In my summer series reminiscing about previous holidays and travel both before and during the pandemic, my latest post is on post-lockdown life in one of France’s most sparsely populated regions.
Physical distancing is a way of life in this part of France Read More »
Trying to forget my stomach (for at least one afternoon), we headed further east to genteel Pasadena, where the stunning Huntington Botanical Gardens are located. With the handsome peak of San Antonio rising high into the distance, we needed at least a couple of hours to explore the sixteen themed gardens – and to walk off the Reuben and Skipper sandwiches.
California dreaming Read More »
Lviv’s locals joke about their city being the London of Ukraine. They are not referring to the cost of eating out. The city surprises you at every turn with its attractive restaurants, generously portioned dishes and reasonable prices. But to the rest of Ukraine, the city is known for its rain. A guidebook advised me to bring both my sunglasses and my umbrella, and in the event, I needed both.
The more I’ve read around the subject and listened to lectures, the more I understand there’s a Myth of the Resistance. Sure, millions did resist the Nazis, and there are many reasons French people can stand tall and celebrate this history of Resistance. But there’s something about the June 18th anniversary which doesn’t quite work when you read Charles de Gaulle was seen as rather an oddball himself.
Vignettes in what used to be Vichy France Read More »
I hope this is one lesson we can all learn not just in the midst of this pandemic, but 75 years after Hitler died and 75 short years after (we thought) Nazism did too.
75 years ago (and what suffering might teach us) Read More »
There he was swirling on the patio, filtered by the syrupy light of the last evening sun. Love him as I do, but seeing him, there was the most jarring effect.
The changing light of the sea Read More »
I watch the scene at the top of the tall avenues: there’s nothing. Barcelona is a city of fiestas and insofar as it’s a city of siestas, the difference now is that the sleep people fall into is morose, immoderate.
The tall avenues of nothing Read More »
He looks pointedly at his toes. He has the disaffected air of someone who believes he deserves more sex.
Driving here helps me to forget. I know the route well, with its curves and canyons.
The blessing of the stork Read More »
In Japan, the cherry blossom is appearing. Soon, it will be Easter. A time for rebirth, of sorts. Lets hope we can all feel the promise of better, more colourful times to come.
Storytelling in spring Read More »