[ traditional arabic coffee ]

ARABIC COFFEE is all about tradition, hospitality and ceremony. It's a sign of welcome and marks the beginning and end of a guest's visit. Recently we were presented with a lovely gift of a traditional brass Arabic coffee pot called a Dallah.

The Dallah is an important symbol in the UAE and even appears on their dirham coin.

Not to be confused with the thick, dark Turkish coffee, Arabic coffee is called Khaleeji, is paler in colour and is served in a small cup with no handles called a Finjan. It is traditionally ground with cardamom and prepared by adding cloves, saffron and rose water.

The coffee is served and received with the right hand. The host serving the coffee fills the small cup only half full so it cools quickly. As soon as the guest drinks it, the cup is refilled continually until the guest gently jiggles the cup indicating he has had enough {it is customary to take 2 to 3 cups}.

Sugar and milk are never added but it is often served with dates, an extremely popular sweet here in Dubai. Emirates Airlines also serves Arabic coffee and dates on its flights.

Arabic coffee can be served anytime at home, at social gatherings or business meetings. I've only tried it once and found it quite strong and bitter {I enjoy sugar in my usual coffee} but perhaps I'll develop a taste for it now that I have my own Dallah.

lisa

[mine, via camerasandcucumbers, 2, 4 via arabiczeal]

[ paris ]

I'VE BEEN sorting through my pics and thought I'd start off by showing you around the neighbourhood we stayed in. We chose the Latin Quarter in the 5th arrondissement, on the left bank of the Seine. It's a great neighbourhood with lots of cafés and little shops.

Our little boutique hotel was Hotel Henri IV on rue Saint Jacques...

the welcoming lobby had lovely rustic features and was beautifully decorated...

and while the rooms were a little small {like all Paris hotels}, it had everything we needed, including a super comfy bed, well sound-proofed rooms and a charming view out to the street...

Once we checked in, we started off with a sip of wine on a terrace around the corner. I didn't think anyone would be sitting on terraces in November, but they all had heat lamps to keep you toasty...

Here's a sample of what we saw around our neighbourhood...

As you can see from this small sample, it's a lovely area of Paris with plenty to see. My favourite thing was the Pont de L'Archeveche with all the love locks...

Couples come to Paris and put a love lock on the bridge and throw the key into the Seine as a symbol of their undying love...

And so of course we went searching for a lock and inscribed our names and the date on the back...

Now we'll have to come back to Paris to visit our lock!

Stay tuned for the next instalment ~ a peek at the big Paris flea market ~ Les Puces de Saint-Ouen.

lisa

[ shisha ]

ONE THING you will encounter in Dubai are a cornucopia of smells. Strong cigarettes, pungent incense, heavy perfumes and shisha. If you've never heard of shisha before then here's a little introduction.

Shisha is a herbal tobacco which is smoked through a "hookah" water pipe. Shisha cafés are popular here, especially now that temperatures have cooled and more people are spending time outdoors. Most Arabian restaurants also offer shisha on their patios. Shisha consists of tobacco fermented with molasses and fruits and the sweet odour conceals the natural smell of tobacco tar and nicotine. 

 

Smoking the hookah pipe is thought to have originated in India back in the 1500s by a Persian physician who thought that allowing the tobacco smoke to pass through water would purify it, thus lessening the harm of tobacco smoking. It soon became a status symbol for the Indian aristocracy and gentry.

In the Arab world, shisha is part of their culture and traditions. Shisha cafés are a social thing, much like pubs might be to Ireland & the UK and coffee shops to Canadians. Shisha is as popular with women as it is for men and many tourists will also embrace the experience of smoking shisha while they're here.

The perception is that smoking shisha is a healthier alternative to cigarettes with its aromatic smoke produced by fruity flavours like strawberry, cherry, apple and grape and it's attracting young adults who may not usually smoke cigarettes. However, a shisha smoker may inhale as much smoke in one session as a cigarette smoker would with 100 cigarettes. 

So while it may be seen as socially cool, I don't think it's something I'll be embracing anytime soon. And with my highly sensitive nose, it's just another smell I have to learn to tolerate in this highly fragrant part of the world.

lisa

[all pics: google]

[ asian influence ]

WE'VE BEEN seeing more and more asian-inspired decor lately, but today while roaming around in Bloomingdales, I came across a display of throw pillows that add a face to the theme...

From buddhas to royalty, it's a definite shift from the simple patterned motifs that have become so popular. What do you think about adding a face to your decor?

lisa

[ the aran sweater ]

MY GUY just returned from a business trip to Ireland and brought me back this lovely Aran sweater made from soft 100% merino wool...

so that I can look as cute as this {note the denim shirt underneath}...

It's funny because we lived there for 4 years and I never bought myself one!

Aran sweaters ~ aka fisherman sweaters {or jumpers as they're referred to in Ireland} have been around since the 19th century and originated on the Aran Islands, off the west coast of Ireland at the mouth of Galway Bay. Originally they were handknit by the wives of fisherman from undyed, unscoured wool which retained its natural lanolin oil and made them water resistant. 

The sweaters are distinguished by their complex stitch patterns and each have a significance: the cable is said to be a wish for safety and good luck when fishing, the honeycomb is the symbol of the hard-working bee, the basket stitch represents the hope for a plentiful catch, and the diamond a wish of success, wealth and treasure.

Eventually island women began producing these sweaters not just for their families but as a source of income.

These sweaters have seen a resurgence in popularity and have become a fashion must this year, a true wardrobe classic.

The Aran Sweater Market since 1892 on Inis Mor, the largest of the 

three Aran Islands

Looking for a genuine Aran sweater but no plans to be in Ireland anytime soon? Try the Aran Sweater Market online shop!

Of course you can always try to find an imitation at places like LLBean, JCrew, Brooks Brothers, ASOS.com. etc. Either way, you'll still look fashionable...

How about you? Do you own an Aran sweater? Will you be adding one to your fall/winter wardrobe this year?

lisa

[via aransweatermarket; LLBean; models.com; nichollvincent.blogspot; lolobu.com; chictopia.com; stylezen.net; swandiamondrose.tumblr; michaelkors; dailycrush.net; trendymadness.blogspot]