Morocco to the Moon lounge will be an interactive installation inspired by the 1950′s universe of astronauts, space monsters and space robots – where kids and adults can explore, get creative and even enjoy an ice cream in a unique way. And when the art fair is over, the Dubai store of Louis Vuitton (did you know that they have a children’s section at Louis Vuitton?) will be selling all the one-of-a-kind Zid Zid Kids items used at the installation….Zid Zid + Yto + LV + Dubai Art = Finally a good reason to go to Dubai:-)

Ps: read here Zid Zid Kids interview on BozAround last year, talking about the delights of a family stay in Marrakech.

MEET CECILIA & THE MERCATORE FAMILY

As I don’t have any kids, I’m going to describe the Mercatore family and how it started. My mother Graça (55) founded Mercatore in 1980 in an old building of a sugar mill in the State of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. She intended to take the woman from the hard and seasonal work of sugarcane fields into embroiderers and seamstresses with a sensitivity to produce delicate and sophisticated pieces.  At that time, she only had Maurício (33), my oldest brother but soon she had Eduardo (31), Maria (28), Me (27) and Luiza (25). We all grew up between lines, needles and cane. The family keeps growing and now he have Tom (10), Raul (7), Francisco (3) and João (18 months). We were all born in Recife, city where I now divide my life with São Paulo.

MERCATORE’s INSPIRATION

Pernambuco is a very rich state in crafts. Our slogan is Bordado a mão em um país tropical, which means hand embroidery in a tropical country. At Mercatore, we are also very influenced by the bright colors that you find in our food, façades of colonial houses and obviously the Carnival. We try to use all this background with what happens in the design world, and make fresh, happy and timeless clothes that will pass on from generation to generation.

THE BEST OF PERNAMBUCO

The state of Pernambuco is really amazing because it combines culture, nature and food. And I would say the most authentic Carnival of the country. The best places to go are: Recife, Olinda and Carneiros Beach.

Ps: I’m not even mentioning the paradise island of Fernando de Noronha, which deserves a whole chapter on its own! In case you make it there, don’t miss a dinner at Zé Maria (it happens twice a week, on Saturday’s & Wednesday’s).

PLAY in RECIFE

1) Oficina Francisco Brennand – Is an open-air museum with a great garden. Francisco is one of the greatest brazilian artist alive and he is very often there (and he is just like Santa Claus). After strolling between art and animals stop at the Café Brennand and taste the best cakes ever. Don’t go back home without buying some ceramics that are for sale in the coffee store. Address: Propriedade Santos Cosme e Damião s/n, Várzea Recife – PE 55. 81. 3453-1326

2) Parque da Jaqueira – This is the oldest park of the city. The gardens were designed by the master of landscaping Burle Marx. Really nice to play with other kids and for a picnic in the shadows of the Jackfruit tree.

3) Parque Dona Lindu – Designed by Oscar Niemeyer, this park is located in front of Boa Viagem Beach. Good place for skateboarding.

4) Livraria Cultura – Best bookstore. It’s right next to a cloister that was transformed in a mall (Paço Alfândega), in the old town.

EAT in RECIFE

Beijupirá – Northeastern cuisine for a romantic dinner Avenida Saldanha Marinho  s/n, Olinda – Tel: 51190-660 (ao lado da Igreja da Misericórdia) 55. 81 3439-6691

Alphaiate – Bar with great food and family friend Avenida Boa Viagem (2° jardim) – Pina  Recife

Wiella – International cuisine Avenida Engenheiro Domingos Ferreira, 1274 – Boa Viagem  Recife  Tel:51011-050 55 / 81 3463-3108

Chiwake – Peruvian Cuisine Rua da Hora, 820  Recife – PE, 52020-010 55. 81 3423-1529

SLEEP in OLINDA

I wouldn’t stay in Recife as it’s a bigger city and Olinda offers many more charming and tasteful small Pousadas (ie b&b). Try Pousada do Amparo or Pousada Quatro Cantos.

SHOP in RECIFE

For artisanal and rustic items, go to:

- Mercado de São José for handicraft and straw baskets.

- Casa da Cultura for hammocks and linen tablecloths.

For design, go to:

Ovo: Clothes and costume get mixed. It’s very fun. (kids)

Osklen: One of the iconic brazilian brands.

Galeria Mariana Moura: One of the most recognized contemporary art gallery in the country.

INSIDERS TIPS

Another great place to go on a family vacation by the beach is Trancoso in Bahia state. I often go there because it is between São Paulo and Recife. The town is very quiet and the beach is amazing. The Uxuá Casa Hotel is a amazing place to stay with the kids, as you have your own house and kitchen. And all the houses face the Quadrado, the heart of the town, where people join to talk, the kids play soccer and there are tiny stores and delicious local restaurants.

Mercatore has their own website, but for now they only deliver in the Brazilian territory. Any international retailers & e-shops reading?!

To visit the stores in Brazil, keep those addresses:

Recife: Rua Souto Filho, 96 – Pina (55.81.33264418)

São Paulo: Rua Oscar Freire, 232 – casa 04 – Jardins (55.11.30623339)

Shopping JK Iguatemi (opening April 2012)

When receiving the award you are asked to answer some questions and pass the award to 5 other bloggers who deserve some sunshine too.

Onto the questions first…

Favorite colour: Bright, soft, tender, striking. I have had the image below on my desktop for a while. Got it from Famille Summerbelle’s blog a long time ago, and it’s the work of artist Miranda Skoczek. I love it, it sums it all for me in terms of colours that move me.

Now…if you really ask me what’s my favourite color… I’ll confess. It’s PINK. Yep, we even have a pink – no, wait… two ! – pink sofas at home in our living room. From a soft Jaipur Pink to a pop Fluo Pink. I love ALL PINK!

Above, my ‘Jaipur Pink’ sofa, the two cows heads we brought from Kerala and some lacquered bowls from Burma.

Favorite animal: The Elephant. The royal, majestic Elephant. The first time I found myself facing a herd of Elephants was in Zimbabwe in 1991, when I was working as a summer student with Air France. And I remember going to this beautiful natural park, faced with hundreds of them passing by. And I cried.

Favorite non-alcoholic drink: Fresh mint tea. But also fresh squeezed carrot+beetroot+apple+ginger juice for bkfast. And fresh lemonade on a hot summer day. Oh, and lots of hot chocolates since we’ve arrived in the Alps this week.

Facebook or Twitter: I’m slowly getting into Facebook, especially as a way of hearing from friends far away, but I feel a bit clueless about it all. There are less than 100 people who Like BozAround:-( I guess it says it all! I don’t go as often on Twitter. But I know I should if I really want to be a blogger!

Favorite number: Seven.

Favorite day of the week: Lundi matin, l’empereur, sa femme et le p’tit prince sont venus chez moi,pour me serrer la pince. Comme j’etais partie, le p’tit prince a dit…puisque c’est ainsi nous reviendrons mardi. Mardi matin, l’empereur, sa femme et…. Short answer: it depends.

My passion: exploring. ideas, the world, people’s minds, bookshops, hidden corners..

Getting or giving presents: both! equally! in no moderation!

Favorite pattern: the ones on Rio’s sidewalks

Amalya in Ipanema

Favorite flower: Tulips, any colors.

Onto my nominations…And the Sunshine Award goes to…

I confess, I am not someone who spends a lot of time reading blogs, simply because I find myself always running after time. However, I do it in waves and when I do it, here are five blogs I always take time to explore. By the way, there are many more but they’ve already been nominated!

- Meghan at DesignTripper: I just love Meghan’s eye. Everything she spots, I wish I could fly to and experience it for myself. The perfect blend between travel & design.

- Yolanda at Travels with Clara (and also at Momfilter, but does it qualify as a Blog?): Feels we’re so likeminded when it comes to family travel. I’m excited to have just booked our Easter week in Tuscany at that palazzo Yolanda raved about last week.

- Julie at Once, in Marrakech: Julie’s blog brings me the warmth of North Africa that I often long for.

- Anne at Pret A Voyager: she does not know it but I am a big fan of Anne’s blog about travels & design. And I love that she is based in my hometown yet I always manage to learn new things about Paris (still laughing from the Paris swimming pools recent post!).

- Julie at Famille Summerbelle: while the above focus more on travels and culture, I can’t help mentioning Famille Summerbelle’s blog, although you’ve heard me talk about it many times on BozAround. Julie can spot the best in design, be it in the children’s world or the wild wide world.

ImagineNations are whimsical worlds, decoupaged by hand with recycled materials on vintage globes. Each work of art is a one of a kind, custom designed, creation. 

Recently, Wendy started selling DIY kits too, where you can create your own globe with photos of the family, your pets, your travelling desires… A more economical approach to her work, and a great gift idea.

I am soooo pleased with my new purchase, for the nano price of 22pounds at Gap UK, or $29.99 at GAP USA.

Super light, soft leather, sweet colours, beautiful price and they even come with a little leather travel pouch (Yes, i have a thing for filling the suitcase with items in a travel pouch! read here for another travel essential in a pouch)

L’ile de Ré is a great place to come with children. It’s very difficult to drive on the island, yet happily it’s an excellent place to cycle with purpose-built cycle paths running all over the island. So number one we’d recommend renting bikes. With many cycle rental shops (who all cater for families) to rent your vacation bikes, getting around is both fun and damn good outdoor exercise for everyone! We’d also highly recommend renting a gite or apartment. Beside the benefit of additional space, L’ile de Ré is a great place to develop your culinary skills! There are great fresh food markets, fishmongers and butchers as well as many supermarkets. We’ve enjoyed many more great meals eating in than in restaurants!

Other than that, I’d just say Explore – there is so much to do and see on the island

PLAY on ILE DE RE

Our children love sitting on the trailer at the back of our bikes as we race around exploring the island. We usually go to the long white sand beach at Bois Plage to relax while they build sand castles. In the town of La Flotte activities for children were available all Summer. We enrolled our children and their cousins in a Sand Castle competition. It was so funny as most parents were enjoying the process even more than their children!

As we stay in the town of La Flotte, we can walk for 5 minutes to the centre where you find ice cream shops at every corner. We stop at La Martinière and order an ice cream à la fleur de sel (local delicacy). Opposite is the merry-go-round and 100 meters away the playground.

We love to cycle to the town of Saint Martin, say hello to the donkeys wearing pantaloons, go for an ice cream on the port and for a tour of the carousel in the little fair ground. We love going to this particular carousel as it is very beautiful and the guy in charge plays good music, offers free wifi (a clever bonus for the parents!) and is very funny.

If the weather is poor (and you don’t fancy a windswept walk along the beach!) then you can always head to La Rochelle and visit the town or the excellent Aquarium. It only takes 15mins to get there (from La Flotte) so it’s an easy last minute decision. Although be warned – crossing the bridge back to Ile de Re will cost around €16.

EAT in ILE DE RE

Our favorite restaurant with the family and children is Les Pieds dans L’eau. The produce is so fresh and the crèpes are the favourite dish for the children.

La Baleine Bleue in Saint Martin. Lovely food and great view of the port. Just a little expensive. Great for a romantique dinner.

For ice cream: La Martinière in La Flotte and Saint Martin de Ré. The choice for flavours is immense (20 different kind of sorbets and 33 different flavours for ice cream!). They also do delicious gauffres et crèpes (In Saint Martin). I also love the packaging and the design of their shop. A real pleasure for the eyes and the mouth!

SLEEP in ILE de RE

La Maison Douce in Saint Martin. Beautiful French chic interior filled with vintage finds.

Our friends stayed with their 2 young children in the Hotel Sénéchal in Ars en Ré. They really enjoyed their stay as it is very relaxed, right in the centre of Ars and they also have a swimming pool.

For a budget stay with the family, I would recommend L’Hippocampe in La Flotte.

As I mentioned above, if you are going to spend a week on the island I really advice you rent a villa with a pool as it’s the best way to relax with your family and friends. There are a wide range of houses to rent on the island. Just book in advance.

The island is at its best during April until November. I would avoid going during the Summer months as it gets really busy over July and August (it’s a favourite with Parisians!).

SHOP in ILE de RE

There is not a lot of shopping to be done on the island, although there are a few nice boutique shops in both St Martin and Ars en Re. Funny as it sounds, the best thing that you can buy on the island is salt! L’ile de Re is famous for its salt flats (another great thing to go and see) and the rock salt (Fleur de Sel) is absolutely amazing. A great reminder of your trip every time you sit down to eat.

SMART TIPS

- Choose a gite/villa/apartment over a hotel rental.

-  Hire bikes. It’s the perfect way to get around.

-  Try the fresh produce in the markets

-  Have an ice cream a day. It’s soooo good.

The best place to find Famille Summerbelle online is at their e-store www.famillesummerbelle.com. Or there are stockists in most major cities around the world. Send them an email so they can direct you to your nearest boutique.

I first saw this photo on Zid Zid Kids blog. Love it!

Amalya’s new favorite soft toy is a little camel courtesy of Oman Air. Marcelo’s new favorite book is Mary Pop Osborne‘s Season of the  sandstorms…

And the family’s new favorite movie is The Story of the Weeping Camel. Have you seen it? (it’s from 2004). It’s of the narrative documentary genre. You can buy the DVD here or on your local Amazon.

I’ve just seen it for the first time with the children, and we were all captivated by the enchanting story. A mother camel rejects her white baby camel at birth and refuses to nurse him. The villagers, a family of herders in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, use an old trick. They invite a violinist to perform and to sooth her feelings. It works (all ends well!) and the melody bring her closer to her calf. It’s beautifully shot (the Mongolian landscapes are stunning), it’s easy to understand without too many dialogues (Amalya who is not 3 yet loved it as much as all of us), and it’s a moving story.

Here’s an excerpt:

Highly recommended for a family movie night at home…

Ps: Did you know that Llamas, Alpacas and Huanacos are part of the camel family?! Yep. I found out recently, and I looked really smart when I told Amalya and Marcelo.

Ps: Did I mention that I dream of going horseback riding in the Mongolian desert one day? If you’ve ever been there, please share your story x

So we’ve been enjoying a few family week ends away in the English countryside, and one I really wanted to share on BozAround was at Babington House. It was a spur of the moment, as this hotel is always full and you need to book months in advance to secure a family room. But we tried our luck for a last minute cancellation, and it worked. If you have any intentions to go in 2012, I’d recommend you call them now.

Babington House is set in 18 hectares, in the heart of Somerset, not too far from the historic town of Bath (although we loved it so much, we never left the property to visit Bath. Shame on us!). It’s a 3hour drive from central London.

It’s the type of hotel where everything is suited to a stay with the children, without it being ‘in your face’, which is exactly the way we love it, don’t we? The family suites are duplex-style, with a huge bathtub, playstations hidden in the cupboard, beautiful wooden babycots if required, and of course, the whole range of organic bodycare for babies and children from the Cowshed line. The swimming pool is really big, indoor and outdoor, warm water, wonderful. There’s a cinema room with popcorns and movies for the children. There is a complimentary dinner for the children every day in the restaurant at tea-time (a very English concept, this tea-time!). And if you wish to have one-on-one time with your sweetheart, you can leave the children for 2 hours at a time at the little kids club where daily activities are organized, such as face painting, lego building etc..

Photo below, left, is the kids club cottage. And right, is snack hot choco time.

We actually did not get one of their family duplex, as we stayed in the independent cottage at the entrance of the property. It turned out perfect ie. the best of both worlds. We had the services of a pampering hotel with delicious breakfast served in the morning and daily maid service, and at the same time the freedom and independence of our own place with a kitchen, a garden, and plenty of space. There are 3 bedrooms in the cottage (including one with bunk beds), but it’s worth saying that the master bedroom on the first floor can be noisy for the light-sleepers because it faces a road where cars do pass…(when life is perfect, you do tend to notice those little imperfections!)

Photos of our sweet cottage, inside and outside.

and that’s where we discovered the recipe for Green Eggs and Ham…

There is a good range of outdoor activities for when it’s not raining, such as cycling, playing football, taking beautiful walks, horseback riding nearby…But it;s highly recommended to bring the wellies. And of course, the famous Cowshed Spa, which originated at Babington House. Btw, they are famous for their pregnancy massage in you’re in for a real treat.

Do you have a favourite English place of stay? If the weather continues like this, we might keep on exploring around London rather than flying away…

So…I am so grateful that Rosie Flo’ suggested we do a little GiveAway on BozAround. The first ever.

Rosie Flo’s is a small home grown business in the UK designing and publishing a series of Oh-How-Lovely colouring books for children. They have a new one out, titled Little Rosie Flo’s ABC Colouring book.

All you need to do to win 1 of 5 ABC Colouring Book is:

tell me which destination inspired you the most on BozAround trip around the world. Click here for a refresher on where we went. And we’ll pick (at random. promise) the 5 (best!) answers…(Just kidding. It WILL be random picking.)

You go now..

Meet Tara & Her Zoros

Hi. My name is Tara. I am Swiss/Canadian and along with my French/Swiss husband JD and our three children/my Zoros:  Zoé (10), Rose (8) & Oscar (5) we moved to Singapore a year ago from Geneva, Switzerland. This is our first family expat experience and we are trying to make the most of our time here. Back home in Geneva, I was a fashion buyer and for now I’m an Expat Mom & Wife who blogs about our Singaporean adventures.

Inspiration

I started my blog Zoro Goes East shortly after arriving in Singapore. I realized that I was too lazy to write 20 similar emails describing our new life here. The blog is an easy way for me to keep in touch with family and friends.

Destination: Luang Prabang, Laos

Definitely, one of the highlights of living in Singapore is traveling around Asia. In October, we took a 4 day trip to Luang Prabang, Laos, the ancient royal capital and now an UNESCO World Heritage site. There are no direct flights from Singapore to LP, so we transited via Chiang Mai and spent a night there on the way to Laos.  We chose only to stay in LP because access within Laos, I was told, is complicated, lengthy and can be scary. LP is a small city, with basically four main roads, flanked by 2 rivers one of them being the Mekong. Four days gave us ample time to explore Luang Prabang and to chill. LP has a very relaxed and authentic vibe: a mix of Buddhist temples, wats, monasteries and French colonial architecture. I traveled to LP 12 years ago, worried that it had changed, but really not much has changed, except for the number of hotels.

PLAY in Luang Prabang

My kids loved exploring LP by bicycle, visiting temples, markets and the ancient royal palace. In Singapore, we drive everywhere, so the kids really enjoyed cycling around and site seeing at their own rhythm. We would cycle in the morning, before it was too hot, and in the afternoon take boat rides along the Mekong river and watch the sun set over the surrounding moutains. Don’t miss out on the Pak Ou caves with their 1000 buddhas, about a 90min boat ride trip. To refresh ourselves, we also took a morning trip to the Kuang Si Falls and swam in freezing cold water.  At night, the kids loved taking tuk tuk rides around the city.

EAT in Luang Prabang

Our favorite family restaurant was le Café Ban Vat Sene on LP’s main road. Highlight, delicious bread, undoubtedly remnants of LP’s French colonial past. Menu includes a mix of western and Asian food. Delicious fresh baked deserts too. We also ate at L’Elephant and tried Mekong seaweed, not the kids favorite! However, the restaurant is really charming and serves delicious French and Laotian cuisine.

SLEEP in Luang Prabang

We stayed at the Satri House, the former residence of Prince Souphanouvong, located in the heart of LP. Beautiful, spacious colonial style rooms. 2 nice size pools and an enormous pond where the kids had fun feeding the fish. Super friendly and helpful staff. French manager who looks out for you and makes sure you make the most of your stay. Only drawback if traveling with young children, no connecting bedrooms.

SHOP in Luang Prabang

Our favorite shopping destination was without doubt the Night Market. Every night, around 5pm, the sellers set up their wares. Girls loved buying embroidered pouches, bags and pillows. Every night of our stay in LP the girls and I found some excuse to go back to the night market.

Tips from the road

I keep on reading that LP will open more access routes and therefore make it easier for mass tourism, so my advice is go as soon as possible before the charm of LP is lost. Also, before going definitely check out the dates for the monsoon season – would be a shame if you could not cycle around.

With the long Chinese New Year break this week, I can’t wait to discover where Tara and her Zoros have been this time…to be continued on Zoro Goes East.