Conservatory and Botanical Garden of Geneva

I am a compulsive visitor of parks, so whenever possible, I explore amazing places...

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the Conservatory and Botanical Garden of Geneva located next to Lake Geneva and between some of the international organisations.

The Botanical Garden exhibits collections of plants from all over the world. It has more than 12,000 species, spread amongst groups by themes: rockeries, glasshouses, medicinal and useful plants and it is entirely under organic cultivation.

The Botanical Garden is also a scientific institution, a place of research for scientists from all over the world. There is a herbarium which is among the richest in the world, with 6 million samples...

The dome of the Mediterranean Greenhouse (or Temperate Greenhouse) contains some large trees and diverse species originating from regions with a Mediterranean climate.

The Japanese Zen garden is a small and calm part of the park with a pond and flowering trees.

The Winter Garden, in which there is a panorama of useful tropical plants (Bananas, Vanilla, Cotton, Tea plants….) in a setting that is both sober and aesthetic.

It is the perfect place to stroll, relax, picnic and observe the plants

A walk in the pretty garden with its marvellous pond and waterfalls

All of that greenery is so peaceful and the scenery is just spectacular.

What a dreamy place to spend your day...

My Favourite Beauty Products

I have always been a real beauty products fan! Even before having this blog, I remember sharing beauty tips with my co-workers, friends and family. Whenever I am in a shopping centre, I always go to the perfume shop to check out what is on offer and to sample the latest skincare, body care, lipstick or nail polish.

All these products were bought on promotion (30% off) except for the Tonifying serum - I seriously think we should never ruin ourselves, but instead shop intelligently.

It goes without saying that I would definitely recommend these products!

Lancome Absolue Precious Cells Day Cream SPF15

This cream was in the Lancôme Advent Calendar Sweetheart offered me in 2016. I used this cream for a month to finish the sample jar of 15ml. After the first week, I saw how my skin became brighter, more radiant, finer and better hydrated. It really plumps up the skin to leave it soft and smooth.

Lancôme Advanced Multi-Correcting Eye Balm

I love the smooth texture of this product. I must say I was extremely impressed that it concealed the dark circles under my eyes and it reduced the puffiness under them as well.

Prada’s Iris Eau de Parfum

When I first tried this perfume, I totally fell for its fresh and light scent of delicate flowers like iris or jasmine. I loved its warm iris scent which reminded me of the South of France.

Nuxe Crème Fraîche de Beauté Moisturising Cream 48H 

This day moisturising cream, with plant milks and Algae extract, offers long lasting hydration to my skin. My skin is fresh, soft and supple throughout the day. I love its creamy texture and I also like its smell, a little perfume of orange blossom and cedar.

Méthode Physiodermie Bioarome Skin care - Tonifying serum

Do you want a firmer skin? This Tonyfying ™ serum is excellent. Add 5 drops of Tonifying Bioarome to your cream. Thanks to its exclusive synergy of essential oils and toning plant extracts combined with MEIMA technology, this moisturising and revitalising serum firms the skin and helps it to regain its natural elasticity. On sale at beauty institutes only; I got it from my friend and beautician L.

Parisserie Genève - A unique pastry shop

Hello ladies and gents!

Today, I thought I would share with you a secret address for the most fabulous pastry shop in my beloved city.

Parisserie, opened nearly 2 years ago, is a very small pastry shop which quickly became the preferred pastry shop of gourmets. Their “Haute Couture Pastry” creations are as beautiful as they are delicious: they reach perfection. Parisserie is definitely the equal of any famous Parisian pastry shop. 

At Parisserie Genève, each dessert is unique and prepared with the finest ingredients. Their goal is to turn your gatherings into unforgettable memories...

Some of their cake "creations" change according to the season. So, do not be surprised to see different wonderful cakes than those posted here in my blog.

In one of my recent visits there I took my camera with a mind to put together this review. I hope you like it.

Cake creations with beautiful names such as Mont Truffe, Amour Amour, Désiré, La Parisienne, Red Lips...

And not forgetting the much acclaimed macaroons in many different flavours: coconut, rose, choco-raspberry, lemon...

Biscuits: Sesame biscuits, Fruit Granola Biscuits, Nut mixture

Jam with 100% artisanal production with the finest ingredients: Red berry jam, Orange marmalade, Pineapple and date jam

Parisserie Genève 

Rue Rousseau 1

1201 Genève 

Tél.: +4122 900 17 41

Open Monday to Saturday 10:00 - 19:00

Amores da Cadela « Pura » by Margarida Victória Borges de Sousa Jácome Correia (The Loves of the Pure-Bred Bitch) (Vol. I, 1975 and Vol. II 1995)

The Marquise Jácome Correia was born in Ponta Delgada on 31 March 1919 into a wealthy aristocratic Azorean family. With a childhood dominated by an ultraconservative mother, she grew up almost left to herself and, very early, she clung on to a hopelessly doomed marriage. From then on, Margarida’s life was a constant laboratory of the oddest human experiences, shrouded by the veil of an exotic, fantastic and cosmopolitan romanticism.

Author: Margarida Victória Borges de Sousa Jácome Correia hesitated a lot before publishing her autobiography. She was a woman who had suffered deeply, chained to a society of ruthless prejudices. She dedicated her book to distressed and frustrated beings. She advised “Have the courage to sever your bonds to the environment you live in if it does not suit you. Follow your destiny. The essential is to fulfil yourself.”

My thoughts: Where do I begin? What a memoir! This is one of the most disturbing true stories I have ever read. It's a phenomenal account of a lady who went through numerous dramas in her life, but who never lost the faith in her capacity to overcome the challenges that life reserved for her.

This is the story of the Marquise Jácome Correia, known as Margarida Victória who has been raised in a very conventional way in a noble family where there was very little love. Her family raised her with such strict beliefs and weird ideas. She went to a boarding school in Switzerland, was forced into a psychiatric institute as a mentally unbalanced person, lived in Egypt and the USA. She married a several times and finally found her soul mate later in life. 

I loved this book of confessions written with great lucidity and courage. The writing is fluid and without pretensions. Its tone is conversational, very intimate, frank and terribly poignant. I read it twice in 2013 and 2015. At each reading I was overwhelmed by emotions. I am grateful to this lady for having written her testimony. She is inspiring in many ways. In 2010 Bertrand published a new edition, the two volumes in one book. Within a few weeks the book was sold out. While on vacation, I went to almost every Bertrand bookstore in Lisbon. The day before my departure I found a copy of this new edition. I have translated the synopsis of the book in my words because this book has not been published in other languages. For those who are fluent in Portuguese, I urge you to discover this poignant story - 464 pages of pure joy.