Tag Archives: Workshops

Thessaloniki, Greece: Shopping, Creative Tour and Outdoor Cafes

Shopping & Creative Tour

Thessaloniki-Greece-Fashion & Beauty Shopping-Outdor coffe-Marina Konstantinou-Lou-Nail Bar-Hotel Daios-1A-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Glam shopping in Proxenou Koromila Street

and its surroundings. To help, the street behind the Daios hotel (located in the waterfront). A mixture of a myriad of trendy cafes and posh shops. There you find international brands (like Vuitton, Tod’s, Dolce & Gabbana …) and multi-brand shops and local designers. Above picture : necklace of Marina Konstantinou. Hippie chic Tunic in the showcase of Lou. And the famous Lefas hairdresser (hair salon with a L.A. vibe).

Thessaloniki-Greece-Koupni Coffe & Crafts-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Drink An Iced Coffee While Making Your Souvenir Bag

DIY! Yes, I did it (above picture): the painted and sequined designs represent the iconic monuments of Thessaloniki! In the old town, opposite the ruins of the Greek agora and the Roman forum, Koumpi Coffe & Crafts is a cafe with a creative workshop. You can have different iced coffees (a Greek specialty), while choosing a creative kit. Really fun: my buddies and I had big laughs and even the boys made jewelery! And the result is far nicer than those cheap souvenirs made in China! 

Thessaloniki-Greece-reative Tour & Shopping-by Hand Peak- Art Gallery-Now by Yorgos Maraziotis @Nitra Gallery-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Discover the creative Thessaloniki

If you have little time and want to discover another side of the city (insider spots), do not hesitate to book a tour with Handpeak. After the Koumpi Coffe & Crafts: the visit of a new contemporary art gallery, the Nitra Gallery. Photo above (courtesy of the Nitra Gallery): an installation of Yorgos Maraziotis (Neon, 150×40 cm). Then we continue through several workshops shops.

My favourite :  Object2Repair, a deco vintage shop that also repairs furniture and lighting (below picture of the lighting). Margaritarenies, a small shop of jewelry made by two designers with the same first name Margarita (below picture of the hand). And if your boyfriend and you are a kind of wannabe rockstars, have a look at the guitar repair and manufacturing shop: Alfa Handcrafted Guitars. And you may come back from Thessaloniki with your guitar (lol)!

Thessaloniki-Greece-Creative Tour & Shopping-by Hand Peak- Art Gallery-Nitra Gallery-Margaritarenies Jewels-Object2Repair-Vintage-1C-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Outdoor Cafes

Thessaloniki-Greece-Outdoor Cafe-Navona Ristorante-@Makedonia Palace-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

The Culture of Outdoor Cafes

Outdoors cafes are absolutely everywhere! Often full. Morning by the seniors and then by everyone. Thessaloniki is a student city, with lively and busy streets until late at night. Above pictured: the terrace of Navona Restaurantopen from 9:30 am to 2 am, where I relaxed much of the afternoon facing the sea, with an excellent fresh orange juice ; ) 

Thessaloniki-Greece-Outdoor Cafe-To Palio Hamam-Cafe-Bar-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Lovely View of The Bei Hamam’s Rooftops

This outdoor café and bar offers a unique view on the roofs of the old Turkish baths, built by Sultan Murad II in 1444 (above pictures). Unfortunately you can not visit this historic monument, but you can admire the roofs with a drink at the To Palio Hamam Cafe-Bar. Too bad I didn’t have time to return at night (I was too busy, too much to see!)!

Thessaloniki-Greece-Outdoor Cafe-Near The Seafront-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Going to the statue of Alexander the Great, 

I discovered Dentrospito (Tree House): this bar under the trees, has a very nice atmosphere. Really cool spot, with a seaview (above photo montage)! As it was full, we walked on Nikis Avenue, munching Greek traditional pastry (forget diet baby!)..

The other place I’d have liked to taste some veggie sushi, is the Roots. The only vegetarian restaurant in Thessaloniki that also serves cocktails in the evening (below pictures)!

And you, what are your favorite outdoor cafes, shopping and activities in Thessaloniki? 

Thessaloniki-Greece-Outdoor Cafe-Roots-Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurant-Bar-Cocktails-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

Informations   

Visit Greece, Thessaloniki Hotels Association & Ryanair

From Ryanair flies to Thessaloniki and ten other destinations in Greece including Athens and Santorini.

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & HOW TO PREPARE YOUR TRAVEL  

Many thanks for this beautiful invitation to Visit Greece, Thessaloniki Hotels Association and Ryanair. As always these are my opinions.

Bordeaux, France: The Bordeaux Wine School

If you do know where to see this mural painting in Bordeaux (picture above)

– and who is the famous painter (really easy) – wow congrats! You have all my admiration! If not (oops), wait till my next post about this trip. Well, I’m in Bordeaux for a short break (2-3 days) and I want to discover the city, a bit of the countryside and some wines (how could it be possible Ms Diet Coke? Nobody’s perfect!). My trip start in the beautiful historical center of Bordeaux and its freshly renovated monuments!

First stop: my oeunology course @ The Bordeaux Wine School (Ecole du Vin de Bordeaux), founded in 1989. You can choice between different workshops, depending on your level and availability. If like me you don’t know anything and worst Merlot and Cabernet remind you some fantastic Caudalie‘s exfoliating scrubs, start with the two hours initiation workshop : “to make the difference between Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, to identify Bordeaux wines and express your own tastes and sensations“. What an experience! I’ve taste and spit (not to get drunk!) and talked and discribe flavours and smells and locate famous wines.

You’ll enter in a really exciting world ! And I recommend you Nathalie Escudero, she is an amazing teacher and guide who mkes her own wine ! At the ground floor of The Bordeaux Wine School, the wine bar is impressive and very lively in the evening (picture below). The atmosphere is really friendly, cosmopolitan and a bit trendy. But right now, I need a sweet snack and want to taste a canelé, the famous Bordelais speciality with rhum, not wine (picture 3) ! Then to follow me to the wharves area (pictures 4 & 5): click HERE!

Informations

L’Ecole du Vin du CIVB / Bordeaux Wine School, www.bordeaux.com 

Related posts : 

Bordeaux, France: The CAPC, Contemporary Art Museum of Bordeaux 

LIFESTYLEDESTINATIONS

Brussels: Costermans by Gérald Watelet

Crazy rythm between Paris-Brussels and Antwerp. 

Last friday I jumped in the Thalys (express train between Paris and Brussels) and guess who was sat next to me : Christian Lacroix himself! Wow… 

Then I rush to the Grand Sablon, for the Costermans by Gérald Watelet‘s press presentation. For the second consecutive year, Gérald Watelet, the Belgian former couturier puts on the costume of an assemblier” (a shopfitter) to collaborate with Costermans, the famous antique dealer. I’m late. Damned!

Gérald doesn’t remember our interview in the backstage of the TV program Sans Chichi, where he is playing a chef! He’s also a fantastic cooker. Here a quick sample of rooms decorated by Gérald Watelet, with the furniture mocked by Arnaud Jaspar-Costermans

It’s open to the public for free. Picture above : the “wallpaper” that’s not a wallpaper, is an unique composition directly drawn on the walls by Julien Colombier, a French young artist who has already worked for Chanel.

Picture 2 : Gérald Watelet in the “70’s-80’s” room. Pictures 3 & 4 : the room with the great exotic wallpaper, next to the big window transformed in a lush conservatory. Awsome! Picture 5 : Arnaud Jaspar-Costermans.

Costermans : Grand Sablon 5,  1000 Brussels, Belgium, T. 02 512 21 33, www.costermans-antiques.com  

Related posts : 

Brussels, Belgium: meeting Eric Monami and his “Sans Chichis” team  

Maison & Objet, Paris Fair: The Café ELLE Déco & The Restaurant Frères Mariage 

INTERVIEWS, LIFESTYLE & DESTINATIONS