Looking forward to my visit to the French Riviera later this year, I got lost in Carson Ting's lovely stream of holiday snaps from Nice. This one in particular caught my eye as it's market day today in my neck of the woods. As nice as our farmers markets are in the San Francisco Bay Area, I'd rather be at this one right now, in the South of France!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Carson Ting - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Nice, France ★
Photo courtesy of Carson Ting

I haven't eaten a hot dog since I found out what's in 'em. And I must say, miss 'em I do not.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Amine Benboubker - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Paris, France ★
Photo courtesy of Amine Benboubker

Yikes. Now that's a food fight! I only hope the photographer's camera survived, sans stains. Tomato bits seem like they'd be a B to get off a lens. To say nothing of attempting to remove the inevitable, lingering tomato smell! Yuck.

Ah, Tomatina.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - flydime - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Buñol, Spain ★
Photo courtesy of flydime

When in Italy, more than pasta or pizza and sometimes, dare I say it, even more than gelato, I crave bruschetta! Yes, bruschetta.

A good bruschetta can be great. So I learned at the little restaurant in Forio on the island of Ischia at La Mortella. There was no reason why it should be anything special, but the bruschetta there was, in a word, spectacular. All of the elements were fresh and bursting with flavor. It was so good, in point of fact, that my friends and I had to have a second order. We couldn't get enough of the stuff and I've never had another anywhere, not even elsewhere in Italy, that was so damn good. Though I keep testing, tasting, and hoping.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - pixxiestails - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Southern Italy ★
Photo courtesy of pixxiestails

This kid has the right idea! I'd like to take a big bite out of these super big macarons, too!! And what an adorable photo. Doesn't get much cuter than that, I think.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Petit Ming - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Paris, France ★
Photo courtesy of Petit Ming

She seems to be managing just fine, but I think she'd be more confortable cooking with a hands-free Bluetooth Borg'd to her ear.

And did anyone else catch the typo? It should be crêpes.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Lindsay1 - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Paris, France ★
Photo courtesy of Lindsay1

A lovely evening in Paris with a delicious view to dessert. No wonder these men are smiling.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - pixelrolf - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Paris, France ★
Photo courtesy of pixelrolf

I'm inspired to take a break today from the scenic Seine shots and views to La Tour Eiffel in favor of a little flavor, or six. As prettily pictured above. If you're not familiar with French macarons, you really need to get with the program. They're little bites of crackly, chewy heaven and the best are from the house of Ladurée, founded in 1862 in Paris, which created this part cookie, part cake, ganache-filled all-crack treat at the turn of the 20th century. If you've had one or when you finally do, you'll understand the reference to hardcore street drugs. And while there are other reputable dealers in French macarons, both inside the confines of Paris and around the world, I've never had anything nearly so delicious or addictive as at the source of genius, Ladurée. No trip to Paris should be without a hit, I mean a handful, of macarons from this historic Parisian pâtisserie.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - neonriot - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Paris, France ★
Photo courtesy of neonriot

If you've never had fresh pasta, you've never lived. Truly! I wish I had the skill and patience to make my own, but it's probably for the best that I don't. I have a problem with portions. Particularly when it comes to fresh pasta. I want to mangia mangia it all!

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - Rossella Rebonato - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Italy ★
Photo courtesy of Rossella Rebonato

I consider this very vivaca because you can't get these treats outside of Europe. These are a selection of the famous macarons from the house of Ladurée; a Paris institution founded in 1862. Until recently I thought that macarons in the States couldn't compare, but then a coworker introduced me to the sins of La Boulange in San Francisco. Oh là là! We did a taste test of all flavors on offer from both Miette and La Boulange and La Boulange won; no contest. Not as good as Ladurée but a damn fine substitute. And far more affordable than jetting across the pond to get your mac on.

Your comments on this image are welcome, and encouraged! And a question for the photographer - cocoinzenl - if s/he is so inclined: Is there anything special about this moment, day, trip, or place beyond what you've shared on Flickr that you'd like to add or comment on here? Along with other vivaca visitors, I would love to know more!

Location: Paris, France ★
Photo courtesy of cocoinzenl