A Tropical Pumpkin Pie Inspired by Tahiti – Mautini Painapo A couple of weeks ago we were at a friend’s house for a birthday part and at the end of a traditional ‘ma’a Tahiti’ – traditional dishes cooked in a Ahimaa, or underground oven. To finish, they had prepared a typical Tahitian dessert called “po’e”…
A few countries have re-opened for visitors and tourists, like French Polynesia, without a quarantine. As a place I have often visited over the past 10 years, I bought a ticket to see for myself how travel itself has changed, and what measures are in place for such a dream destination. I booked flights with…
I’m fortunate to travel frequently to French Polynesia. This tiny but vast country of islands spread out across the Pacific Ocean is an overseas country of France. It is known for its turquoise lagoons, over-water bungalows, white- and black-sand beaches, lush mountains, and towering waterfalls. The images that come to mind are probably similar to…
So you have planned a bareboat vacation in French Polynesia! What do you take? The less you can take on a boat the better! If possible, soft sided bags are better, because once you unpack on the boat they can be folded up and stored more easily. If you are flying inter-island to your boat…
Happy May ! Tahitian Va’a A Tahitian pirogue, or va’a, returning back before sunfall at Pointe Venus, Tahiti. “Si tu voyages dans le pirogue de quelqu’un, chantes sa chanson.” If you travel in the pirogue of someone, sing his song. Image from my 2020 Calendar in French/Tahitian.Chicago Mosaic Wishing you a wonderful month! Larissa…
Were you planning a trip to Chicago? Here, bringing you some city sounds for those sheltering at home. Tu veux entendre des bruits de la ville de Chicago?Le metro de Chicago est aussi connu comme le ‘L’ – le diminutif de ‘élevé’ – un train élevé. Vuoi sentire alcuni rumori della città di Chicago?La metropolitana…
Late December we arrived in Oaxaca, Mexico, to have some warm days from the winter in Chicago. We drove from Oaxaca to San Juan Bautista Coixtlahuaca about 1.5 hours on the toll road 135D through the mountains. The town of Coixtlahuaca is not far off the toll road (3.5 km). The locals call this place…
With shutdowns happening around the world you probably had to postpone your visit to Chicago. I have put together a few links to virtual tours or apps so you can still get a taste of some of the cultural offering of Chicago. I have included 3 museums, 2 Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings, Millennium Park, the…
On a recent sailing trip in French Polynesia we anchored by late afternoon to enjoy a swim near the reef and then the marvelous sunset in the big open sky and limitless horizon. This time of year is the auspicious breeding and reproductive time for all kinds of animals and sea life. We had the good…
A woman I met in Toubab Dialaw last year at the start of a magical day with Leticia. I will call her ‘our beautiful friend’, she welcomed us and looked after us throughout the day. An embodiment of the Senegalese notion of ‘teranga’. “If there’s a set of values in Senegal, teranga would be the…