Q&As
Jackie Kai Ellis, The Paris Tours
by Joy PecknoldLife is pretty sweet for Jackie Kai Ellis. After studying pastry in Paris, she opened the much-loved Beaucoup Bakery & Café in Vancouver, and she routinely returns to the City of Light to guide The Paris Tours, an intimate walking tour of its most toothsome pâtisseries and chocolate shops. Herein, she sheds light on her travel loves and loathes.
I never have time to watch movies or TV so flights are where I catch up on pop culture so I can pretend to be a little bit relevant. I try to watch as many as possible.
Gastronomical Me by M.F.K. Fisher
I love being at the mercy of the travel gods. It’s beautiful because, at any given moment, you’re exactly where you should be, nowhere else.
I’m known for being a very light packer. I can live off a carry-on for three weeks in two different climates, that’s a special talent!
Land somewhere new and just get lost. I love being at the mercy of the travel gods. It’s beautiful because, at any given moment, you’re exactly where you should be, nowhere else.
On a huge, chartered bus with a tour group that has no interest in experiencing the place to which they’ve traveled.
There are so many different styles, each can be amazing in their way. What I appreciate is when a hotel takes pride in, and works hard towards accomplishing their intent, whether it is luxury; educating others on their culture; or, creating a sense of adventure, home or relaxation. If they do it well, I applaud.
Flexibility and open-mindedness.
Bringing home local specialties, and almost always it is copious amounts of food.
I love journeys that allow me to peek into a culture through their kitchen door, and ones where the beauty of nature overwhelms me.
I’m not a very fearful person in general. However, I can’t swim, so I’m always a little bothered if my lack of ability keeps me from experiencing something.
Julie Child.
I love meeting people along the way, but I don’t often travel well with others.
Fear of the unknown, because in travel, almost everything is unknown.
When I’m bringing ‘hard cheeses’ back from France. Wink, wink. On an unrelated topic, how much do we love French butter?
I took a spontaneous trip to Arizona, landed, rented a car and drove around the state for five days by myself. I explored, swam in shallow rivers, climbed rocks, and watched the sun set over canyons and painted deserts. It was everything I needed.
My camera. And I’m a hippie at heart, so I always take some beautiful crystals a friend gave me.
The world is so big, let’s go!
Follow Jackie on Instagram @jackiekaiellis and Twitter @jackiekaiellis.