Don’t play the tourist ! How to embrace local cultures when traveling

Hi everyone !

Today is an exciting post as I announced on my Facebook page. I’m publishing my first collaboration on a joint article, how exciting ! Being both fond of travels, Lisa and I have decided to write for you guys an article giving you tips to better enjoy your holidays abroad and embrace the local culture and diversity once you’re there. I strongly suggest that you check out her blog From Dream to Plan here – I feel like you’ll definitely recognize that we share the same vibe and interests.

The magic of a travel is built through your choices, your activities, but also your behavior. Be nice and respectful of where you go ; be curious and engage with as many things and people as you can. Traveling can be such a rich experience, so be sure to enjoy it to the fullest. Here are our tips. Please, do share yours in the comments !

BOOK REVIEW #9: The Alchemist by Paul Coelho (1988)

The Alchemist. Everyone has heard at least one about this book in his life. I was part of those people who knew the title, but I haven’t read it until I found it by chance in the pile of books the guy living in my room before me left me. So famous, very short (compared to what I usually read) and with a lot of time on my hands, the moment was perfect to start reading it.

Even though I knew the title, I have to confess that I did not know anything about the story. I kind of jumped into it without any preparation. I was surprised at first : simple sentences, story-telling and structure ; a very naive and simple protagonist, Santiago ; a weird  eerie atmosphere. I had the impression to be in a cotton bubble, in a dream while reading the Alchemist. This is probably part of its magic.

“Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”

My stimulating visit at the Quai Branly museum

Good morning everyone,

Today, I’m sharing a cultural post. As some of you may know, I spent last week in Paris and took advantage of the fact that I was in the capital to visit some museums. The really amazing thing about Paris is that if you’re a European citizen under 26, most of the time you get a free entrance to museums, even very big ones like the Louvre, which I already talked about here for the Egyptian department and here for the rest.

I went to the Quai Branly Jacques Chirac museum because I had heard so much about it, so I was curious to check it out. In addition, it is a very original museum because it does not look like the French Louvre, the British National Gallery or the American MoMA. Indeed, it features the indigenous art and cultures of non European art : it displays masks, costumes, totem poles and other artifacts from around the world that are mostly linked to religious sacred beliefs.

BOOK REVIEW #8: The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen (2007)

The Keeper of Lost Causes (US) or Mercy (UK) is a book written by the Danish writer of crime fiction, as well as a publisher, editor and entrepreneur Jussi Adler-Olsen in 2007. Its original title is Kvinden i buret.

Being a fan of Scandinavian authors and thrillers, when my boyfriend gave me this book, I started reading it at once. And I loved it. Indeed, The Keeper of Lost Causes is the first book of a whole series and its author won a great number of literary prizes for it : the Sealed Room Award (Japan 2012), the Livre Robinsonnais prize (France 2012), the Grand prix des lectrices de Elle (France 2012), the Barry Award Best Novel (US 2012), the Danskerees Yndlingsforfatter (Denmark 2013), the Prix Plume d’or (France, 2013) and many more..

That should be enough to convince you to try it ! Personally, I’m already reading the sequel  The Absent One (US) or Disgrace (UK) (Fasandræberne in Danish).

Save money to have more fun ! My top 12 activities to have a frugal fun winter

With Winter here and Valentines Day right around the corner, I thought that it would be the perfect time to share with you guys some of my favorite activities. However, with Christmas and the New Year, you might have spent more money that you wanted to on gifts, so here’s the twist : why not try having frugal fun ?

Even if it is always nice to go out and treat yourself to a nice cup of coffee, or a dinner with friends, or even a movie, I would like to remind you of the possibility to spend time with your loved one without having to spend a dime. More fun for less money : now how does that sound ?