ANGELINA - Top Brunch Spots in Paris

Angelina in Paris: A Must-Visit Spot for Foodies and Chocolate Lovers

Paris is known for its rich culture, history, and cuisine. One of the must-visit destinations in the city is Angelina, a famous tearoom and chocolatier located in the heart of Paris. Established in 1903, Angelina has become synonymous with French elegance and luxury. From its iconic hot chocolate to its delectable pastries, Angelina is a haven for foodies and chocolate lovers alike.

Angelina's Iconic Hot Chocolate

Angelina is famous for its thick, velvety hot chocolate, also known as "chocolat chaud à l'Ancienne." Made with high-quality cocoa beans and rich cream, Angelina's hot chocolate is a decadent treat that is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth. Served in a traditional ceramic pitcher with a side of whipped cream, Angelina's hot chocolate is a must-try for anyone visiting the Parisian tearoom.

Delectable Pastries and Desserts

Aside from its iconic hot chocolate, Angelina also offers a wide variety of pastries and desserts that will please any palate. From its signature Mont-Blanc pastry, made with sweet chestnut cream and whipped cream, to its seasonal fruit tarts and macarons, Angelina's pastries are a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. Whether you have a sweet tooth or prefer something more savory, Angelina's pastry selection has something for everyone.

Le Brunch

Angelina offers three different options for brunch; starting at 22 Euros, the PETIT-DEJEUNER PARISIEN includes tea, coffee, or hot chocolate, plus fresh orange juice, plus mini puff pastries, and a small baguette with butter, honey, and jam. The most complete one, LE BRUNCH, includes all of the above plus eggs Benedict or a croissant sandwich, and french toast or a praline or chocolate crêpe. You can also choose each option individually ‘a la carte’ if you want to pick and choose what you’d like.

We decided to get both options and share as we found it to be the best bang for our buck!

The Angelina Experience

Beyond its delicious food and drink offerings, Angelina also offers visitors a unique and unforgettable experience. From its elegant Belle Epoque decor to its attentive and friendly staff, Angelina embodies the charm and sophistication of Parisian culture. Whether you stop by for a quick pastry and coffee or stay for a full meal, Angelina's atmosphere is sure to transport you to a bygone era of French elegance and refinement.

If you're planning a trip to Paris, a visit to Angelina is a must for any foodie or chocolate lover. From its iconic hot chocolate to its delectable pastries and desserts, Angelina offers a taste of the best French cuisine offers. With its elegant decor and attentive staff, a trip to Angelina is more than just a meal - it's a true Parisian experience. So why not indulge in a little luxury and sophistication on your next trip to the City of Lights?

PRO TIP: After consuming in the tea room/restaurant, you’ll get a card with your receipt that will provide you a nice discount to buy from their shop as you exit. We recommend getting some macarons or hot chocolate, as these are great souvenirs and have a good shelf life.

WHAT TO DO, EAT & SLEEP: EZE, FRANCE

Traveling in Eze, France

Eze is a charming medieval village located in the Southeast of France, between Nice and Monaco. The village is known for its stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea, its narrow cobblestone streets, and its beautiful architecture. In this blog post, I will share with you the top things to see and do while traveling in Eze.

Exploring the Village

One of the best things to do in Eze is to simply wander around the winding streets and alleys of the village. There are plenty of hidden corners to discover, beautiful houses to admire, and stunning views to take in. The village is small enough to walk around in a few hours, but it’s easy to get lost in all the charm and beauty of the place. You can visit the village’s main square, Place de la Colette, and the beautiful 12th-century church, Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption. The church is one of the oldest buildings in the village and is an excellent example of Romanesque architecture.

Visit the Exotic Garden

The Exotic Garden is one of the main attractions of Eze. It’s located at the top of the village, offering panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding countryside. The garden is home to a variety of succulent plants, cacti, and other exotic species, making it a unique and beautiful place to visit. The garden also has a small museum showcasing the village's history and surroundings. You can take a guided garden tour to learn more about the different plants and their origins.

Beaches and Hiking Trails

Eze is located on the French Riviera, so it’s no surprise that plenty of beautiful beaches are nearby. You can take a short drive to the nearby towns of Beaulieu-sur-Mer or Villefranche-sur-Mer to enjoy the sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea. If you’re more of a hiker, plenty of hiking trails in the surrounding hills offer stunning views of the coastline and the countryside. One popular hiking trail is the Nietzsche Path, named after the famous philosopher who walked the path in the late 19th century. The trail offers breathtaking views of the sea and the surrounding landscape.

Visit the Perfume Factory

Eze is also known for its perfume industry, and several perfume factories in the village offer tours and workshops. The most famous of these is Fragonard, a family-owned perfume company that has been operating since 1926. You can take a guided tour of the factory to learn about the perfume-making process and the company's history. You can also participate in a perfume workshop, where you can create your own signature scent.

Places to Sleep

There are several options for accommodations in Eze, France. One popular option is the Château de la Chèvre d'Or, a luxurious hotel in the heart of the village. The hotel offers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding countryside, an outdoor pool, a spa, and several on-site restaurants. Another option is the Hotel Hermitage, a boutique hotel in a restored 14th-century building. The hotel offers comfortable rooms, suites, and a rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the village and the sea. Additionally, several vacation rentals and bed and breakfasts are available in and around the village.

We stayed at Château d’Eza, which was lovely! Because of how small the village is, cars aren’t allowed for those that are not residents, so we needed to park at the bottom of the village. The hotel had a small venue where the valet greeted us and explained where we had to go to reach the hotel. Once we arrived at the hotel, they greeted us with a welcome cocktail on the terrasse with an incredible view of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and Beaulieu-sur-Mer, and on a clear day, you can even see Cannes! They even upgraded us to a lovely suite with a hot tub and two working chimneys!

We then had dinner at their restaurant, which I’m surprised doesn’t have a Michelin star because it is definitely worth it! The dishes were pieces of art and tasted amazing. Breakfast was also delicious and had everything you would expect from a hotel breakfast, except cereal and yogurt, which they do have; they just forgot to bring mine. 😟

Restaurants

There are several great restaurants to choose from in Eze. One popular option is the Château Eza Restaurant in the Château Eza hotel. The restaurant offers stunning panoramic views of the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding countryside and gourmet French cuisine. Another option is the Chevre d'Or restaurant in the Château de la Chèvre d'Or hotel. The restaurant offers a Michelin-starred menu and a beautiful outdoor terrace with sea views. Additionally, there are several other restaurants and cafes located throughout the village that offer a variety of options for all tastes and budgets.

I recommend the Le Nid d’Aigle, as it is open in that awkward time after lunch and before dinner when most restaurants are closed, so you don’t need to rush to find something to eat as they offer amazing dishes and snacks, even though the waffles seemed to be a hit, I was pleasantly surprised with my boeuf Bourgignon.

Eze is a beautiful and charming village that offers something for everyone. Whether you’re interested in exploring the winding streets and alleys, visiting the exotic garden, or soaking up the sun on one of the nearby beaches, Eze has something to offer. So, if you’re planning a trip to the French Riviera, make sure to add Eze to your itinerary!

Check out my Instagram for more photos and videos of this magical place!

CUEVA VENTANA & ARECIBO RADIO-TELESCOPE

If you want a day trip away from the sun, then you can venture off to the center of the island and visit the world's largest radio telescope and a cave in the center of Puerto Rico, Arecibo.

The 130km drive takes around 2 hours from San Juan and 2 hours and a half from Rio Grande, depending on traffic. It is a lovely drive along Puerto Rico's mountainous system with some great coastal views as well.

I recommend visiting the Observatory beforehand not to be rushed as it closes earlier than the cave. At certain times they have a VIP tour which allows a visit into the control room and along more of the premises for an extra cost. Their opening days vary so check beforehand, but General admission costs $12.

If you have an extra day in the area, you can visit the Tanama River and even do some adventurous tours such as rafting and more.

NOTE: A COUPLE OF YEARS AFTER HURRICANE MARIA THE RADIOTELESCOPE OF ARECIBO CLOSED DOWN BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT FUNDS TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE CASED BY THE HURRICANE.

HOW TO MAKE BRANDED CONTENT - COMMERCIAL IMAGES

HOW TO TAKE IMAGES FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSES

Let's say you or a friend have started a new business and want to create some nice branded content to post on social media. Or maybe you're aspiring to become an influencer and want to build your portfolio and skills before reaching out to brands.

Whatever the reason may be, here is a quick guide on how to take high-quality images of products for commercial purposes.

STEP 1: THE CONCEPT

• Select the item you want to sell.

• Brainstorm ideas of concepts to shoot using that item.

• Make a plan on how, when, where, what do you need to complete this vision.

STEP 2: THE PRODUCTION

• Execute your plan! Take the best camera you can get your hands on and shoot the item(s). The most important thing to think about is that the item is in clear focus.

• You can create many different "scenes" changing up the background and props and use these images at a later date when needed.

• Edit the image using a photo editor such as Snapseed, Photoshop or Lightroom to make the image look more polished.

STEP 3: THE AFTERMATH

• Be sure you brush up on Trademarks and Copyright licensing and make sure you have the permissions necessary to publish, promote and/or profit off of their brand in your image in the case that you are showing visibly recognizable logos.

• If you’re using a model, be sure to get a signed release form, even if it is your sister.

• If your image is of exceptional quality and contains no logos or branded materials showing, then you can sell it as a stock photo online! It won’t make you a lot of money but it’s always great to have passive income coming in.

TIPS:

• NICE LIGHTING - Make sure there is strong lighting as it will definitely make or break the image. In-camera flash tends to look amateurish so try to use natural light or external light sources strategically placed. When in doubt a safe bet is to try to light diagonally (around a 50 degree angle) from the subject as to have some soft shadows to give dimension.

• GOOD COMPOSITION - This is the most important as it can make or break the image. First, try to have in mind what the purpose of the image is. Is it for Instagram (vertical-portrait) or a Facebook Cover image (horizontal-landscape) and set your camera up accordingly. Are you going to write a text on it? If so then be sure to leave a lot of empty-negative space.

• USE PROPS - Interacting with props will completely elevate the image and make the promotion feel a lot more natural. Make sure that there is nothing in the image that can be a competing item from a different brand.

• SPOTLIGHT ITEM - Choose one item to take the spotlight and try to highlight that item. Make sure that item is clean, pressed, and in good conditions as it will be harder to edit out any imperfections later on.

• CHANGE IT UP - Change up the angle or the items your photographing, the colors, the fabrics, the models, the location, the arrangement, go up, shoot from a low angle, change anything or everything up to get a nice variety of images to choose from. This is a typical mistake beginners make as they are stuck in their own heads and won't let the shoot flow naturally.

• EDIT TO THE BARE MINIMUM - And by this, I mean edit in both senses - select only the best images and enhance the image to make it look its best without over-processing it.

The images below are an example of different images for the same campaign. This was a campaign shoot for the nail color but it can also be used for the roses. The whole photoshoot took around 15 minutes to set up and photograph using items I already had at home. Since it was unplanned, I didn’t iron the sheets which can be a bit of a distraction to some viewers so I added a little vignette to darken the corners and give it a ‘dreamy’ vibe.