A storytelling home by Léa Plourde-Archer

Travel top 5: One accomodation: Hostel Mostel, Sofia, Bulgaria

18 June 2013

I started the travel top 5 last week by talking about one of my top destinations, Britanny. The next question I’d like to cover is the top accomodation I’ve had the chance to sleep in during my travels. Out of dozens of hotels, B&Bs and youth hostels, Hostel Mostel in Sofia, Bulgaria, came out on top.

Some would say that Sofia is an unusual destination to visit. We probably wouldn’t have been there if it hadn’t been the cheapest way to get home (in France) on our way back from Istanbul.

After an eight hour ride on a night bus and a confusing 15 minute walk from the bus station to the hostel, we arrived at Hostel Mostel. Dawn had not risen yet when we checked in and our room was only going to be available in the late afternoon. We really needed to nap because our sleeping patterns had been heavily disturbed by numerous stops during the night. The friendly receptionist took our bags and let us crash on the sofas in the common area.

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Travel top 5: One destination: Brittany, France

12 June 2013

For this new post I was inspired by the 5 questions that Unique travel guides publish on their Facebook pages when they ask random bloggers and travel writers about their favorite spots. So far in my life, I’ve been to 13 countries, stayed in dozens of accommodations, tasted a multitude of dishes and drinks and lived through a ton of amazing experiences.
These are the questions I will be answering during the next few weeks:
Here is the first of 5 questions:

1. One destination 2. One accomodation 3.One dish 4.One drink 5. One experience

Let’s start with the first one!

One destination: Brittany, France. Situated in the Northwestern part of France, Brittany is a great place to visit if you prefer a calm vacation that focuses on nature and history, rather than partying and shopping.

When I arrived at the Quimper train station, I’d just spent the last two weeks going crazy in Barcelona and Bordeaux, two cities notorious for their thriving party scenes. Right away, I knew that the tranquility of the region was just what I needed to get back on my feet. I was lucky to stay at my friend Sarah’s house for a few days. She and her family were generous hosts who took me around the area, visiting castles, churches, history museums and many bucolic villages.

I was there in the middle of the summer but the weather was mild, even cold sometimes. Rain forced us to stay in a few times but who can complain when the air is crisp and the view so beautiful?

In terms of food, Brittany is a great place to sample many delicacies like seafood, crepes, cheese and kouign amman cake. It’s hard not to go overboard here!

I only stayed there for a few days but I fell in love with what I got to see. Brittany is calm, charming, welcoming and what it lacks in urban life and movement, it compensates with the fascinating historical sites it houses and the wild natural beauty that can be found on its gorgeous coasts.

What is one travel destination you’ve been to that you would recommend to others?
Challenging food: how to use Swiss chard in recipes

2 June 2013

Swiss chard is one pretty vegetable, with bright green leaves and stalks that grow in various shades of white, red, pink, orange or yellow.

Prior to setting sight on one of these multicolored bouquets, I’d never felt compelled to try to cook Swiss Chard because they had never been easily available to me.

When we got some at the small market where I work, I immediately bought one bunch and decided to challenge myself in finding a way to use it in a recipe.

Here are two delicious and nutritious recipes that came out of it:

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Five artists to discover: May 2013 edition

28 May 2013

This is my third monthly list of the music that’s been playing on my Ipod in the last few weeks. (Click the links to check out the lists for March and April)

Once again, expect a diverse mix with artists hailing from all parts of the world!

N.O.H.A

The acronym N.O.H.A. stands for Noise of Human Art and is the title under which a multicultural group of musicians operates. Noha is also the last name of Phillip Noha, one of the prominent members of this ensemble. Together, the band creates funky beats by mixing drum & bass with a variety of musical sounds and chants from allover the world. Their music is genre bending and defies labels, but people who usually enjoy what falls under the ‘world music’ and ‘electro’ categories should find something to enjoy.

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Picture post: Ile Sainte-Marguerite, near Cannes

21 May 2013

We visited the city of Cannes when we lived in the south of France for 4 months.

Our day-trip happened in December, way off-season in terms of tourism. This meant that there wasn’t much to do.

Cannes is a typical French Riviera town but with more cardboard cutouts of George Clooney and over-sized posters with Marilyn Monroe’s face on sidewalls. Once we’d seen the Palais des festivals and walked around the port, we decided to take a short trip to the island of Sainte-Marguerite. The beautiful, heavily wooded isle, is a 15 minute ferry ride off the coast. It is one of 4 islands which are regrouped under the name of Iles des Lérins.

You may have heard of this island before, as it is here that the famous Man in the Iron Mask was imprisoned for 11 years. The fort were he was incarcerated can now be visited as a museum.

Of course, when we were there the museum and all other venues (restaurants, hotel) were closed. We enjoyed a nice two hour walk around the pathways which lead us through thick, wooded areas, followed by gorgeous views of the Mediterranean sea. It was all so beautiful that we almost missed the last ferry back to the coast!