Food and More Travel Prep
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| Artichokes at the marché in Aix-en-Provence |
Ever since seeing these gorgeous purple artichokes at the farmer’s market in Aix-en-Provence last year, I’ve been on the lookout for similar artichokes here.
Last week I spotted these at one of our local grocery stores. This is the time of year when artichokes are usually abundant and at their best, but I have been disappointed so far in this year’s crop. It’s been late coming in, and the chokes have been a bit tough and flavorless.
I can make a meal of an artichoke, and mayonnaise sprinkled with a bit of Lawry’s Seasoned Salt is the preferred dip for the leaves. Growing up in the Santa Clara Valley, we were spoiled with the artichokes from nearby Castroville; they were as big as your head and 10 for $1. Succulent and flavorful as all get out.
I’m planning to travel this time with just the iPad, rather than my laptop. I think I have the hang of the blogging app, and have downloaded a few photo editing apps to play with. The beauty of the iCloud system is that pictures I take with the phone are automatically available on the iPad. No downloading! I’ll be posting here as I’m able, but will also be updating Instagram and Facebook regularly (as regularly as I have access to Wi-Fi), so do follow there for the complete travelogue.
Friday I’ll share my travel wardrobe Polyvore On The Floor with you, so do check back. Any of you in the UK who may have any particular insight into weather for the next couple of weeks, please do chime in. I have only Weather Underground to rely on…
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So excited for you! Try this website I use daily:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ You can type in any UK city/town. It looks pretty chilly to mild in Edinburgh for example.
Look forward to seeing your travel wardrobe!
J’habitais a Aix-en-Provence deux fois dans ma vie! Love seeing the familiar artichokes today (my 60th birthday!). Merci, et bon vacance!
How exciting, your trip day is so close! Looking forward to your travel wardrobe, I always enjoy those pics.
Beautiful artichokes — I’m with Marguerite in thinking they’d look great in a vase! We’ve picked up steamed ones at Marché Mouffetard to eat back in our room (even sans butter or mayonnaise they’re delish!). Looking forward to seeing your travel capsule — and I’m keen to hear how iPad-iPhone only works for you. Curious to know if you buy a SIM-card and change it out over there or is your plan reasonable enough that you just stick with your iPhone as usual.
I must try cooking artichokes…
we have very small ones in our market shops.
I will be keen to hear how you like blogging from your IPAD, I have the mini and wondered if I should give it a try as photos are so quick to post.
I imagine you’ve already started packing for your trip…you do that so well!
I’m very behind on commenting, so have enjoyed reading your last few posts. Looks like your getting ready for a spectacular trip, and looking forward to following you along the way.
Gorgeous chokes! I’d like to see them in a vase. I’ve been in the UK in every weather except the dead of winter. Plan for all possibilities with layers. You’re a packing pro Femme, so no worries.
I was going to suggest the BBC website too. Having lived in the UK for the majority of my life, I would agree with Marguerite that you should plan for all possibilities. We are going to the UK in June and I still remember having snow in June years ago, when my children were small! Having said that, May is often a lovely, warm month, so I will cross my fingers for you as well as for myself! I am looking forward to seeing your travel wardrobe and no doubt it will inspire me when it comes to packing for my own holiday.
It’s getting so close to your trip, I’M almost having trouble sleeping! Can’t wait to see your pictures.
Another good dip for artichokes is mayonnaise mixed with salsa – yum!
Nobody does produce like the French. They save all the best stuff for themselves. Never will you see an insipid head of lettuce on offer…whether you are at a farmer’s market or at Carrefour. I think it is a matter of national pride…quite rightly. As far as UK weather…it’s a mixed bag. Here in the west of Scotland it has been intermittend showers and sun, but sadly unseasonable cold. But it changes on a dime here, so layering is key. Such is coastal living. Sorry we are going to miss you while you’re here. We leave the day before you arrive 🙁
You would need to be a clairvoyant to predict the UK weather. It is great at the moment but who knows. A good umbrella and sturdy shoes.
I didn’t know you grew up in the Bay Area.
Aren’t the Castroville artichokes the best? I love to buy loads of them whenever I am in the area.
I am excited about seeing photos of your UK trip. I am off to follow you on instagram so I don’t miss out!
Those Aix artichokes are beautiful. I can hardly wait to see what you pack. Paris was very warm today but the weather is still unsettled.
I’m very excited for you! Looking forward to some vicarious travel experiences via your Facebook posts.
Not sure what a “nice” artichoke costs in LA now. I can’t find them for less then $3 per in N.H. and they aren’t meaty. In fact, they are too often dry, small, not at all what I grew up with. I remember Castroville and Gilroy, home of the artichoke anyway you want it and garlic, respectively. Avocados, another California specialty though most are now from Mexico.
Good lord those are gorgeous. Makes me want to paint them actually 🙂 I wish LA had chokes like that. As a NYKr now Angeleno, I am new to the chokes. Still don’t know what to do with em most of the time.
Anyhow, have a lovely trip. My travel in the UK was limited to N. Ireland, but I would say light layers are key as you likely have heard. And something waterproof like your gorgeous new coat. Never mind with an umbrella , they are useless. It never gets teribly cold, but the damp is a thing to be reckoned with. Makes for lovely greenness though.
Hiya,
Checking in from England (a bit late, you may have already left or already packed). Anyway, we have had a couple of gorgoeus warm days recently which have been ‘shirt and no singlet’ weather (up to 19 degrees C), but mostly it’s bumping along about 10-12 degrees which to me is a coat in the morning and a singlet, top and light cardigan during the day. It’s still a little chilly at night. Not much rain – the odd shower.
It is looking springy, so I’m switching in lighter colours like beige tousers and a grass green cardie. You’ll look a bit wintery in too much black, but heaps of folks are still wear it so you’ll be fine. Hope you have a lovely trip!
birdybegins, thanks for the weather update! I’d prefer to wear more light-colored items, but the darker pieces are more practical for travel. I’ll probably pick up some brighter and lighter scarves and accessories once I’m there.