Wandering through Warsaw, Poland

Warsaw, a city that was completely destroyed by Nazi bombs during the second World War, then rebuilt meticulously... can now be visited and gazed upon with surprise. I could hardly believe that some beautiful, medieval style townhouses were only 60 years old...!

The old part of town, in Polish called ‘Stare Miasto’,  is absolutely lovely. While wandering through this part of Warsaw, I came accross many churches, palaces, brides & grooms and… sushibars! With at least 20 Japanese restaurants in town, Varsavians sure do like their sushi!

One of the nicest streets for shopping is Nowy Swiat. Here you will find Sephora, Bally, H&M, Jackpot, Nespresso, L’Occitane, an American bookstore and a very cute deli called Krakowski Kredens. Kredens sells traditional food from Krakow. Their products make great souvenirs!

Besides in Nowy Swiat street, there are not that many interesting shops in the centre of Warsaw I think. Over the last couple of years many stores have moved to big malls in the new parts of town. One of them is Złote Tarasy (meaning ‘Golden Terraces’ in English), selling international brands like Zara, H&M, Esprit, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Calzedonia, etc.

Going out is another story! I went dancing in the Platinum Club and had dinner at Fukier among others. Can't go wrong there! (Blog will soon follow)

For more information, please visit:

Warsaw http://www.um.warszawa.pl/en

Krakowski Kredens http://www.krakowskikredens.pl/index_en.php

Złote Tarasy http://www.zlotetarasy.pl/en

Platinum Club http://www.platiniumclub.pl 

Fukier Restaurant http://www.ufukiera.pl/en 

Elaborate leather bags by Ipa-Nima

A girl can never have enough shoes... or handbags, right ladies?
So now that you've got the colourful purse for a night out on the town, the fancy clutch for a dinner date, a jewel tone pouch for a black tie charity event.... it's time for an elaborate leather handbag (to go, let's say to the office)!

The gorgeous bags shown here are made by Ipa-Nima. By the way, the last two bags are smaller than the other ones (in case you wondered: it's not the size of the photos that is different).
For more information, please visit: http://ipa-nima.com/ or
http://www.ipanima.nl/

Photos courtesy of SO PR for Ipa-Nima.

People... Special bag

Nice bag huh? It sort of toughens up (or balances) the Chanel ballet flats and the preppy shirt she's wearing.

I took this photo in Milan, near Via Montenapoleone. The lady was a bit shy a first, but then posed for me as a true model!

Jewel tone bags by Ipa-Nima

Check out these jewel tone (amber, amethyst, emerald, ruby) bags by Ipa-Nima.... gorgeous don't you think?! I absolutely love them and... WANT them all! 

They're part of the Autumn/Winter 2011 collection which was inspired by Afro-American art and culture in Harlem, New York, during the thirties. The collection is called “Harlem Renaissance”.

I can already see myself dancing the night away.... to some smooth jazz music.... like Miles Davis or Dexter Gordon.... wearing a vintage cocktail dress.... paired with one of these bags!

Ipa-Nima is available through: http://www.ipa-nima.com/ and

http://www.ipa-nima.nl/

Photos courtesy of SO PR for Ipa-Nima

Sergio Mendes at Umbria Jazz

This summer the great Sergio Mendes was performing at the Umbria Jazz festival in Perugia, Italy. His show was actually part of the "Brasilian Night" put together by the artistic director of the festival, 

Mr Carlo Pagnotta. 

Sergio Mendes' lovely wife, Gracinha Leporace, was one of his vocalists. The other two female singers were American, much to my surprise! (They spoke and sang fluent Brazilian Portuguese.) You see them here backstage, preparing for the show. Don't they all look stunning? Wow!

The show was another one to remember, just like the one in 2006, when Italy won the world cup (football). I still get goosebumps when I think of that night... Mr Mendes sure knows how to throw a party!

And Umbria Jazz always creates the perfect atmosphere!

For more information, please visit: http://www.umbriajazz.com