Hunters, Game, and Mystery Drawers

I took a tip from Time Out Paris when we were at a loose end one afternoon and decided to visit Musee de la Chasse et de la Nature (Museum of Hunting and Nature). It was recommended as a "Critics Choice" on the site and was, conveniently, only a few blocks from where I was at the time.

It was basically the weirdest museum that I've ever visited.

The strangest part, if I had to pick only one, was the set of drawers that each major game animal had dedicated to them. You could peer into some binoculars in the miraculous set of drawers and see the sort of landscape that a deer might have inhabited. Pull open another and there's some French poems written about a boar. Another small drawer might have footprints of a fox and yet another might have an example of its droppings, presumably to arm you with the knowledge to go animal tracking yourself, should the need arise.

All this, intermingled with a disturbing collection of hunting art (dogs savagely killing rabbits or similar), a French-speaking and animated hog's head, as well as a variety of more modern (but equally disturbing in their own way) hunting works.

Would I recommend this strange museum? I don't think I possibly could but, at the same time, if you ever get sick of art galleries...

Who Wears Short Shorts?

I don't want to ruin the suspense about where my 6 months of travel will take me, so if you hate spoilers tune out now... I'm going to spend Summer in Europe. Gasp.

After my brief time in Paris a few weeks ago, I've been considering what I want to wear this summer and how I can possibly fit in with these chic Parisians. People probably use Pinterest or something for this, right? I don't really know what it's for... Way too hipster.

I've blatantly stolen the photo below from net-a-porter and I'd love to look relaxed and casual but supremely cool as this.

The trouble is that I rarely wear shorts. Maybe this is why people use Pinterest?

Keep Calm And Eat Cupcakes

Can I start by saying that all those "Keep Calm and..." paraphernalia really annoy me? But that didn't stop me using it as a title for this post... I think it works. Judge me if you like.

Everywhere we went in the UK seems to be completely Diamond Jubilee bonkers. There's bunting, flags, and mugs with pictures of the Queen in every shop window and, for me, it was in no way over the top.

I judged the window at The Swallow Bakery in Chichester the best of them all and then had to go in for a delicious treat to celebrate. I picked a Banoffee Cupcake.. Fittingly British and Delicious.

And Before I Leave...

It was a fitting coincidence that the book I received as a birthday/leaving gift from my excellent friend J, should be set in Sussex. I didn't even realise that I was coming here when we left.

The excellent protagonist Flora Poste tries to tidy the lives of distant relatives, who all seem very dirty and live in the darkest depths of Sussex.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen anything like Cold Comfort Farm while I've been here but then perhaps, I've not seen the "darkest depths" of Sussex (I'm heading to Brighton this afternoon, but I don't think that's anywhere near the depths)

I'd seen the movie many years ago and have to say that despite Flora being played by Kate Beckinsale, I still think that it's worth seeing too.

(N.B. background is of my new green(!) jeans)

Man Ponders in Wood With Arm Raised

I loved this statue in Chichester, Sussex in the corner of the Priory Gardens.

The plaque underneath was too worn to read about who he was or why he was in the park, but I'm sure he appreciates that for eternity he is now positioned to face decades of the elderly playing bowls. Pondering which retirement village he might choose...

Rock Out with Your Croque Out

The inaugural post!

We here at Wayfaring Gourmand are very excited to launch the site with a delicious Croque Madame from the Marais in Paris.

Here's to many more delicious meals in the next 6 months!