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Baby You're a Firework. Let's Light it up.

Baby You’re a Firework. Let’s Light it up.

American holidays are becoming treacherous battlegrounds between the simple nostalgia of community and the political ignorance underlying the origins of each of them. The dilemma is simple:

Pros: The community comes together and celebrates it’s oneness.

Cons: The community is reminded we are an imperfect nation and we have done horrible things.

When you are done sifting the pan most of…

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Social Media Break in Gapyeong 가평군

Social Media Break in Gapyeong 가평군

One of my new year resolutions for 2019 was to clean out my social media accounts. Things that no longer represent me or make me feel connected to the world? Unfollow. Delete. Remove self from group. No reason or need to be mean or crass about it. I’m simply choosing to respect myself and what occupies my time.

Except it turned out to be more work than I anticipated. On top of that, Apriland…

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Life as a Postcard

Life as a Postcard

I really dropped the ball on the 30 day postcard challenge. 

Says me, three years later.

What happened? Things needed to be taken care of at home. As the mother to four, I hope you can understand how busy our daily lives can be. However, I still want to make a deeper connection with each of you. In fact as we continue to travel I understand how much we need to stay connected! The goal of…

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Let's Eat! Andong: A Satisfying Food Tour

When I learned about Andong’s dedication to carefully preserve Korea’s traditional way of life, I knew I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to experience it with Gastro Seoul’s food tour! What makes this trip extra special is the chance to meet the families that have committed to Korea’s heritage and traditional way of life. Usually the noblemen and noblewomen in Andong lead private and secluded…

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Guide to Discovering your Favorite Winter Activities in Korea!

Guide to Discovering your Favorite Winter Activities in Korea!

Last week Korea experienced its first snowfall. In the Pyeongtaek area it was pitiful, melting as it touched the ground. Yet the chill nipping in the air means we can no longer deny that winter is finally here. While we wait for the winter season to properly greet us, here is a couple of ideas on what you can do to help keep the adventure alive and well while you are in Korea! 

It’s Strawberry…

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One of the things I love about living in Korea are the beautiful cafes. Every time I visit Seoul, I try to find a one or two cafes I have heard about. Occasionally I come across one by pure accident. I don’t even mind going alone because I like the way a cafe can recharge you and make you feel human again. Besides giving me a place to collect my thoughts, I love the way they add character to the neighborhoods they are in.

While there is an abundance of cafes in Seoul, I did find a few places underwhelming with their over overpriced drinks and overly hyped marketing. Happily, I can say I also found a few favorite places worth sharing with friends! Here a the places you should check out if you are in Seoul.

EP3 Black Essence

The simple siren call of “black essence” on the window begged me to see if there was any truth to it. One of the things I miss is a strongly brewed high quality coffee. I am happy to say there is now a specialty cafe in my own neighborhood that I can now turn to, but when I am in Seoul I head to EP3. When you walk in there is a waiting area to your left, a wooden bench stadium area, and a selection of brewing instruments and coffee beans on your right. Without a doubt the focus is completely on the coffee beans. If the setup that initially greets does not convince you that they take their coffee seriously here, the menu will confirm it. To add to my delight, my coffee came with a beautiful Belgian chocolate truffle. The coffee here is simply one of the best I have had the pleasure of enjoying. Located near the Tongin Market.

Address: 41-1 Jahamun-ro, Jongno-gu Seoul Naver: Tongindong Coffee Workshop Opening Times: 08:00-21:00 Nearest Station: Gyeongbokgung Station (Exit 2) Instagram: EP3.BlackEssence

Being a pet owner, I get to enjoy the affections of our chihuahua on a regular basis. For many, pet ownership is not feasible. Which is why dog and cat cafes are popular here in Korea. You get to love on your new furry friends and come back as often as you want. Sometimes the drinks don’t taste good so they don’t entice me to stay long. Luckily, I found a couple of places where the atmosphere was lovely, the animals sweet, and the food or drinks were enjoyable.

Blind Alley Cafe

Let’s face it, for most animal cafes, getting fed by admirers is an occupational hazard for its occupants. At Blind Alley Cafe there are cute raccoons, a Corgi, and a couple of teacup pigs to charm you out of your morsels. While most animal cafes charge you overpriced drinks, this one separates the charges. Meaning you can enjoy picking anything you want off the menu for a reasonable price. If you want to interact with the raccoons you pay a small fee of 6000 Won per person. Since Raccoons are nocturnal creatures, you take your chance coming here during the day. I thought it was neat they also make their own ricotta here. Near Sookmyung Women’s University.

Address: 76 Cheongpa-ro 47-gil Yongsan-gu Seoul Naver: Blind Aelli Opening Times: 11:30-22:00 Nearest Station: Namyeong Station (Exit 1). Sookmyung Women’s University Station, (Exit 10). Instagram: Cafe_Blind_Alley

Thanks Nature Cafe

We came here to experience the company of the sheep and taste their amazing waffles. It didn’t disappoint. I walked past this place before I realized it wasn’t located on the street level and found a staircase leading down. I was pretty sure it wasn’t there before. Walking down you can immediately feel the atmosphere change from the hustle and bustle of a busy street to a calm and relaxing reprieve.

Address: 10 Hongik-ro Mapo-gu Seoul Naver: Thanks Nature Cafe Opening Times: 11:00-22:00 Nearest Station: Hongik University (Exit 9) Instagram: Thanks_Nature_Cafe Facebook: Thanks Nature Cafe

Kings Cross Cafe

If it is not apparent by the infamous 9 and 3/4 platform, this is a Harry Potter themed Cafe. An absolute must for die hard fans. We were lucky to come when the line and the waiting times was short. By the time we left, there was a line wrapped around the building. I am not a fan of waiting in lines so if I had seen that I would have left. My only disappointment was they didn’t have any Harry Potter themed treats. I did find the atmosphere enjoyable, the treats yummy and priced well. While I saw signs pointing downstairs to Hogsmeade, where I heard a rumor a replica of the Hogwarts train was, it led to a locked door. So I can neither confirm or deny its presence. I would be tickled pink if in the future they had a themed bar down there as well. If you decide to visit and have your own robes, bring and wear it to add to the experience!

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After seeing #fantasticbeasts how could I pass up an opportunity to checkout this cafe! The atmosphere, coffee, and baked goods were nice but I was slightly disappointed they were out of butterbeer.🍺 Are you a fan? What's your favorite Harry Potter quote?🧙‍♂️ #platform934 #kingscrossing #ravenclaw #cafe #coffee #seoulcafe #hongdae #maposeoul #harrypotter #harrypotterfan #harrypottercafe #koreancafe #expatsinkorea #expatlife #exploringseoul #seoulsearching #selfie #instasmile

A post shared by Christine Cline (@keeponwinking) on Nov 24, 2018 at 7:23pm PST

Address: 24 Yanghwa-ro 16-gil Mapo-gu Seoul Naver: Kings Cross Opening Times: Tue-Sun: 11:00-22:00 Nearest Station: Hongik University (Exit 9) Instagram: King’s Cross Coffee Platform

Comic & book Cafe NolSoop

One of my absolute favorite places is across the street from the Harry Potter Cafe, and one floor above the Nanta Cooking Show. Touted as the Hongdae Complex Culture Space, this is a popular date spot and a nice alternative to hanging out at jjimjilbang. Why would you want to look for a Nol Soop? If you need a place to rest after a long day of exploring, this is a perfect place to find it. Here you can fantasize life as a cat. Play a game (your choice of board games, video games, and PC games are available), study, read a book, and lounge to your heart’s content. Prices start at 3,000 Won for the first hour. The longer you stay the better the price. If you stay between the hours of 22:00-10:00, there is a flat fee of 10,000 Won. Note: Be prepared to bring your own reading material as everything currently available is in Hangul. Now that you know what to look for, you are likely to spot this cafe chain in other places of the city! If you enjoy KDrama, then you might swoon knowing a NolSoop features in Lucky Romance.

Address: 29 Yanghwa-ro 16-gil Mapo-gu Seoul Naver: Nolsup Plus Hongik Univ. Branch Opening Times: Open 24 hours Nearest Station: Hongik University (Exit 9) Instagram: Nolsoop_Official

Sweet East Dessert Cafe

This charming and unassuming cafe in Itaewon has something for everyone. An inspiring atmosphere away offering crafted juice, coffee, tea, wine, beer, and funnel cakes. Normally I associate funnel cakes with a carnival. A snack that vied for a space between hotdogs, pretzels, and fried Oreos. So you can imagine my surprise to find these beautiful fried cakes redefining the meaning of dessert. A thousand apologies!

Address: 9 Noksapyeong-daero 32-gil Yongsan-gu Seoul Naver: Sweet East Dessert Cafe Opening Times: 10:00-22:00 Nearest Station: Noksapyeong Station (Exit 3)

I absolutely enjoyed discovering these cafes this year and can’t wait to find a few new favorites next year!

Which cafe in Seoul would you want to visit?

    Seoul Searching the Best Cafes in Seoul One of the things I love about living in Korea are the beautiful cafes. Every time I visit Seoul, I try to find a one or two cafes I have heard about.

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The first time I heard about about Yongin, it was in reference to Everland, an Amusement park near Seoul. Which, um, I have yet to go check out. I recently heard Yongin also had a Korean Folk Village worth seeing, so I jumped in my car and drove over to see what it was about.

How to get to the Korean Folk Village in Yongin

Korean Folk Village has several helpful suggestions in using public transportation from originating from areas in and around Suwon or Gangnam. Once you arrive at Suwon station, you can use the Free Folk Village Shuttle Bus located at Exit 4. Check the schedule at the bottom of the transportation link. If you arrive in between times, you might want to get a taxi.

Use this Address: Bora-dong Giheung-gu, Yongin-si Gyeonggi-do

In Naver you can find the parking lot by searching listed as ‘Korean Folk Village Parking Lot‘ and in Waze as ‘Korean Folk Village Ticket Booth’

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There is no denying it. Korea is beautiful in autumn!🍃🍂🍁 Now I understand how the colors of Korea inspire the true romantic in all of us! #lifeinkorea #findyoursmile #findyourhappy #koreanadventures #neverstopexploring #explore #korea #imagineyourkorea #fallfoliage #winteriscoming #travelkorea #fallinkorea #autumnkorea #pyeongtaektravels #koreatrip #ig_korea

A post shared by Christine Cline (@keeponwinking) on Nov 2, 2018 at 5:00am PDT

At the Korean Folk Village, you will find actors walking around in Joseon garb. You can walk around and take inspiring photos. Which is easy to do because this was where K-Dramas My Love From the Star and Jeong Do Jeon was filmed. Since there is a lot of ground to cover, the park includes a map which suggests 4 different routes based on your situation. I find the best way to navigate is to figure out which performances you want to attend and then plan a route based on that. Performances change seasonally and during my visit the theme was Korean Fairy Tales. The next theme, Winter Festival, starts December 8th and runs through March 24th.

The cost of admission is 13,000 Won per child and 18,000 Won per adult. For 7,000-9,000 Won extra you can get the Free Pass which gives you unlimited access to the rides in the Amusement Village area. Special promotion and group discounts are available. The admission link also includes the hours the park is open for each of the seasons.

Overall, this location is great for sampling a variety of traditional Korean food, taking part in one of the many workshop experiences, and finding a nice souvenir! It was easy to enjoy this place because everything was fairly priced and well presented.

Keep in Mind

This location is stroller friendly. You are allowed to bring a packed lunch.

At the Market Village Infirmary you can pick up an audio guide (available in Korean, English, Chinese, and Japanese) for 2,000 Won. You will need to submit an identification card to rent it.

Parking is 2,000 Won for small cars and 3,000 Won for large vehicles.

When selecting the location in your navigation App, be careful. The Yongin Rural Village park is located about 10 minutes away at the Agricultural Center.

To give you an idea where Yongin is in relation to Pyeongtaek, I am including this map. As you can see it is near Suwon. Which means if you are driving, you need to prepare for heavy traffic! Try to route yourself in a different direction, on one of the smaller roads.

Nearby Places of Interest

Yongin city hosts a variety of other opportunities to experience both the historic and modern facets of Korean culture. There is an Agriculture Center known for its botanical gardens, the Gyeonggi-do Children’s museum, HOAM Art Museum, the Yongin Daejanggeum Park, Wawoojeongsa Temple, Samsung Transportation Museum, and a National Recreation Forest.

Yongin Folk Village in Gyeonggi-do The first time I heard about about Yongin, it was in reference to Everland, an Amusement park near Seoul.

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Let's Go Apple Picking at Yeasan Apple Farm Winery!

Let’s Go Apple Picking at Yeasan Apple Farm Winery!

When the leaves change colors and fall, it only seems natural to seek the best harvest of the season. Back home we would look for a pumpkin farm and bring home a prize pumpkin to carve. This year our hearts were set on picking the juiciest apple we could find in South Korea. Luckily we discovered that Yeasan Apple Winery would allow us to fulfill our heart’s desire!

How to get to Yeasan Apple…

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Since coming to Korea, I have heard alot about Jjimjilbangs. While getting ready for this trip, I learned there is also a prevalent hot springs culture. Korea has over 400 hot springs. For this trip we picked Asan, which was 40 minutes away from Pyeongtaek by train. There are three primary recommended places in Asan where you can experience Korea’s hot springs culture; Asan Sparvis, and Onyang Hot Springs, Paradise Spa Dogo. The Visit Korea website indicates there are many more places in the area to chose from.

I’m told the oldest one at Onyang Hot Spring Hotel. A place that dates back to the Three Kingdoms Period (the reign of Wei, Shu and Wu) and known for its healing waters. So of course, we had to experience it. If you want to learn more about Onyang Hotel operating as a temporary palace, check out the museum.

As I had never attended a public bath in my adult life, I had to really work myself up for this trip. I came across random blurbs that suggested the place we were going to visit had certain amounts of natural radium.  I was really worried about what that meant! After checking to see how many people may have died from natural hot springs, I rested my fears and decided I would be okay.

So. There I was. Facing my locker.

I devised a plan to remove my clothes and hide behind my towel as quickly as I could. Except I soon discovered it wasn’t much of a cover. Not to mention it drew more attention then I intended. So throwing the towel to the side, I embraced the moment for what it was, washed up in the showers, and then proceeded to the pools. There might be some sort of order to the whole thing, but the order I found was; Kinda Really Hot, Luke Warm, Kinda Really Hot, Freezing Cold, and  back to Kinda Really Hot. There was also Extreme Hot but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. What the hey. I probably did it all wrong, but it still was an enjoyable experience. I found Sonja’s description was pretty much on point. Older hot springs with basic facilities, but Oh! How the water was amazing! Note to self: Next time bring scrub mittens, back scrubber, personal soaps for the before/after shower. Also, figure out what the extra herbal stuff is about.

Once we left the Onyang Hot Springs Hotel, we wandered into the market area. If you haven’t been to a Korean market yet, this is worth stopping by. There was the traditional fare on the market’s main street and on the next street more modern offerings. I like the way the old and the new harmonizes here. Things change but some things stay the same.

Near the train station, we came across this statue commemorating this General during the Japanese occupation.

Next to the memorial is this neat public foot bath with a schedule of the different times it is available. It looked like there were cool and warm pools here as well. If you can’t commit to a full hot springs experience, this would do nicely!

Crossing under the train tracks we found a great dumpling place! So far the dumplings here are my favorite. I especially love their Kimchi dumplings!

The adventure continues!

Make sure to subscribe to find out where it takes us next!

Naked in Onyang Hot Springs Since coming to Korea, I have heard alot about Jjimjilbangs. While getting ready for this trip, I learned there is also a prevalent hot springs culture.

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Life in Korea: Speak up and Share What is Important to You!

Life in Korea: Speak up and Share What is Important to You!

Coming up on August 15th is Korea’s National Liberation Day.

A day that marks Korean citizen’s freedom from Japan’s imperialist rule. In short, this is their Independence Day. So without a doubt this is a significant patriotic holiday for them. One that many Koreans choose to honor by speaking out about the human rights that matter to them. Which is why I think we have recently seen an increase…

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Sweet Honey Iced Tea, Walking After Midnight

Sweet Honey Iced Tea, Walking After Midnight

A couple days ago I shared on Instagram that I attended the first Happiness Workshop presented in Seoul!

Went to the first Happiness Workshop in Seoul and it was awesome! Met a couple of other unicorns too! Thanks @wework for hosting! #weworkkorea #liveyourlife #happy #happiness #keeponwinking #exploringseoul #seoulkorea #seoullife #livinginkorea #keeponwinking #findyourhappy #weworkgangnam

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Living overseas has its ups and downs.

There is no guarantee of living comfortably because each person has different expectations. The only thing more difficult than adjusting to less that what was previously available to a person, is the promise of something better. It’s hope dangling on a string. Sometimes funding gets cancelled or reprioritized but we must make do with whatever leadership decides. It can be pretty agonizing as a military family to hear about plans that take seemingly forever to implement! That’s why right now it feels like everyone is getting tickets to Disneyland. That’s why we are celebrating with every Grand Opening that is happening here at Camp Humphreys! This is victory for the community!

I know members of the military community are coming and going everyday. Some of you have left without seeing the results and some of you are getting ready to come out this way and want to know what’s waiting for you. A lot of projects on post are at the cusp of completion, and I hope that by checking out the sections below you will feel as I do; that things at Camp Humphreys are changing rapidly for the better.

Camp Humphreys New Exchange

Shortly after arriving at Camp Humphreys we were invited to cut the ribbon at the opening of the new PX!

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Coming from Germany we had an Exchange in Wiesbaden that maybe was half the size of this one!

Grand opening of Camp Humphreys' PX! The community showed up for cake and a little bit of shopping today. Make sure you have your ID and ration cards ready 😉 #militarylife #militaryfamily #camphumphreys

A post shared by Christine Cline (@keeponwinking) on Nov 19, 2017 at 4:30pm PST

If you want to see more details from the event please go to the Garrison’s page at Camp Humphreys opens a grand new exchange.

What’s it like to have a new shiny Exchange?

Pros:

The first day felt like a Black Friday event. The excitement continued the rest of the week with several notable celebrities.  One of the events during the week was balloon drop and shoppers occasionally had the opportunity to spin the wheel for an opportunity to win a discount on that day’s purchases!  Some of the larger giveaways could have been handled better by making sure winners had to be present to win. Maybe instead of a large check, a timed shopping spree would have been more fun for everyone?  I have nothing to complain when it comes to customer service even when I ran into at checkout with a coupon. After waiting patiently to talk to the manager, things were cleared up.

Cons:

My only personal disappointment is the choices in clothes for bigger kids, tweens (12-18), and the thinness of winter apparels compared to the men’s section.  Overall I think everyone at the new PX is doing a good job offering families overseas the comforts of home.

Camp Humphreys New Commissary

On February 10, 2018 the new commissary opened. It is touted as the largest overseas and I believe them. When I arrived here I was shocked to see that the commissary was so small! It was roughly a little bigger than a stateside gas station store and definitely smaller than the one on Hainerberg, Germany. I was impressed to see how quickly the commissary employees worked to keep the shelves stocked in such a small place. All while keeping a good attitude. I am sure those guys and gals deserve a lifetime award of some sort. Thank you for all of your hard work!

Here are a couple of videos I made to share with you all. The first video covers some of the highlights from the cultural activities that celebrated the opening of the commissary.

The second video is a quick tour of the commissary with the kiddos on opening day.

Enjoy!

What’s it like to have a new shiny Commissary?

Pros:

There are brands here I haven’t seen in ages. The new commissary reminds me of HEB back in Texas and I loved shopping there! So kudos to those who listened to the community and worked to bring this place into reality! Sandwiches to order? Check! Full service meat department? Check! Delicious cupcakes to tempt me and the kids! Check! Klondike bars in every flavor that I have only ever seen in magazines? Check! You probably don’t realize it in the video above but it is really us waltzing down the aisle in loving adoration.

Cons:

I am in trouble. The new commissary has all of the things I am hungry for and that is why I know I am going to spend more money here than I planned to!

More to Come…

First I want to each of the hard workers behind the scenes that made all of this possible! Your team work and dedication over the years is the legacy of Camp Humphreys. I am in awe of what you have accomplished.

I’ll continue to update this page with all the changes taking place at Camp Humphreys.

Everything Shiny and New at Camp Humphreys! Living overseas has its ups and downs. There is no guarantee of living comfortably because each person has different expectations.

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Sweet Honey Iced Tea, I Need a Simple Planner

Sweet Honey Iced Tea, I Need a Simple Planner

I confess.

I am a planner addict.

I crave organization only because I like to sort chaos into simple categories! When my friends pull out their planners, I can’t help but ohh and ahh over them! Who can resist the look at how productive I can make you marketing? Not me. But the truth is, I feel a bit anxious. What if I pick the wrong planner? My carefully built scheduled efficiency will crumble…

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Life in a Military Penthouse

Life in a Military Penthouse

In my preparations for our move to Camp Humphreys I scoured the web for insight on what we needed to do for a smooth transition.

I devoured every source of information I could find from the comfort of our home in Germany. Sig Flips the Tableand the local Garrison’s social media accounts were very helpful. From the spouse network via Facebook I learned that there was no room on post and we would…

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In France, walking is a pleasure.

I find it strange to say that, because walking is something we do everyday to get us from Point A to Point B.  Yet I find it is a an act of pleasure when I give in to the act as a mediation in motion that offers my senses a bit of enjoyment around every corner that surprises me.  It is as if walking give me a more intimate knowledge of the city I am in, and Paris woos me, in more ways than one.

If you will allow it, Paris will entice you on a culinary journey… and like two lovers trying to maintain a long distance relationship, I can’t help but yearn for the memory of a good meal!

Allow me to share with you the fantasy I had the chance to indulge in!

La Poule au Pot

La Poule au Pot

I was seduced by the first sip of the house aperitif, a cherry liquor that was so nice I order a second because it pleased me.  I tried my first Foie Gras here and was pleasantly surprised by the deconstructed salted jellied tomato, which reminded me of Bruschetta, to give it a nice balanced experience.  It was difficult to chose a dish and in the end I decided on the chicken with the sauce, because Henry IV popularized eating a chicken every Sunday.  The chicken was succulent and amazing, and I enjoyed my dinner.  My traveling companion enjoyedthe Poule au Pot, prepared in the way Henry IV preferred it.   The apple pie was a slight disappointment, but not through any fault of its own-I am rather obsessive about my sugar.  As much as I like to try an apple dish in every country I visit, the French version, while well done, is too plain for my taste.  I should have gone with the Creme Brulee or the ice cream, but I was curious.  Sometimes it works for you and sometimes it doesn’t.

Absolutely recommend for an authentic French bistro experience for couples, small families, and late diners.

La Coupole

Meeting with friends new and old, La Coupole provides an ideal spot to catch up over a nice meal while taking in the Art Deco that adorns the pillars and the dome.  If you have a moment, take a look at the list of celebrities that frequented this restaurant.  Some of the comments are quiet amusing!

Having a nice meal with friends at this charming place in #Montparnasse! I don't think you can find a bad meal in this neighborhood. Loved the service and the atmosphere. A couple of times they lit a cake on fire. But what is this next to us? Oh wow! Must try this seafood platter next time! #lacoupole #traveldiaries #findyoursmile #foodislife #parisfood #tasty #parisadventures

A post shared by Christine Cline (@keeponwinking) on Sep 10, 2017 at 8:34am PDT

Le Bar a Huitres

Walking around we checked out other potential places we could enjoy.  I don’t think you can find a bad meal in Montparnasse.  There was a Korean place and several Breton creperies in the area, but this inviting display beckoned to us.  The problem was I had never had a raw oyster before.  Don’t worry, my curiosity eventually won me over and we found ourselves sitting down for another memorable meal.  I didn’t want to order a platter of oysters before knowing if I would like them.  So I made a strange request for a single oyster.  The place boast of having the largest variety of raw oysters to be found in Paris, and they have four restaurants in Paris, but I found this overwhelming to decide on one.  Do you decide by looking at how pretty the shell is? Or where the oyster came from?  I put my trust in the Maitre d’ and a beautiful oyster with a milky consistency of pudding was presented.  My only regret is that I ordered this at the end of meal to try it… and I really should have dove in head first with a full platter!  This meal leaves a sweet lingering in my heart and I know I will look forward to visiting again in the future!

Another first, ceviche also frightened me but as the starter it did a beautiful job opening my mind up to other possibilities!

I love mussels but this surprised me at being so delicate in texture and in taste!

This creme brulee was set a blazed. It was perfect in every way and leaves me with fond memories of a beautiful meal!

Our wandering ways brought us to the Les Baux in the Latin Quarter for tapas and a couple drinks.  One of my favorite portions were the raw beef strips lightly seared with sesame and eaten with soy sauce.  The place had a nice authentic vibe to it for the modern crowd.  If you are looking for a nice neighborhood to stay, there was a nice looking Young & Happy Hostel across the way.  I am told Rue Mouffetard is another great neighborhood to visit if you want to experience a street market!

Best Part of this Trip:

While exploring the 13th in search of an early breakfast on Sunday morning, we came across the Le Circus not far from the Place d’Italie.  It was a stop initially out of necessity, but I loved it so much I came back the last morning I was in Paris to have the honor of the last croissant of the day.  The atmosphere had a classic vibe in a more relaxed neighborhood, but the croissant and the pain au chocolat were mouth watering morsels of perfection.  I savored every bite and I profess it now carries a special place in my heart.  Hoping to take home a few to share with the family, I made a short study of the area and was unable to determine where these were coming from.  Alas, fate has decided that it must be my own personal little secret to keep.

Food, like walking, is as boring or exciting as we make it.  However we choose to mark the way we spend our day, I hope you find something that delights your palate.  It might be something new or maybe an old favorite revisited.  Whether you prefer a simple delight or an extravagant sensation for the senses, your experience becomes an expression of life and Paris offers to indulge your desires.

And now I have a desire to share a few simple and a very fine treat with you!

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A Culinary Journey into the Heart of Paris! In France, walking is a pleasure. I find it strange to say that, because walking is something we do everyday to get us from Point A to Point B. 

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When the word came down that our days in Europe was coming to an end, I panicked.  I want to see everything!  Now there wouldn’t be enough time to see it all.  After stressing about it I decided that just because I was moving, it didn’t mean I would never come back this way again.  I made peace with myself and focused on what I really wanted to see before I left.  On the short list was Paris.  I knew right then I knew I must find someone who loved Paris as much as I did.  I rang for the Book Fairy.

“You’re moving?”

“Afraid so.”

“So am I!” 

An exchange of details revealed we were soon to be ships passing mere inches from each other in the night.

“When are we going to see each other again?”

“Well… if you have time, we could meet in Paris?”

We packed our bags and off we went to write and wander the streets of literary Paris.  Along the way we dispersed a few of Emily Curtis‘ military romance books around town.

Hanging out with the #bookfairy in Paris means sprinkling #books in a few places. It was a fun way to spend the afternoon and it's exciting to think they have found their way into new hands by now! #findyoursmile #hotreads #spreadthelove #ibelieveinbookfairies

A post shared by Christine Cline (@keeponwinking) on Sep 10, 2017 at 4:00pm PDT

I have to admit, it was fun to help! Especially when you hear how inspiring the books are-you start to understand that romance novels can bring a little extra spice to a relationship!

The remainder of our time we spent wandering different areas for places to write and generally allowed ourselves to enjoy whatever we happened upon.  In every way, Paris was a pleasure to walk.

La Savonnerie Bourbonnaise

If you don’t have time to wander I suggest you take the 2 hour tour or the hop-on-hop-off tour with the France Tourisme office. They know what they are doing! http://www.francetourisme.fr/paris-city-tour-en.html

Laduree macarons are divine! My favorite this trip was the candy coated one!

Mini Macarons? Truly, my only regret this trip.

Paris is beautiful at night

A trip to Paris would be nothing if we didn’t take a moment for ourselves with these cool bubble masks!

Interesting enough I ran into a demonstration.  I didn’t realize it was an all day event, and one that would be in enforce in different parts of the city.  The pictures below were from what I saw around the Arc de Triomphe.  Which was kind of cool until I ran into a separate demonstration while trying to catch the train home.  I was cut off from the closest Metro line and had to reconsider my route.  Without my phone.  In rush hour traffic.  Once I was able to reconnect with the internet I looked up what I witnessed and tried to understand what Manifestation Day was all about.  Basically it was a day to protest labor policies, but I wish I knew more.

Emerging at Porte d’Italie I noticed policeman on every street.

Of course the only thing more beautiful than the sights in Paris, is the food.  Which deserves a post of its own!  Coming soon!

In my heart there will always be time for Paris.

Which is why I can’t wait to share with you a couple of things to keep Paris with you!

La Savonnerie Bourbonnaise

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Capturing Paris with the Book Fairies When the word came down that our days in Europe was coming to an end, I panicked.  

[keeponwinking]

I believe in unicorns.

Up until the last couple of years I have kept that knowledge as a secret and unicorn sightings were pretty rare.  So you can imagine my surprise this summer when unicorn merchandise started turning up in force.  It started with the Starbucks announcement in April that they were selling a limited edition Unicorn Frappuccino.  I was sad I wouldn’t be able to try.  My beautiful cousin in California purchased one and messaged me with every sip of her experience.   I sat in anticipation as it started off sweet and then quickly turned sour.  There came a point when enough was enough and we had to call it quits.

It was a noble effort, and we should all thank Tiffany for taking one for the team.  THANK YOU Tiffany!

I was hoping that this concoction symbolized more than a means to torture baristas, but no unicorn merchandise was forth coming.  Instead they have taunted me with flamingos.  What is that all about? 

I would almost say I waited in vain.

Except I live in Germany.  The Germans decided that they could do better and unleashed their unicorns.

Ohhh! Unicorn spotting! Went out to get Nerf bullets and found myself being introduced to Theodor & friends! 💖🦄💖

A post shared by Christine Cline (@keeponwinking) on Mar 31, 2017 at 7:07am PDT

Need an energy drink? 100% unicorn! 😉

A post shared by Christine Cline (@keeponwinking) on Jul 29, 2017 at 10:00am PDT

Unicorn sighting galore! Cakes, cereals, and toilet paper.  Last night I spotted a unicorn gluhwein, who wants to try that for me?  I mentioned to a couple of friends that I wanted to throw a little unicorn tea party and thankfully they humored me.  I picked up a unicorn cake and a platter of delicious cream horns from our local Globus, which were a big hit!

Eeek! I may not have access to Unicorn Frappacino 🦄 but I get Rainbow Fudge 🌈! #keeponwinking #happymoments

A post shared by Christine Cline (@keeponwinking) on Apr 20, 2017 at 3:44am PDT

Attack of the rubber unicorn ducky!

Schaumrollen or Schillerlocken rolls, are an Austrian pastry named for the golden curls of Friedrich Schiller

With all these unicorn sightings, how could I not pick up a few goodies to share with you?

That’s why today I have two boxes filled with Unicorn goodies up for grab!

Good Luck 😉

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  Wandering Unicorn Loot I believe in unicorns. Up until the last couple of years I have kept that knowledge as a secret and unicorn sightings were pretty rare.