My favorite park in Paris is the Jardin du Luxembourg, which is close to my house; there are some tennis courts, pétanque, chess, all the old school things. I love to go for a run there, but now that I have my son, it’s absolutely incredible—you have pony rides, a little fountain where they have wooden boats with real sails that you push around with a stick. It’s so beautiful. I love to do it with him. It’s like an illustration in a book from a century ago, and it feels so French to me. I also love all the markets in Paris, but my favorite is the Marché Paul Bert Serpette at the Puces de Saint-Ouen; in the tiny little streets there, you’ll find lots of things—knickknacks, fashion, some objets.
Her favorite city break spot might surprise you.
I went on the most incredible trip recently to Mozambique with some friends who have a house there and go all the time. We stayed in Maputo at the incredible Polana Serena Hotel, an historical five-star hotel located in the heart of the city with service like you wouldn’t believe. I was fascinated with the country’s rich Portuguese influence, which pervades the country through its architecture, language, and food. We had memorable meals at Zambi, A Nossa Tasca, and Campo di Mare, where we ate fresh pasta and prawns while enjoying the sea breeze. And I still dream about the crab curry at Manjar dos Deuses. I am a crab fanatic; I know my share of crabs from Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami—I think I’ve cut my fingers a lot on the claws—and this was so simple. Of course, no vacation of mine is complete without some shopping. I stocked up on countless capulanas (sarongs) in a myriad of colors and patterns at Casa Elefante, an expansive textile shop in Maputo, which I brought back as gifts for my friends and family. I love African prints, which are a little like batik, but the fabric is usually very thick and so very stiff. What I really liked there was that they treated them [for softness].
The Mediterranean island you always forget about—but shouldn’t.
I never tire of returning to Corsica. My parents have a house there, and it’s an amazing summer ritual: all the children and grandchildren, with a big garden, and we can go on nice boat trips. The south of Corsica is very different from the north. Next to Bonifacio [in the south], it’s gorgeous, beautiful, and so dramatic—the village is hung from the cliff. They had pirates there, because it’s a hidden harbor. Go to the restaurant called Chez Jules, where the food is typical Corsican: Try the aubergines bonifaciennes. It’s like eggplant parmigiana, but with Corsican cheese, brocciu. The other place I love is Domaine de Murtoli. It’s a huge estate on the water, where you eat by the sea—a mama wild boar might come visit you while you eat.
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.