Category Archives: Fooding & Bars

Esplanade Zagreb: The Oleander Terrace and Le Bistro Esplanade

Posted on August 2, 2013 | Leave a comment

Great surprise on my way to breakfast

at the Esplanade Zagreb: the huge terrace of the chic Oleander Terrace. Discrete mixture of tourists and businessmen. Some shrubs, umbrellas and a lot of space. I dreamed it for a long time! Nothing’s better for the mood: the sun, some fresh or dried fruits and especially a blue blue sky, yes! 8 a.m. and already this incredible brightness: meaning galvanized me!

After an endless bad winter and the worst spring, I have an overwhelming need to see the sun, be in the sun (in the shade, LOL!) and “Get Lucky” (Daft punk!) The night before, I didn’t pay attention to the exterior architecture of the hotel and its surroundings. Impressive facade (pictures 4 & 5), the charm of the roaring twenties, revised and corrected (the hotel was renovated in 2004).

Le Bistro Esplanade

Art deco decoration in The Bistro Esplanade, where I dined late last night (pictures 6,7,8, 9 & 10). The service is attentive and the food, light and really tasty, blending French and Croatian flavors. I also appreciated the fact that I could isolate myself quietly. After more than 24 hours without sleep, I was happy not to have to cross the town for dinner (my Tokyo syndrome!).

Soon, I have an appointment with Dora, my insder guide for a tour of a few hours in the old town. This is a great option if you have very little time and a natural predisposition to get lost! Really! And I’m not the type to be satisfied with the classic tourist circuit. I’m more interested in taking the pulse of the city (suspens!). Needless to say I enjoy every minute on the terrace, where I could spend hours and hours to plan my day (LOL!). Lazy girl!

Informations

www.visitcroatia.be, Zagreb Tourist Board, www.zagrebtalks.com

Discover my whole trip in the CROATIA page and follow me in TWITTER. ENJOY! I was hosted by the Office National Croate du Tourisme and of course all my opinions are mine.

Departure to Croatia: Pozdrav Zagreb, Hi Zagreb!

Sofitel Saint James: A Room With A Breakfast @ The Balcon

DESTINATIONS, LIFESTYLE & HOTEL REVIEWS

Esplanade Zagreb: Oleander Terrace et Le Bistro Esplanade

Posted on August 2, 2013 | Leave a comment

Excellente surprise en allant prendre le petit déjeuner

après ma première nuit à l’Esplanade Zagreb : l’immense terrasse ombragée, chic et relaxe de l’Oleander Terrace. Mélange discret de touristes et d’hommes d’affaires. Quelques arbustes, des parasols et de l’espace. J’en rêvais depuis longtemps! Quoi de mieux pour le moral : du soleil, fruits frais ou secs et surtout un ciel bleu, oui bleu azur! 8 h à peine et déjà cette incroyable luminosité : me sens galvanisée!

Après un hiver pourri qui n’en finissait plus et un printemps encore plus désastreux, j’ai un immense besoin de voir le soleil, d’être au soleil (à l’ombre, LOL!) et de “Get Lucky” (Daft Punk)! La veille au soir, je n’ai pas prêté attention à l’architecture extérieure de l’hôtel, ni de ses environs. Impressionnante façade (photos 4 & 5), le charme des années folles, revu et à peine corrigé (l’hôtel a été rénové en 2004).

Le Bistro Esplanade

Décoration art déco au Bistrot Esplanade, où j’ai dîné tard hier soir (photos ci-dessous : 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10). Le service est soigné et la cuisine, légère et goûteuse, mêlant saveurs françaises et croates. J’ai aussi apprrécié le fait qu’on pouvait s’isoler tranquillement. Après plus de 24h sans dormir, j’étais heureuse de ne pas avoir à traverser toute la ville pour dîner (mon syndrome Tokyo!).

Bientôt, j’ai rendez-vous avec Dora, mon insider guide pour faire un tour de quelques heures dans la vieille ville. C’est une excellente option, si vous avez très très peu de temps et une prédisposition naturelle à vous perdre! Vraiment! Et je ne suis pas du genre à me satisfaire du classique circuit touristique. Suis plus intéressée de prendre le pouls de la ville (suspens!). Inutile de préciser que je profite de chaque minute sur cette terrasse, où je pourrais rester des heures et des heure à programmer ma journée (LOL!).

Informations

www.visitcroatia.be, Zagreb Tourist Board, www.zagrebtalks.com

Découvrez mon voyage dans la rubrique CROATIE (tous mes posts) et suivez-moi sur TWITTER. ENJOY! J’ai été invitée par l’Office National Croate du Tourisme et bien sûr toutes mes opinions sont les miennes.

Autres articles :

Départ pour la Croatie: pozdrav Zagreb, bonjour Zagreb!

Sofitel Saint James: Une chambre avec petit déjeuner au Balcon

DESTINATIONS, LIFESTYLE & HOTEL REVIEWS

Thailand: 500 Rai Floating Rafthouse, A Bungalow With A View

Posted on July 20, 2013 | Leave a comment

What a fantastic view

when I arrived by boat at the 500 Rai Floating Rafthouse, a small hotel with 11 floating bungalows in a remote cove nestled in a pristine nature! Unlikely oasis in the middle of nowhere (not exactly Mademoiselle Le K, we are in Chiewlarn Dam, in Khao Sok Natural Park, lol!). And you can not play the jaded!

I’m so excited, I’ve never slept on a floating hotel! The setting is awsome and I’m euphoric! Let’s face it, comfort is very basic, but in front of such a view how I couldn’t be charmed! The hotel serves a very good Thai food. The staff is nice and the owner is a former Buddhist monk turned into a successful business man.

I discover my bungalow after the distribution of the rooms. Naively, I chose a room without air conditioning. Which would perfectly suit me, if there were nets on the windows, especially in the shower and toilet half open to the outside and lined with insects at nightfall. For the evening the slightly cooler temperature is perfect to sleep without air con. But repeated attacks of my “buddies” mosquitoes quickly become unbearable!

Not to mention other insects, I had an invasion on my bed of insects that looked like “flies”. This is the name given in Hong Kong to these tiny insects like small black dots. Anyway I sprayed the repellent all over the room several times. As the product is super harmful, I went to dinner while it was indeed.

And finally I slept in front of the fan in two super large and comfortable armchairs, with the windows closed (pictures 1 & 2). And guess what? I slept very well! The must is to watch the sunrise. I opened wide the windows and put my seats in front of the landscape! Just amazingly beautiful! Pictures 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5: the view from my bungalow. Pictures 7, 8, 9 & 10: the public areas of the 500 Rai Floating Rafthouse. Photo 10: pontoon where we dined by candlelight in the evening.

Follow my whole trip in THAILAND. You can also discover my other pictures in the Facebook of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Facebook of the Royal Thai Embassy in Belgium. ENJOY!

Thailand: The Pak Tako Estuary in Chumphon

Thailand: Visit of A Silk Workshop

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