Go Geocaching!

Since today is Memorial Day in the US, I hope that most of you are out and about and not sitting behind a computer reading this. But if you're still looking something to do today, I have the perfect solution - go geocaching! It's a hi-tech treasure hunt that takes place around the world using a GPS device to find hidden caches. I downloaded the app on my iPhone, but you can use any number of GPS devices based on the cache locations on the official website. Each cache has a map to navigate, description, hint, and even photos that may provide clues to the final location. However, I must warn you, I've now attempted it three times (once in Baltimore and twice in Paris), and have yet to find an actual cache, but my friends have lots of laughs and adventure nonetheless - and we're still determined to keep trying!

Will be back tomorrow with a fabulous new Boarding Pass!

On Tour: Paris Design

A few weeks ago when travel writers Lara Dunston and Terrence Carter came through Paris they asked me to take them on a little design tour of Paris. I have a handful of visitors lately and more coming in the next few weeks, so I thought it'd be fun to put together a little map-guide of some of my favorite places right now.

1. The Lazy Dog bookstore and gallery - for the latest in design titles and graphic design themed gallery shows from contemporary independent designers
   25 rue de Charonne, 11e
   2 passage Thiere , 11e
   
   
2. Merci - the premier "concept" shop in Paris at the moment featuring the best of today's designers (clothing, homewares, furniture, garden, etc) with a philanthropic focus donating 100% proceeds to benefit women and children in Madagascar
   111 Blvd Beaumarchais, 3e
   
   
3. Bon Ton - the kid-friendly version of Merci, just a few doors up, complete with a mini sweets cafe and hair salon (but fun for adults too)
   5 Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, 3e
   
   
4. Le Petit Atelier de Paris - hands down my favorite place to shop for gifts in Paris, I always end up walking out with my own handmade porcelain ware along with one for a friend - this place is the complete package from the elegant simplicity of the shop design to the small touches to wrap your purchases [check hours before visiting, as they are only open a few days a week]
   31 Rue de Montmorency, 3e
   
   
5. Marche des Enfants Rouges - named for the former orphanage, this covered marketplace is the perfect place to grab a quick, yet delicious lunch and some fruits for the rest of your journey
   39, rue de Bretagne, 3
   
   
6. Galerie Impaire - this gallery run by Creative Growth features monthly exhibitions featuring renowned outsider artists (it's set to close it's doors in July when the lease is up, so look for new creative locations where their shows take place)
   47 rue de Lancry, 10e
   
   
7. Le Jemmaps - a friendly bar along Canal St. Martin with cheap drinks and good food - skip some stones like Amelie as you cross the canal
   82, Quai de Jemmapes, 10e
   
   
8. ARTAZART - fantastic creative bookstore that is a designer or photographer's paradise (you can pick up a Diana camera here too)
   83, Quai de Valmy, 10e
   
   
9. Antoine et Lili - one of the more colorful stores in Paris, several storefronts line the canal here with fun clothes and homewares
   95, Quai de Valmy, 10e
   
   
10. Point Ephémère - a laid back artsy bar, restaurant, art space and music venue, perfect for sitting next to the canal and sipping a cold beer
    Quai de Valmy, 10e (down along the cobblestones -#200?)
    
    
11. Bar Ourq - because you never need an excuse to sit down and have a beer or tea and snack in a fun place where friends meet along the canal (also home to expos and concerts)
    68, Que de la Loire, 19e
    
    
12. Le 104 - a former funerary hall, this magnificent space has been transformed into exhibition space, artist studios, a restaurant, bookstore, and Emmaus [French equivalent of a "Goodwill" store] for an off the beaten track look at the Paris design scene
    11 Rue Curial, 19e
    
    
13. Mama Shelter - this Philippe Starck designed hotel may be a bit off the central track of Paris, but will give you a fresh and stylish look at the city
    109 Rue de Bagnolet, 20e
    
    
14. Everything in between and around the corner - you can never go wrong wandering the charming shops of the Marais, discovering the bohemian neighborhoods of Belleville or the bars in Oberkampf, and of course the magnificent parks - a contemporary style at Parc de la Villette, the Temple of Love at Buttes-Chaumont, views of the Eiffel Tower from Parc Belleville, or a romantic walk through Pere Lachaise cemetery. Remember, it's ok to get lost!
    

This & That

Joy, one of my favorite bloggers, has a great column called "This & That" where she finds a fashion item and pairs it with a product with a similar design or feel. As I was sitting in Parc Andre Citroen today, I couldn't help but notice that my gray polka dot dress and yellow shoes and purse match the new Chronicle Books Designer's Notebook perfectly. What's even cooler, is that my friend Andrew Schapiro designed the notebook (with Brad Mead) - it's also the first book where I'm listed on the acknowledgements page :) It's not everyday you can say you match a book! But I am thinking I may need a yellow belt...
Pick up your very own right HERE!

Boarding Pass - Katie Friar

Katie Friar and I were always acquaintances in college thanks to rowing, but it wasn't until I'd go up to New York - where she was working on Wall Street at the time - to visit that we really bonded. I remember the moment she brought out her "travel" folder of odds and ends she had collected of dream vacations to follow. I think it was at that moment we were destined to be good friends for life. And ever since [voluntarily] leaving NYC, it's been great to see her make so many of her travel dreams a reality. Katie was surprised when I first asked her to participate in Boarding Pass, saying "I'm not really the creative/designer type... just someone who loves seeing the world and connecting with people!" But that's exactly what this column is all about - seeing the world in different ways. {Thanks, Katie!}

last trip taken:
In March, we spent a week in Switzerland visiting friends, first in Zurich for a couple days and then we headed to Nendaz, a village in the Swiss Alps for some skiing and snowshoeing.

{With friends in Cannon Beach, Oregon}

next trip on deck:
Des Moines, Iowa at the end of May to visit some girlfriends and then to Vancouver Island, British Columbia in August and (hopefully) New Zealand in December!

{Going for a hot air balloon ride with my sister in Hunter Valley, Australia}

one place you would go back to again and again:
Such a difficult question - there are so many wonderful places in the world! I'll have to say that first place goes to Germany. I was an exchange student in high school for a year in southwest Germany, so I'll take any chance I can get to go back and visit my German 'family'. Runner up is Switzerland. My husband and I are both absolutely in love with the Alps.

{Cook's Bay, Moorea}

place you'd most likely recommend a friend go visit:
It depends on the friend! For the outdoorsy type - Switzerland, for the beach-loving-type - Australia or Moorea, for the culture-loving type - Morocco, for the foodie - San Sebastian or just about anywhere in Italy.

{Me hiking along the Haute Route, Switzerland}

preferred method of transportation:
My own two feet!

{Portree, Isle of Skye, Scotland}

place you've never been but dying to go:
My top three list is (1) New Zealand (2) Patagonia (3) South Africa

place you'd never go back:
Arkansas. When I was in college, my husband (boyfriend at the time) and I drove cross country to backpack through Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, and the Tetons for a month. On our way back we were driving through Arkansas, our air conditioner wasn't working, and it was so stinking hot. We stopped some place to camp and at 2 am we were woken by a flashlight shining in on us, and it was the police. They told us that it was not safe for us to be there. I'm sure that there are some beautiful, nice safe places in Arkansas, I just have bad memories of driving through the state.

{Jon and my brother, Kyle, walking down to Sycamore Gap along Hadrian's Wall Path, Northern England}

most memorable trip in 2 sentences or less:
Oh goodness, every trip is special for some reason! If I have to pick just one, it would be the over-the-top-wonderful 2 month backpacking trip through Europe (and Morocco) last summer before Jon went back to grad school. We traveled through 7 countries and did everything from trekking to volunteering in an orphanage in Morocco.

{Jon in Paris}

how do you prepare for a trip?
Plan, plan, and plan. I try to be spontaneous, but I'm really a planner at heart. I'll scour every source I can find for the best places to stay, best places to eat, most unusual/unique experiences, what the locals do, etc. I also will check out sources for good books - both fiction and nonfiction - to read about the history and culture of the place. In terms of packing, I try to be pretty minimalist.

{Lake Como, Italy}

how do you record your travels when you're traveling?
Through photographs. I always bring a journal, and I'll sometimes write a little, but usually I'm so distracted by the people I meet and the scenery that I don't take enough time to write it all down.

{Buying a carpet in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco}

what is your favorite thing to photograph in a new place?
The landscape, anything that captures the spirit of the place or of the experience

on an average, how many pictures to you take on a trip?
Hundreds and hundreds and hundreds...

{Polo Match at King Family Vineyards outside Charlottesville, Virginia}

what's in your "designer travel kit" ?
I have two cameras - a Nikon D60 and a Canon Powershot SD1100

what do you do after a trip? how long after a trip does this happen?
I upload all my pictures, sort through them and organize them in some fashion. I usually do this the minute I get back, even before I unpack (which is one of my least favorite things to do in the world). I'll organize the pictures into some kind of album so that I can show family & friends my adventures.

{Rabat, Morocco; [right] A busy evening along the Promenade des Anglais, Nice, France}

favorite souvenir/thing to bring back?
I usually just take lots and lots of photos. If I buy something, I'll usually buy something for my home, even if it's very small. I love having little reminders of each trip around me. It always makes me smile.


CLICK HERE for all the past editions of Boarding Pass, or see the complete list in the column on the right.

Do Something Different Everyday

Ever since my semester ended last Tuesday, I've been trying to take full advantage of my freedom and this incredible city that I call home. So it's my goal to do something different everyday, which involves: going to a different park or garden, doing something cultural/new, and being social (yes, too much time spent locked in my 10m2 or in the library lately). I'm 4 days into my challenge, and so far am sticking to my word. In the attempt to discover all hidden corners of Paris, I'm open to any and all suggestions. Here's what I've accomplished so far, and what's in store:

Parks/Gardens:

• Promenade Plantee/ Viaduct des Arts (an old favorite for long runs)
  
• Buttes Chaumont (great view of Sacre Coeur from the Temple of Love)
  
• Champ de Mars (kind of cheating because that's my backyard, but always fun with the Michael Jackson dancers out most afternoons now)
• Parc Monceau (my park when I first moved to Paris 9 years ago)
  

New things:

• Day at the hammam at La Mosquee (which own post forthcoming)
• YSL Retrospective at the Petit Palais (incredible and worth the wait in line!)
• Musee Quai Branly (I spent hours upon hours in their library, so I thought it high time to see the actual museum, however, I should have splurged to see the special exhibit on India while there)
• Hip-Hop at Studio Harmonic (granted, I do this every week, but new teacher and new room - I actually was really jealous of the salsa class next door... may spice it up next week)
  
• Use one of the free self-cleaning toilets in Paris (I've been terrified of these, but it was actually a pleasant and rewarding experience)
  
• Paparazzi themed party at the home of sommelier in training
• My first punk show at Fleche D'Or (to see Double Dagger - my friends from Baltimore - well, I missed the performance, but I got to hang out with my friend Bruce!)
  
• Hang out with Lost in Cheesland in a new neighborhood
• Awesome brocante ("flea market") along Rue Cler/Ecole Militaire
  

On deck:

• Nature Capitale - what appears to be a giant garden show that takes over the length of the Champs Elysees this weekend
  
• Art Brut Japonais exhibit at Halle St. Pierre, the outsider art museum of Paris
• See the new outsider art show "Pacifica" at Galerie Impaire, followed by a beer along Canal St. Martin, and maybe a trip back to 104 (love that art center!)
  
• Jardin des Plantes
• Parc Andre Citroen
  
• Go to the cinema (like every proper French person does)
• Practicing my new Velib [biking] skills on actual Paris streets (their new iPhone app is out)
• Ride the tramway (the latest RATP line that goes around the periphery of Paris)
• Try a new outdoor market
  
• Brunch with Lily of Les Carnets du Design (yes! I actually get to speak French!)
• Shopping and dinner with the incredibly talented Jen Altman! (I love when awesome bloggers pop through Paris!)
• Lunch at Marche des Enfants Rouges
• Go Geocaching (the worldwide GPS treasure hunt, complete with iPhone app)
  

My freedom ends on May 31st when summer school starts. Any suggestions in the meantime??

Facelift

As part of my studies, all spring I've been working on developing Prêt à Voyager into a design and communications consultancy for travel related projects. It's still in the works and being developed, but little by little I'll be unfolding it, sharing projects and updating the site. In the meantime, I thought that I'd start with a little face-lift and a new blog header. Now that I've dug myself out of the end of the semester I look forward to posting more regularly again, and excited to share the next round of Boarding Pass features. Thanks for your continued support and all the wonderful comments and emails (even if I don't always respond, trust me, they are much appreciated and keep me inspired!).

Night at the Museum

I've always been a fan of late night museums and art that happens out of context. Tonight La Nuit des Musees happens all around Paris (and Europe too, I think), where museums not only stay open late, but they're free too! What a great combo! More info on GoGoParis and on the official website.

En Repose

Please excuse the silence, as I take a petite pause to ensure I don't fail out of school ;) Everything is coming along swimmingly. Please visit the archives in the meantime!

The Projects

Rather than working on the 20-page paper and 3 projects left on my to-do list before my semester ends in a week, I figured, why not share some more fun projects to keep busy. One of the "assignments" on Whoa Cool Awesome, which is a fun way to bring creative people together, asks you to draw a map from memory and mark your current location. {image via WCA, thanks, Bruce!}
Project M's purpose is to inspire young graphic designers, writers, photographers and other creative people that their work can have a positive and significant impact on the world. Through their workshops they encourage people to "think wrong" in order to generate new ideas. Click here to apply for the summer session. Any takers who want to sponsor me??? {Thanks, Elizabeth}
Art House Coop constantly has new projects they are cooking up to fill the creative juices. Click here to find out more.

Boarding Pass - Gabby of Gypsy Diaries

If it weren't for my blog, I wouldn't meet (and be inspired) by half the people I know these days. And I never would have been connected to Gabby of Gypsy*Diaries had she not left a comment on my blog. I love how the world becomes a little smaller like that. Her blog is full of style and inspiration from a global nomad leading the gypsy life, and today's Boarding Pass is all about how she travels. {Thanks, Gabby!}

{Beach hopping in Germany}

home town:
Szeged, Hungary (a small town on the South of the country)

{Budapest}

where you live now:
Well, can I get an easier question? I consider myself a global citizen, living the extremely difficult and incredibly blessed life of a gypsy. I lived in 4 different countries in the last 5 years. (Hungary, Spain, The Netherlands, Germany) I lived in Berlin for most of it and now I temporarily moved back to Budapest for the summer. I’m looking for a new place to call home from September on.

{Vacationing in Tunisia}

last trip taken:
Port el Kantaoui, Tunisia. We went on a romantic vacation with my boyfriend (details on the blog).

{Dubrovnik, Croatia}

next trip on deck:
May will be a month full of travels for me. I’ll spend a long weekend in London, will go on a central European roadtrip with my boyfriend touching Munich, Vienna and Bratislava and the month will finish with another long weekend in Milan, Italy

{After the Tomatina festival (tomato fight) in Buñol, Spain}

one place you would go back to again and again:
I go to London 3-4 times a year, I have many friends there and the culture and shopping options are simply the best in Europe!

{Lagos, Portugal}

place you'd most likely recommend a friend go visit:
One of my favorite places is Zanzibar, it’s truly one of the best-kept secrets of the Indian Ocean. Such an amazing island, with white sandy beaches and coconut trees, it really feels like one of the last untouched paradises on Earth. Zanzibar was my first trip to Africa and it truly felt like another world. At night we were playing with Massai soldiers and during the day we swam with sharks and dolphins. A truly magical experience!

{In Paradise in Zanzibar}

{Masai soldiers}

preferred method of transportation:
I love to fly to faraway places, I still get excited by choosing a movie or seeing the menu on board. Lately I prefer driving my tiny Smart cabrio in Europe, but I also like to be the passenger and just relax and watch the trees go by.

{North Sea, Germany}

place you've never been but dying to go:
New York!!! Such a traveler’s must. I`ve been to the West Coast but never to the East coast. I`m fascinated by New York and after all the movies I`ve seen all the books and blogs I`ve read I really cannot wait to go. The problem is that everyone I know has been several times already so they are not so keen on coming with me.

{in The Gambia}

place you'd never go back:
I spent two weeks in The Gambia, and while it was nice and interesting, it was definitely enough.

{Award winning Eco resort in The Gambia}

most memorable trip in 2 sentences or less:
I was just finishing university when an old friend called me up asking - if I were him and if I could go anywhere in the world and could take anyone I want what would I do - I jokingly said I`d definitely take myself. We ended up going for a 4 week trip to Thailand, really discovering the country from North to South (Chian Mai – Chiang Rai – Bangkok – Koh Samui – Phuket). (and now I wish I had more than 2 sentences to describe all the amazing things I’ve seen there :)

how do you prepare for a trip?
I read blogs and many many articles on the net. I compare accommodations, prices and read reviews. I’m a control freak when it comes to travelling.

{Snowboarding in Italy}

how do you record your travels when you're traveling?
Photos, I finally invested in a DSLR! I’m also starting to use my blog as my travel journal.

{Happy Feet in The Gambia, Thailand and Zanzibar}

what is your favorite thing to photograph in a new place?
Doors… somehow I’m fascinated with doors. Oh and my feet! It’s really silly I know, but I have now this big collection of my happy feet around the world, I hope to have a wall one day decorated with them (see here)

{Doors in Sousse, Tunisia}

on an average, how many pictures to you take on a trip?
Maybe a 1000….

what's in your "designer travel kit" ?
I used to carry my simple point and shoot Casio Exilim. I just purchased a Nikon D3000 and a guide book to SLR photography. I have a tiny Samsung notebook which is also super practical to bring with me when I’m travelling.

{The Berlin Wall}

what do you do after a trip? how long after a trip does this happen?
Since I started blogging I can`t wait to post everything up there as soon as possible… Recently I’m also obsessed with collages and I make thematic collages of all my trips (beach, souvenirs, architecture… etc).

favorite souvenir/thing to bring back?
Jewelry, I love exotic jewelry.

{Latest acquisitions}

blog: gypsy*diaries
on twitter

Click HERE for all past Boarding Pass features, or consult the list on the right hand column.

Striving for Mediocrity

If I were to give any city a prize for mediocrity, it would be Baltimore. While many would take this as an insult, I see it as the highest compliment. As a bit of the bastard stepchild of DC and New York, Baltimore doesn't try to be what it is not, but rather excels at what it is. As unlikely a team it would seem, Baltimore is John Waters meets The Wire, and no event better exemplifies this than the Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race. While the city can't claim stake to the invention of the race - that goes to Ferndale, California - it embraces the race like no other city. And the winner of the race? The one that finished dead in the middle. Yes, the winner is the most mediocre.
Not everyone can pull of a race of this caliber, but the American Visionary Art Museum does it with flying colors. [Top photo: Fifi en route to the water entry].
This year 29 man-powered sculptured vehicles show up at the museum (at the base of Federal Hill next to the Harbor), which happens the first Saturday in May each year. The 15-mile course is a tour de city, with obstacles in the water, through the sand, in the mud and of course navigating the Baltimore pot holes.
For the third year in a row I (in the blue hair) have volunteered for the race as a Kinetic Kop. My job? To keep the peace, write tickets for violations (which include always having a sock creature on board), and accepting bribes. It's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it. The past two years I've taken on the role of Kinetic Deputy, riding in high style in a beach surrey. But this year - thanks to my impromptu, spontaneous visit that no one knew about - meant that was on a bicycle. Confession: I'm a horrible biker, and never biked as a kid. Yesterday was maybe my 10th time ever on a bike. I figured there is no better way to master riding a bike than going 15 miles in one day. And despite despising Baltimore potholes, I feel incredibly empowered after completing it all.
Because the race is spread out during the city, one can only imagine what passers-by are thinking. Safari Attack stuck in traffic pictured above.
Then in Canton crowds like the shore to catch the water entry as each vehicle rounds the pier as the first major challenge of the race. Fear Chessie.
Scrum Roll Racer was a favorite of mine in the water as they whipped out their soy sauce paddles to make their way through the water. Fifi follows. It's really the creative touches rather than winning that this race is all about.
Of key importance to my job was giving citations, and accepting bribes. In Canton I was disappointed to see the Scrum Roll Racer's sushi dressed racers eating pizza - rather than sushi - for lunch. I started to write them a ticket, when the most perfect bribe came my way. I was able to brush aside any violation after receiving this amazing box of sushi themed candy treats made out of rice krispy treats and gummy fish.
After all vehicles clear the water, it's then up to Patterson Park for the sand and mud challenges.
While all in good fun, the day is not without its challenges.
The race continues back downtown, around the harbor. Then, once you think that you're back at the museum, there's one more final, painful, loop towards the Domino Sugar plant. But it's all worth it when you make it to the finish line. Everyone is a winner of some sort, and it's the only race where you'll win beautiful handmade trophies made out of "random fun." And that's when we all realize that being mediocre isn't always so bad.

CLICK HERE for the full photo set from this year's Kinetic Sculpture Race and lots more fun!

More on BMORE:
Baltimore city guide
article on my favorite Bmore places
ALL Baltimore posts

p.s. stay tuned for a *BOARDING PASS* on Tuesday!