Decking Bordeaux a picture of a sizable, full-sun backyard with retaining walls and decking in the spring.

Nice Infinity

Large image of a tuscan infinity pool

Bordeaux Landscape Photo of a sizable, transitional, full-sun backyard landscape with retaining walls and decking in the spring.

Retaining Walls Landscape Bordeaux Photo of a large transitional full sun backyard retaining wall landscape with decking in spring.

Landscape Decking in Bordeaux Inspiration for a sizable, full-sun backyard with retaining walls and decking in the spring.

Landscape in Bordeaux a picture of a sizable, full-sun, retaining wall-and-deck-equipped backyard in the spring.

Decking - Contemporary Landscape Photo of a large contemporary full sun hillside landscaping with decking in summer.

Sims 4 construction intérieur maison #1

Hey can I ask? What will Jade and Ghost son/daughter would look like if they ever had a kid?

okay so this topic about Ghost and Jade's fam in the future has been asked like REPEATEDLY on my ask box since the dawn of Jade's creation LMAO

but thanks to @alypink I finally got to thinking about it and I finally had the time to to draw it! Here it goes! (❁´◡`❁)

Ghost and Jade has three children, Andrew, Jay, and Orion.

Andrew Thomas Riley - (His middle name is named after his late uncle, Tommy) Face looks exactly like Jade, but with Ghost's hair and eye colors. Loves Manchester City so much and dreams of being like Kevin de Bruyne. He has a bright personality like Jade, but has Ghost's competitiveness. A bit annoying, but only he gets to tease his siblings. WOULD FIGHT for his siblings.

Grace Jael Riley - (named after her maternal grandma, Gracie Le Jardin). Her nickname is Jay (Jael ("jay-el") to differentiate her from her grandmother. Face looks exactly like Ghost, but with Jade's hair and eye colors. She's into music - playing guitars and pianos - and loves to write poems. Jay has Ghost's personality and much rather stay in the corners. Spends a lot of time with her grandparents. Jay has some scary ability to make people speak out their hearts to her (blackmail). Her grandma might have some explaining to do.

Orion Riley - A child of Greek descent from Jade's former orphanage where Ghost and Jade often volunteer in. Orion had similar circumstances with Ghost. Orion's father was a drug dealer and addict, and in his intoxicated state had killed his mother. The Rileys then took him as a foster. He is distant and fearful at first, but with the family's nurturing and warm environment, Orion starts to loosen up and finally feels the warmth of a family. VERY close with Ghost and Jay.

Soon after marrying, the Rileys live in Herefordshire, where the SAS residency is. Jade opened a branch of The Garden, and Ghost himself still works as an SAS soldier. Ghost's deployments are short periods, but a lot of deployments every year, so he tries to spend as much time as he can with his kids when he's home, like playing football with Andrew, singing with Jay (however... unique his voice is), and draw with Orion. The way the kids IMMEDIATELY falls asleep when Ghost's reading them bed time stories AAAAAAA.

A very equally disciplined and warm home, they have their shenanigans, but they work every issue out. The grandparents often come to visit and help Jade take care of the kids when Ghost is not home.

Former MI6 black agents from mom's side of the family, and full-on SAS operators for dad and the uncles. Safest group of kids on the planet.

So those are the Lovely Rileys! Hope you love it *(੭*ˊᵕˋ)੭*ଘ

Donc Lucifer était rêveur et ambitieux pour ses créations mais les anges trouvaient ces idées bien trop dangereuses. Maintenant on sait de qui Charlie tient le plus, Lilith refusait de se soumettre Adam en voulant être indépendante. C'est justement dans le jardin, que Lucifer et Lilith se sont rencontrés et sont tombés amoureux. En faisant manger la pomme à Eve pour que l'humanité gagne leur propre volonté, le monde que les anges avaient créé se retrouva corrompu. En conséquence, Lilith et Lucifer se retrouvèrent banni dans les profondeurs. Et Lucifer ne pourra jamais voir ce qui a de bon dans l'humanité, honteux, Lucifer a perdu son envie de rêver. Alors Lilith a prit les reines et grâce à sa voix, l'enfer continua à s'épanouir et à grandir. Bien sûr ça ne plaisait pas au paradis qui envoya l'extermination pour éradiquer une partie de la population de l'enfer. Or l'espoir de Lilith n'est pas perdu car il a été transmit à Charlie qui compte bien maintenir cet espoir.

Bien que le début est assez intéressant je sens que c'est pas entièrement la vérité. Bon après bien sûr ça vient du point de vue de Charlie donc bien sûr que c'est biaisé. Mais si j'ai raison, je serai curieuse de savoir la vraie histoire concernant l'histoire de Lucifer, Lilith et les anges.

So Lucifer was a dreamer and ambitious for his creations, but the angels found these ideas far too dangerous. Now we know who Charlie takes after most, Lilith refused to submit to Adam and wanted to be independent. It was in the garden that Lucifer and Lilith met and fell in love. When Lucifer made Eve eat the apple to make mankind gain their own will, the world the angels had created was corrupted. As a result, Lilith and Lucifer found themselves banished to the depths. And Lucifer could never see the good in mankind, ashamed, Lucifer lost his desire to dream. So Lilith took the reigns, and thanks to her voice, Hell continued to flourish and grow. Of course, this didn't please Heaven, which sent the extermination squad to wipe out part of Hell's population. But Lilith's hope is not lost, as it has been passed on to Charlie, who intends to keep it alive.

Although the beginning is quite interesting, I feel it's not entirely true. Of course it's from Charlie's point of view, so of course it's biased. But if I'm right, I'll be curious to know the real story behind Lucifer, Lilith and the angels.

Isabelle Adjani on Perfume

Her first emotional experience

"I am certainly not the only one to be bewitched by the famous N°5 by Chanel, which must have marked a whole generation of girls. It has such a strength that it has made me aware of scents for life, and it is certainly thanks to it that I can't go a day without wearing perfume. It is also and especially the perfume of my mother... The one who wears it becomes a little bit my mother, that is to say! As a little girl, I was forbidden to touch it, and before I dared to wear it myself, I got drunk on Cristalle and N°19, such pretty young girl perfumes! Now I sometimes wear N°5 when I miss my mother... "

Her memory box

"Like Marilyn's beloved elixir, Guerlain's L'Heure Bleue is another magical fragrance. I was 17 years old and making my theater debut at the Comédie-Française. I liked fine boutiques, so with my first money I went to Guerlain, at 68, avenue des Champs-Elysées, their mythical address. I remember first trying Vol de Nuit and Mitsouko, then Après l'Ondée (of which I kept a bottle) to adopt L'Heure Bleue. I wore it to play a few years later in L'histoire d'Adèle H. by François Truffaut. It followed me, it is a sensor of "moments" and a source of memories. It symbolizes my roles in the theater and is essential for my films in costume. It is a perfume that I rediscover all the time, I fall in love with it each time, without any feeling of use or wear, it is an absolute for me.

Her adrenaline triggers

"Between the ages of 25 and 30, I discovered Passion and Heure Exquise by Annick Goutal. By always wearing them together, without separating them, a crazy alchemy occurs, it is the love equation par excellence. Each time, it's amazing and ecstatic, as if I hadn't been looking for them but they had found me. It's amazing that fragrances like this exist and overwhelm me every time."

Her other self

"Aromatics Elixir by Clinique: I smelled it one day on a friend and it was a shock, something crazy, intimate and irrational. I like it when it's strong, it doesn't scare me. A bit like Tom Ford's Jardin Noir collection, right now it's Café Rose, a singular statement to the Damask rose, captured in its black-clad bottle. I wear them when I want to surprise myself, to have that feeling of an unusual other self. It's as powerful for me as changing my haircut."

Her eternal obsession

"Since I was a teenager, I have been fascinated by Eau Sauvage by Dior, my father's perfume. Although it is impossible for me to wear it, I have several secret weapons that bring me back to him, such as Escale à Portofino, still by Dior, Eaux 1, 2 and 3 by Sisley, and the very successful Jardins du Sud by Fouquet's. Some smells act on me like spells and confuse me without me being able to explain it. Whoever wears Dior Homme, for example, is bound to be irresistible!"

Her troublemakers

"I love layering scents. There was a time when I would stop by Comptoir Sud Pacifique and mix currant and vanilla, cocoa and grapefruit... I think I contributed to their inspiration! For the same reason, I have a thing for Jo Malone who has reinvented the art of combination. I am a fan of Blue Agava & Cacao and Jasmine & Mint. I love that incongruous side of the mix, I love that people are a little confused about how I perfume myself and wonder what I'm wearing."

Her mystical trips

"I had a long period of Angel by Thierry Mugler, an incredible fragrance where sugar was treated in a new way, and another under the seal of Serge Lutens, especially for his Daim Blond and his Rahät Loukoum, a concentrate of sweetness. His creations intoxicated me, they are like mystical ointments that come from afar. I often go to Jovoy, a store where everything makes me dream, and I found Misiones de Fueguia 1833. Beyond the incense scent that I look for everywhere, there is the refined bottle, the wooden box... A pleasure found for more than ten years at Frédéric Malle, I have a soft spot for his Lipstick Rose, a delicious interpretation of the powdery smell of a lipstick.

Her recent conquests

"I wear my perfumes in cycles but I keep them all in very strong cases where nothing breaks, I don't throw anything away. Always on the lookout for a new olfactory coup de foudre, I'm like a little girl in the luxury boutiques. In the duty free shops, I try absolutely everything I don't know on my skin and when I get on the plane, it's all over! I read all the articles on perfumes and I do some scouting. I recognize myself in the world of Terry de Gunzburg and particularly in his Ombre Mercure, but also in Diptyque's Eau Duelle which echoes my preferences. I don't understand women who don't wear perfume, it's impossible for me and it depresses me for them!"

Mon actualité 2023-2024

2024

Lauréat du fond de soutien ADAGP-GOOGLE (2023-2024) Consulter le lien https://www.adagp.fr/fr/soutien-la-creation-artistique/aides-directes-aux-artistes/les-bourses/dotation-portrait-video Réalisation https://www.arte-studio.fr/

Résidence SIM résidence - Reykjavik ; Islande (mai 2024) Consulter le lien https://www.sim-residency.info/SIM-Projects/i-found-my-island---bolide-z

+ Publication revue OUSTE n°32 - Féroce Marquise - Périgueux (mars 2024) Consulter le lien https://ferocemarquise.org/ouste-n32-conspiration-2024/

Exposition collective Lavitrine - Limoges (décembre 2023 - janvier 2024) Consulter le lien https://lavitrine-lacs.org/

2023

Publication revue OUSTE n°31 - Féroce Marquise - Périgueux (mars 2023) Consulter le lien https://ferocemarquise.org/ouste-n31-conspiration-2023/

Participation aux ''Chateaux en fête'' - le jardin d'hélys-oeuvre ; Conseil Départemental Dordogne-périgord (avril 2023) consulter le lien  https://www.chateauxenfete.com/jardin-d-helys-oeuvre

Participation aux "Rendez-vous aux Jardins" - le jardin d'hélys-oeuvre ; Ministère de la Culture (juin 2023) Consulter le lien https://rendezvousauxjardins.culture.gouv.fr/

Résidence SIM résidence - Reykjavik ; Islande (juin - juillet 2023) Consulter le lien  https://www.sim-residency.info/SIM-Projects/i-found-my-island---bolide-z

Exposition personnelle SIM gallery - Reykjavik ; Islande (juillet 2023) Consulter le lien  https://www.sim.is/event-details/sim-gallery-lo-renzo-i-found-my-island-bolide-z Dans la presse  https://www.mbl.is/mogginn/bladid/innskraning/?redirect=%2Fmogginn%2Fbladid%2Fgrein%2F1839581%2F%3Ft%3D691711928&page_name=grein&grein_id=1839581&fbclid=IwAR190NPfVVzXzLypkbMYWEsLD34HEe4dOR8xUYvim1rCoonQI2FiDm5KVWA Explorer l'exposition https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=kCpqZfj73Ew&sr=-3.1%2C.08&ss=15&fbclid=IwAR2F6nrkpafX408PUGoMFOwvGDg6ouIk9BHibZKELn1wDD3EK7hmMQqWCKU

Participation aux "Journées Européennes du Matri-Patrimoine" le jardin d'hélys-oeuvre ; Ministère de la Culture (septembre 2023) Consulter le lien https://journeesdupatrimoine.culture.gouv.fr//

Exposition collective Arcol'art - Castelferrus (octobre 2023) Dans le presse  https://www.ladepeche.fr/2023/10/20/une-exposition-dart-contemporain-au-chateau-11531572.php

"Mama didn't raise no impolite witch" Vincent Griffith Fanfic Ep 1

Mélisse

The rush had simmered down about an hour ago. I skimmed through the last batch of orders from my desk at the soap shop, the amber lights attuned to the rainy day we were having in New Orleans today. On the radio, a potpourri of Haitian music from the sixties played in rotation bringing me back to those joyous moments growing up with my parents, all of it a memory now with a sour twist. 

The room smelled sweet, of cracked stems, and wild herbs picked from our garden outback. I carefully placed a rosemary leaf on the brown wax paper enveloping the order of soaps a client bought online earlier, and tied a string around it with my business card and a coupon which all were inscribed with the same cursive letters spelling Jardin de Mélisse. 

A knock at the door brought me to a halt. Standing at the door was Simoli, my cousin, who's been helping me run things around ever since he decided to stay in the states permanently. " Sa pou m fè avè w? What am I supposed to do with you?"

I rolled my eyes and tcheupsed, resuming the monotonous cycle I've been repeating for the three hours since we opened. I placed a series of glass bottles from my hibiscus and okra hairline into a shipping box and stuffed it with bubble wraps. Thank you note, close, tape, and repeat. 

"I'm almost done" 

" Yeah you said that about an hour ago when there was still a line at the register" 

I looked up at him, his face seemed refreshed, despite the long hours we've been pulling. He's wearing a coca cola red t-shirt, jeans and leather flip flops, his hair a tapered fro around his scalp. I think the change of pace and environment has been good for him. My shoulders relaxed a bit. The scissors in my hands suddenly weighed heavy, the piece of lavender between my fingers limp and awkward. I've been stuck in this room for far too long, my eyes were so adjusted to the darkness I could feel them disappearing into their own sockets, I needed a change of pace. 

" Fine" I slammed the metal scissors on the wooden desk. " i'm gonna go get lunch" i said, rising from my seat and scanning the room for my belongings. Wallet, umbrella. It was impossible for me to find anything in there, with all the pillows, the tapes, the boxes and endless inventory on the floor. The place was a fucking pig sty. I needed some fresh air, that's for certain. I scratched my head, gathering my things as I went and fighting Simoli's scrutinizing stare while he watched me rummage through my life like a raccoon digging through a pile of trash in the quarter. If he had any judgments, he said nothing. 

I threw my jean jacket on, and smoothed my hand over my tapered dress " do you wanna come with?" 

He snorted, as if I had insulted him, then threw his hand up " Mélisse, I got it from here, go". He shooed me away with a gesture of his hands, from the office, to the main floor of the shop. I stopped at one of the vintage mirrors on the wall, a fascinating relic i bought at a yard sale over two years ago, and was frightened by what i'd seen " jesus fucking christ" i muttered, digging through my bag for some lip balm. I glided it over my big lips, smoothing the layer of cracked skin that had been there before. I was immediately invaded with the scent of brown sugar and anise. Another one of my creations, not yet on sale anywhere, I was still doing a trial run on the product and was clearly failing. I sighed deeply. Simoli leaned on the counter, resting his chin in his palms

 " The AC company called. They wanna know if they can come in monday and take a look at the unit" 

I fiddled with my keys " Did they send you a price quote yet? " 

" Well, technically they have to come in and see what's wrong with it before we know how much all of this is going to cost" 

I exhaled " i uh, i don't know, let me think on it i'll get back to you" 

" Before monday" Simoli supplied, not a request, but a statement. 

I nodded. My stomach rumbled. " Do you want me to get you anything?" I interjected, moving the conversation towards something more fun, because all this AC stuff was making me anxious. I couldn't afford it, but I didn't know how to say it without causing my cousin to freak out. We were already behind on rent. The last thing I needed was for the two of us to pace around this place like anxious chickens. Leave it all to me to worry and figure out a way, Simoli deserved to just relax for a little while and not have to dive head deep into the travesty that was "the american dream" 

The boy flipped through pages of a messy white binder absentmindedly " No" 

I cocked my head to one side " Here i was thinking i was the only workaholic around here" 

His light brown eyes shot back at me, from this angle I could see how grandma's features have carved his cheeks, his forehead and fierce glare to be like hers. He sneered " Ou toujou ap pale kaka ou menm, you' re always talking shit" 

After agreeing on a meal for him, I walked out of the store, umbrella in hand, dodging the disgusting sewer water flooding the streets and made my way to Rousseau's. Not necessarily the idea of fresh air i had in mind but oh well. The small bar was situated in an old townhouse, with shuttle doors and peeling paint, identical to quite a few buildings here in New Orleans. A slow trepidation of old times amid the rise of modern, more expensive new developments. My sandals clattered on the wooden floor, the sight of dead leaves and debris clinging to my soles and feet, causing me to frown. I shook the water off from my umbrella and took a seat at the bar, on one of the stools that was designed far too small for people with big butts and thighs like mine. After a few trials and errors I finally felt comfortable enough to rest my bag on the metal hook beneath the bar. I pulled my now wet and frizzy orange coils on top of my head, tying them and fluffling the ends into a pineapple bun. 

A white man with blue eyes and an irish accent strolled through the swinging doors, noticed me and brought over a menu. " How ye doing? can i get you anything?" 

I ordered an IPA while I read through the small menu he had handed me. People sat in groups, some alone, all around me the room boiled with small chatter, rocks glasses knocking over wood, forks clicking and salt shakers clattering against beer bottles, hot sauce and so on. On my left was a mail lady, having a small cup of coffee and reading a newspaper, on my right was an old man slurping on a bowl of chicken soup, on a stool a few feet from him was another man, this one i had seen before, of about 6 feet tall, with umber skin and a bird tattoo clawing at his skin , having a bourbon, a small plate of french fries in front of him. 

The bartender slid a coaster in front of me and handed me my beer. The handsome man with the claw tattoo coaxed a book over his face. I can recognize a cover of Marcel Proust anywhere. He read with laser interest, his index finger bejeweled by a plain silver band, tracing his lips. 

" Miss…" 

" Yes" I blinked, " sorry long day" I laughed. When he didn't smile back, i cleared my throat and proceeded to say " i'll have a jambalaya to go, and uh " tapping my fingers against the hard menu cover, i quickly inspected the appetizer list "the pulled pork natchitoches and a small soup for here" 

He nodded, his expression solemn and bored as he took the menu back and shoved it inside an obscure shelf behind him. "Cash or card? " 

" Card" i thrusted the blue card in his hand

 " you want to keep the tab open?" 

My eyes shifted to the man again, this time he was brushing his beard, his eyes still glued to the pages of the book. I must've been staring a little too intensely because suddenly his brows knotted and his round eyes, two pools of deep brown, shaped so sensually looked back at me. My heart thudded. The bartender noticed, shifted his body to the left side of the room. I squeezed by glass, letting the chillness kiss my fingertips " No i'll close out" 

The bartender pursed his lips and nodded

 " very well then" 

I sipped on the orange brew in my glass, letting the tangy flavor flood my taste buds and slowly closed my eyes. Everything else around me, the pressure at the store, Simoli, the people inside the bar faded into the background. 

Vincent 

" People do not die for us immediately, but remain bathed in a sort of aura of life which bears no relation to true immortality but through which they continue to occupy our thoughts in the same way as when they were alive. It is as though they were traveling abroad. " 

I stumbled upon this quote at some point while reading a shriveled copy of The captive/ the fugitive which i found at the clearance section of my local bookstore earlier this week. I haven't sat down and read for pleasure in a long time— not since college which felt like ages ago— A capsule in time where i was young, an eager witch, stupid and burning with love for Eva. There was a time where i would hear that name and would automatically feel the pull of guilt, the hollowness of losing someone, by my own volition, my own ambition creeping up inside my chest, sinking me away from this reality into one where Eva's ghost was seeking vengeance for my wrong doings. 

That feeling is dead now, my love for the woman dead with it. The only thing left is the empty space that once blossomed—Healed shut—-At least i was trying to heal. Camille had put me in touch with a friend from school who ran her own practrice now. For the last two years since the Mikealsons been gone and Marcel took over as king, i've been sneaking weekly sessions with Judith on the other side of town, trying to unpack all the shit that went down. She's suggesting medication for the insomnia and nightmares, but i'm not gonna lie, i am a bit apprehensive. I wish Camille was still with us to discuss this with, i wish my friend was still here in general to breath in the peace we've been fighting so hard for, i miss her smile.

I wetted my tongue with some of the bourbon in my glass, now watered down. I signaled to Declan to spin me another round and went back to reading my book, hunting the wisdom the renowned author penned centuries ago, when suddenly i felt a prickle at the back of my neck, the knowing sense that someone's attention was on me. I swallowed the lump in my throat and raised my eyes. I noticed a woman sitting at the other end of the bar watching me. Instictvely her gaze veered towards the content in her glass, downing it halfway like a pro, then rested it on the coaster in front of her. There was a particular nervousness about her that didn't quite travel to her round face. Her cheekbones glistened not from sweat, but rather from the products she used to maintain her appearance— she looked like she really took care of herself. Her skin was deep as a harvest moon night, as if calla lillies themselves lived beneath it. Her hair was dyed serpia orange, fixed on top of her head in a way that complimented her features.

 She was striking. Was she a witch??? I don't think i've ever seen her around here before. With the new leadership and reforms i've implemented as regeant, i wouldn't be surprised if news traveled to neighboring states and was bringing outside witches into our walls. A weird sensation sliced through my chest, and managed to somewhat buzz around my shoulders and legs. I inhaled, exhaled, i needed to get my shit together. With this new awareness therapy had provided me with, it was hard at times to know if the sensations living in my body was weariness or something else—A warning or excitement? —The alertness of a Tremé witch or the fragility of a damaged man. I hung back, balancing this particular dilemma in my head while playing with my beard as though all the answers were hidden inside it. As tempting as this new witch was, i didn't necessarily think introducing myself to this new comer was a good idea. I felt no urge to interrupt her lunch break, god knows this is the last thing any woman needs right now. 

Declan rattled the silver shaker in one hand while pouring a golden brown liquid—my drink— into a clean glass. 

For the next hour, i've given up on trying to understand pretentious literature. Leave it to some old white man to throw a pile of random shit on the wall that barely make sense, and watch the world revere him as a literary genius. This shit can get exhausting. So i scrolled through facebook instead, when that wasn't enough, i cleared Freya's emails and text messages from my screen. The apologies were getting redundant. I didn't have anymore space for anymore Mikealson guilt, not now, not in the near future. She fucked up and put a teenager's life in jeopardy and now Davina is dead. This is her burden to carry, her shame to live with. I'm done being the errand boy, the witch for hire, the punching bag and everything in between. 

Once the woman finished her meal, Declan came back with an order neatly wrapped in a plastic bag and handed it to her. She gathered her things, thanked him, and put back a pocket size book she was reading earlier into her burgundy bag, then her notebook, her headphones. Not once had she turned to look at me since i caught her in the act. The haste in her movements made me rethink a last minute introduction over. Keep it cool, maintain good distance, there couldnt possibly be any harm in doing so right?  but before i could make up my mind and muster the courage,  she was already charging for the door, belongings in hand, her large hips swaying from here to there rythmically. The gold anklets she stacked around her ankles came to view. My gaze lingered in the poetry that was her curves, my throat felt tight and dry. I snapped myself out of it, averting my attention to the ceiling fan instead. My mama didnt raise no impolite witch. I shifted in my seat, cleared my throat and made sure no one else had caught me looking—-no, lusting over this beautiful stranger. I had a reputation to uphold, that is of a widower, a regeant who wielded strong power, a leader of his community. Do leaders not allow themselves the distraction of entertaining the pleasures of the flesh?  Can good leadership coexist with the simplicity of desire? 

When her hands pressed against the dusty shuttles and disappeared behind it, i mumbled a silent prayer, ever so intimate to the universe, to let me see her again.  

Photo credit: Dorcas E Jacob on Pinterest

So When Can I Go Back?

What you’ve all been waiting for, Part III!

We woke up early on Friday to catch a flight back to Buenos Aires. Once we arrived, we were starving, so my friend and I went to an Italian restaurant called Los Inmortales! My friend from Argentina recommended the restaurant to me, and it lived up to the hype. Argentina has a lot of Italian influence, so it’s known for its delicious pizzas and pastas. I ordered a pizza that was loaded with mozzarella and olives, and I devoured it in seconds.

Later, we caught up with some other exchange students who happened to be in Buenos Aires too! We stopped by the Floralis Generica, la Universidad de Buenos Aires, and el Museo de Bellas Artes. All the national museums are free in B.A. I was shocked to see several Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, and Jackson Pollack paintings in the museum! They weren’t even enclosed by glass or anything; I was scared that I would accidentally brush into them. That night, the girls and I had a relaxing night in watching Mafalda, a famous animated movie in Argentina, like Charlie Brown in the U.S.

The next day, I woke up and went to this super hip café called Café Martinez, one of the top-rated cafes in B.A. There, I got a waffle loaded with pecans, banana, and Nutella. I always like to order something on the menu that I’ve never tried before, so I got an orange cold brew, or coffee with a few splashes of orange juice. It sounds gross, but it hit the spot. I then decided to get my miles in and walk through the Teatro Colon, La Catedral Metropolitana, and the Casa Rosada where the president lives. It’s like the White House but it’s the Pink House! I also walked by the Obelisco, where everyone flooded the streets after Argentina won the World Cup. After, I stopped by Puerto Madero, a scenic and tranquil part of B.A. where boats used to come into port. There is the Puente de la Mujer which is shaped like the spine of a woman’s back when dancing tango! Fun fact: tango was born in Uruguay and Argentina at the same time. In Puerto Madero I got a choripan, which is like a hot dog but with grilled chorizo. Can you tell that I’m eating my way through Argentina?

Later, I went to the Cementerio de la Recoleta where I saw the mausoleum of former Argentine president Domingo Sarmiento. It was amazing to see how big the mausoleums are for these prominent Argentine families! After, I got dulce de leche ice cream at Luccianos. It was so delicious but so rich that I felt a little sick afterward :/

After another relaxing night chatting with family and friends, I woke up the next day to get breakfast and go shopping at the Feria Artesenal Intendente de Recoleta. The market was filled with local artists and their creations, including jewelry, hand-made clothing, and custom mate cups! could have spent a fortune there, everything was so unique and specific to Argentina. I especially loved anything to do with Lionel Messi. It’s clear that he’s a national figure in the country. Then, I checked in at a hostel because I spent one more day in Argentina than the girls, and I walked through Avenida Corrientes and got three empanadas: jamon y queso, carne picante, and humitas. They were so tasty and even better with a cold Coke-Zero. I later met up with some other international student friends and we walked through the Jardin Japones! It was a gorgeous little sanctuary that had ponds with koi fish and plants native to Japan. There was also a spot where you could make origami and write a message, so the four of us made penguins and wrote where we were from. There was also a spot where you could write a wish and hang it up on a tree. I saw one message in scribbly handwriting that said “quiero ser futbolista”, or “I want to be a soccer player.” How precious! After, we walked an hour to the Barrio Chino, like China Town in New York. I loved looking at all the different types of sweets and drinks they sold. I didn’t realize how diverse B.A. is in terms of food and culture; it’s incredible!

My friend, Cleo, had studied abroad in Buenos Aires a few years ago, so she knew of a spot where people meet up to dance tango! We went there and we watched several couples dance around the plaza. They would often change partners and chat with each other as they were dancing. I loved how free and serene they looked; now I want to take tango classes! After, we went to a Mexican restaurant because one of my other friends, Karen, is Mexican! We had some delicious tacos, although I will say, they weren’t nearly as spicy as they should’ve been. After that, I headed back to the hostel and slept like a baby.

On Sunday, I took the ferry back to Uruguay and conclude my whirlwind of a trip. I’m so proud of how independent I was and that I got to visit some touristy spots as well as experience the authentic Argentine culture! Now, I understand why everyone in Uruguay spends their weekends in B.A. I came back to Uruguay a few pounds heavier to be sure but also with a reminder of why I love traveling so much. Argentina, tenés mi corazón!

L’ Orangerie de Jussieu - Petit Trianon - on the grounds of Versailles in Paris

📸 September 2017 visit to the palace where we loved the walk from the palace to The Queen’s Hamlet-and all the gardens and buildings we found along the way.

This gorgeous chateau is so inviting I wanted to know more..

..in 1759, at the request of Louis XV, Bernard de Jussieu, a botanist, created a botanical garden in Trianon and built the largest hot springs in Europe, now called the Orangery of Jussieu. With gardeners Claude and Antoine Richard, he engages in experiments on exotic or rare plants: geraniums, strawberries, pineapples, Indian fig trees, coffee, rice, tobacco...

From 1774, the creation of the English garden of Marie-Antoinette made the botanical garden disappear. Jussieu's garden, which had up to 4,000 varieties of flowers and rare plants, was then transported to the Jardin des Plantes in Paris

(Background courtesy of wiki)

Tuesday 23 July 1833

7 5

11 ¼

dullish finish morning F67 ½° at 7 5 am. sat reading Le Constitutionnel – breakfast at 8 55 – out (took my 2 servants) at 10 – got a billet d’entrée at the tapissiers’ opposite the church – presented it at the Lodge and took a little girl from there as guide thro’ the gardens and to the palace and ecuries – the Jardin Anglais of the last 13 years creation very pretty but all the trees of the fir tribe – l’isle d’amour nothing a mere road to and thro’ a sort of large charpente (wood painted white) covered walk thro’ two straight narrowish canals but full of fish – the grand canal (1/2 lieue long) fine – not much to see in the palace or chateau – handsome gallery, the bottoms of the great condé on each side of it – these were sequestrated in the 1st revolution when the grand chateau was demolished, but picked up again and repurchased by the last duc de Bourbon – the most curious thing and almost incredibly so, is the table standing in the midst of the gallery of vine root (pied de vigne) 45 sur 22 pouces – Madame de Feuchères’ apartment on the rez de chaussée and very very plain and simple, and small rooms – not at all handsome – she is as much hated here as the duc was beloved – In the chateau d’Enghien (called by the late duc poor d’Enghiens’ father chateau neuf because he could not bear to hear it called by his sons’ name) at a little distance above the chateau a good plain range of building, nothing particular to see, so did not go to it – the Ecuries 600ft. long for 180 horses (when the troops were quartered there, there were 400 horse) magnificent – a gallery midway round the great dome in the centre from which a fine coup d’oeil down the 2 fine lofty vaults where the horses stand – over these excellent apartments for the servants which open outside upon a balcony extending the whole length of the building and from which a fine view over the forest – look over Morfontaine – a peep of Ermenonville, and Seuils cathedral (4 petites lieues distant) very conspicuous – the woman who shewed the Ecuries launched out more than the rest – would not faire mal à un oiseau but if she could to anything would to Madame de Feuchères – une méchante femme  - all believe she was the death of the poor duc – pas par sa main but the cause of his death – he had found out how méchante she was – he had latterly been a martyr to her – spent the last fortnight of his life in writing – was going to alter his will – but all his papers that he had lastly written were burnt – the procès not finished – but suspended – Louis de Rohan now in Bohême – only wanted the marriage portion that his mother, the late dukes’ wife, had – so till the procès was finished nobody could buy St. Leu but the king – from the Ecuries’ at 11 40 sent off to the chateau de la reine Blanche – went thro’ the forest and walked it in 1 5 hour at the rate of good 3 miles per hour – at the table ronde turned right aux Etangs at the bottom of which the chateau – very pretty little Gothic building done up by the late duc and furnished in the style of the period of queen Blanche – it was a mill a few years ago – some excellent imitation old chairs capital model for Shibden see again and inquire more about this very well done thing – a gable-ended building each corner finished off in a round tower – one ½ 3 stories and a [?], the other 2 –

SH:7/ML/E/16/0086

- ¼ hour during a smartish shower – home in an hour by particularly another way in an hour at 2 10 – Eugénie heated and very much tired and Thomas tired too – I not at all but a plis (crevice, crease) in my stocking had rather blistered my right foot – however walked about for 10 minutes looking at the hotel Bourbon condé (not so good as our own) etc. and came in at 2 20 – dozed a little and finished Herschells’ [Herschel] discourse on the study of natural philosophy by 4 – then looking over bills – dinner at 6 – afterwards till 9 wrote out today, and had up my hostesse, and arranged all for staying till Thursday – food air here, charming forest to walk – comfortable apartment – can get my accounts a little arranged tomorrow and then be a little at ease in Paris – till 10 reading over the whole of the Constitutionnel of today – the 2nd reading of the Irish church bill carried in the Lords by a majority of 59 in favour of ministers – fine day till 12 ¾ a.m. a little rain between 2 and 3 and very heavy longish shower about 4 – afterwards fine, save a little rain in the evening – F68 ½° at 10 ½ p.m.