concerning: march

it is my very delayed march wrap-up

Helllooooo,

This is a very very late post (what can I say, I am a procrastinator in all aspects of my life - at least I am consistent). It’s already well into April but I still wanted to document my how march treated me.

travelling

During my break from school, I visited a friend I made on my Erasmus living in Paris. The last time I visited Paris, I was 17 and on a March break trip with my high school's modern language department. I was overdue for a trip as there were many things I wanted to check off my bucket list.

Paris gets a bad rap; people say it’s dirty, the people are unfriendly, and it is overrated. However, I found people to be lovely. In a city of 2.1 million it will be a bit dirty, but it was nothing major, and maybe you people need to realize that the city has more to offer than the Eiffel Tower. Of course it helped I had a personal guide to show me around her favourite spot but I solo travelled for 2 days around the city while my friend went to work.

Here are some of the places I visited

1. Maison de Victor Hugo- a bucket list thing for me

2. Parc des Buttes Chaumont- Paris has so many parks, so I made it a daily mission to visit each one I walked past

3. Garden of Luxembourg- I sat here and read my book while soaking up the sun

4. Musée de l'Orangerie- Monet’s Water Lillies

5. The Abby Bookstore- an English bookstore full of new and used books

6. Belleville- a neighbourhood in Paris (border of of the 19th and 20th)

wearing

Spring is coming in Bologna which means I am wearing flats! I love my Flabelus, a stunning blue colour that really goes with anything

Better weather also means its t-shirt time (cue the Jersey Shore reference). I travelled to France in the Spice girls t-shirt that I kinda forgot I had but it make me feel kinda nostalgic when I wear it.

Lastly, coloured tights. I step foot on European soil, and my first stop is Calzadonia. I have all different colours, including the merlot-coloured one pictured in the photograph. I also own green, yellow and grey. They are perfect for the in-between weather when you want to wear a skirt but its not warm enough to go bare legs.

eating and drinking

it was a month of eats, and i would like to think Anthony Bourdain would approve.

1. Brunch: I had prepared a brunch for some of my friends. Made some homemade pancakes, with Canadian maple syrup of course. It was really special to share a bit of home with friends.

2. Chinotto, a popular Italian drink from the citrus tree (Myrtle-leaved orange tree) has been my go-to. It is not for everyone as some say it can be a bit bitter. It is a great non-alcoholic beverage option and I actually prefer it to coke. You can find it an Italian specialty stores or order next time you're on vacation.

3. During my trip to Paris; my friend took me on a food tour through the neighbourhood of Belleville. We ate at this great Tunisian restaurant (don’t let the name Di Napoli fool you, it’s not Italian food) and at Best Tofu.

4. Poutine: on the note of missing home, I couldn’t pass up getting poutine when I saw it in Paris

5. Mint Tea: At La Mousquee de Paris was a nice rest after walking around the city for a bit. They also had excellent pastries and desserts. Such a beautiful place to chat. The best part is even though it’s in the city, the way the cafe is built makes it feel like you are tucked away somewhere quiet.

watching

Honestly, I have been on a huge Law and Order: SVU binge since October. Slowly making my way through every season since 1999. Can I also just say Mariska Hargitay’s haircuts throughout the years are iconic.

reading

I have stopped and started this book since December but finally I have committed to finishing it. In 2025 my goal is to read more non-fiction and memoirs I think are a good way to introduce non-fiction to my bookshelf. It documents Patti Smith relationship with artist Robert Mapplethorpe. I will be honest, I had no clue who these people were before picking up the book and I think that makes reading it more interesting. Usually memoirs are supposed to entice people who know who the author is (or who the subject is). Instead I went in blind and I have been enjoying it. Stop and starting this book was mostly due to the fact that I have other commitments and not speaking to the quality of the book.

texting

Every once in a while I get a wildly out of character idea and in those moments I appreciate friends who can keep me in check. This was the only correct response.