
I was at a Ghana Women Writers Forum a while back – a group that meets regularly for book readings, critique evenings…
Photo: Courtesy of Nthabi Sibanda The use of mother tongue language in the family home and multi-lingualism in general are ongoing discussions…
My thoughts are with the people of Japan in the aftermath of the most powerful earthquake to hit their country in recorded…
You may have seen the huge billboards around Accra and wondered what they were advertising…Chase is a newly-opened restaurant in Labone opposite…
According to the World Economic Forum, Lesotho is ranked first in Africa in bridging the gender gap, and eighth in the world…
Our weekend getaway over the Independence long weekend was to Sisimbo Beach Resort in Kuntu village. A 3km drive from the Mankessim…
Collage made from fabric pieces It was ‘Ghana Week’ at my children’s school, and I have learnt more about Ghana in a…
Who am I? A bibliophile. I believe you can never read too many books, and it irks me (deliberate use of a…
Saturday night saw us take in a show by The Electric Ladies Orchestra at Labadi Beach Hotel. Sponsored by Vodafone .
The Ghana International Women’s Club (GIWC )members were invited to a durbar in Berekuso, a small village in the Eastern Region which is one of…
Photo by: Jaxon Photography From Software Development to writing children’s books, Carol Mitchell, who hails from St. Kitts in the Caribbean is…
Looking for an alternative to my normal cardio and strength-training exercise schedule I was introduced to yoga as a way to gaining…
Eating out in Accra is never a rushed affair for a number of reasons…perhaps one’s desire to linger over a meal or…
Photo: Courtesy of Deborah Ahenkorah Changing the status quo in her own way is what Deborah Ahenkorah; Co-founder and Executive Director of…
Two nights ago my husband questioned the merits of my reading Nelson’s Mandela’s ‘Long Walk to Freedom‘ to our five year old…
Afrikiko Leisure Centre – adjacent to the French Embassy, just off Liberation Road is proving to be a gem of a place…
This is my third year in Ghana and the very first time I have witnessed the harmattan we are experiencing at the…
This is a post that should have been my first of the New Year but alas…New Year’s Day and most restaurants were…
Breakfast with one of my friends almost turned into lunch. We ordered their cappuccinos, and slowly ate our way through orders of…
I could not have thought of a more apt name for a place that serves such delicious food. Not an expensive restaurant…
Maropeng is a Tswana word that means “return to your roots” and it is a museum dedicated to the archaeological finds of…
The lunch was pre-arranged a month ago…a reunion with former colleagues. We chose Tsunami Seafood Emporium in Morningside; a restaurant that first opened in…
Internet access at last! Between travel and trying to find a quiet spot with a free wi-fi service, the blog posts had…
I am continuously surprised by a view of the ocean a mere five minute drive from Accra city centre. Being in the…
It was a long weekend this past weekend and we had no plans to travel beyond the immediate borders. Farmer’s day is a…
This one was long overdue. One of my favourite restaurants in Accra, La Chaumière was open for business at lunch as usual.…
I have had countless encounters with wonderful people in this city and it is a shame that they are not always shared.…
An hour drive from Accra gives you a trip out of town and the chance to have freshwater-reared Tilapia looking out at Lake…
For a change this post is not just about food…well, not entirely. The signage directed me to ‘High Tea’ at Labadi Beach…
First you view the exquisite art deco furniture in Art Deco, located in Adabraka, then you sit out on the patio and…
I set out looking to take a few pictures of the Arts Centre in Accra.I left there with offers of rare Ashanti…
The cappuccino mousse served at the end of our meal is what sealed it…”The best food I’ve ever tasted in Ghana” was…
Yes, the third Thursday of the month of November and the corks were popped last night as we celebrated the Beaujolais Nouveau…
Barely forty minutes out of Accra, and you can find yourself surrounded by tropical forests and astoundingly beautiful flora, limited fauna and…
Some of the best croissants in Accra can be had here. On a good day you will definitely get light, flaky on…
“It is not an art gallery in the typical sense – more of a concept store” is what the owner and creative…
Uzuri, meaning ‘Goodness’ in Swahili is a newly-opened gift shop in Labone that stocks a wide variety of beaded sandals, woven handbags, kikoy…
“Is that a Borlabie?” is an oft-heard question in some circles in Accra. That is because Ebenezer Borlabie, or simply Borlabie, is…
It was one of the first places in Accra I went to that promised good coffee with ambiance. Melting Moments is a…
I was on a warship on Monday night and it was quite an experience. Yes, it was docked and floating at zero…
I was invited to play in a Golf Tournament this past Saturday. I have never played in as many golf tournaments as…
I remember wondering whether banking in Ghana was really as bad an experience as some expat-oriented websites warned before I moved here.…
The mid-term break came and went quietly and we were not for a moment stuck for things to do. There is plenty…
Affable, confident and relaxed is how I found Nana Anoff, the artist. He willingly allowed me to spend a morning with him…
Oktoberfest, Thanksgiving, Heritage Day (a.k.a National Braii Day) – all the typical celebrations in any expat community, in any country around the…
Gelato in Accra! Ghana never ceases to amaze. My children, who have become my official reviewers of restaurants and places to go,…
The presence of South African companies in Ghana is growing by the day and the Ghana-South Africa Business Chamber is trying by…
I have not been inundated with emails from friends, acquaintances or companies calling for my support of Breast Cancer Month and asking…
The detention of the wife of Nobel Peace Laureate Liu Xiaobo; whose awarding of the Prize by the Nobel Committee this year has…
Sunday in our house is and has always been the day we either go all out; making a Sunday lunch with all…
Maaha (pr. Maa-ha) – Good Afternoon! Now that I have almost lost the Obroni tag; I am now looking to have more than…
There is always something going on in Accra, whether it’s a classical music concert or a car launch – yes I know,…
The Ghana 2010 Population and Housing Census is underway and I have been counted. The enumerator that came to our household was…
Getting to the gym is the one thing in my calendar that I have to stay committed to. I make it a…
Now that the school holidays are almost over and the madness of getting school uniforms and sorting out stationery kicks in it…
I was invited to a Homowo Festival celebration yesterday. This is a celebration of abundant harvest after a famine that is celebrated…
My greatest fear is being in the middle of major surgery and having me re-gain consciousness on the operating table with…
It has been great, but I cannot contain my joy in returning to Ghana; back to exercise and eating healthily. Our last…
It has taken me almost two years to become sufficiently knowledgeable about all the symptoms of Malaria. But I have recently been…
It was not the same as it probably would have been had I been sitting at Soccer City in Johannesburg huddling together…
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a pub or bar in Accra on a Wednesday night that is not showing a match of…
I went to a tasting of the Beaujolais Nouveau last night at the Novotel Hotel. A rather lavish affair, with respect to…
I am not on Facebook, I do not have a Twitter account, I don’t know what Instant Messaging is all about and…