Let it snow … in Abruzzo

In mid-December, I had to run out to Abruzzo for some errands. I was out in the town of Ovindoli only for the day – and what an unseasonably warm day it was! There was at least a little bit of snow on the ground, but not that much for December. The ski slopes had…

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I wrapped up my 2019 Goodreads Reading Challenge

Every year I sign up for the Goodreads Reading Challenge, and as the year comes to a close it’s always nice to feel I’ve “ticked the box”. It goes without saying that reaching the self-imposed goal of reading 45 novels in 2019 is far more enjoyable than, say, ticking off my dental cleaning or the…

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A European Christmas market round-up

‘Tis the season … And for me, that means it’s a good time to reflect on some of my favorite Christmas markets around Europe. Because I live in Rome, people often think the city is decked out for the holidays. Sadly, especially in recent years, this couldn’t be further from the truth. To enjoy the…

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Readers rule the (literary) world

“The writer does not and should not have the last word. That belongs to the reader.” —Tobias Wolff Love this quote from author Tobias Wolff. Although I always enjoy reading about authors’ writing process, I do tend to be skeptical when they are too insistent on overall themes and interpretations. Although those may be the…

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Enjoying views over Gdansk, Poland

Whenever I visit a new city, one of the first things I like to do is to get an idea of the layout from the highest point. In most European cities and towns, that means climbing the cathedral belltower. That’s why, on a recent visit to Gdansk, Poland, my family and I raced desperately against…

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Book review: The Masterpiece

This is the third Fiona Davis novel I’ve read. Her novels are ideal for someone like me, who enjoys dual storylines: one historical, one contemporary. It’s a plus that Davis’ novels always include a New York landmark that serves as an additional story protagonist. In her first novel, it was the Barbizon – housing for…

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Getting in the Christmas spirit … in Gdansk, Poland

Last week, I wrote about my Christmas inspiration from (for me, at least) an unlikely source – Vigo, Spain. Immediately after my trip to Vigo, I departed with my family for a long weekend visit to Gdansk, Poland. For years, I have wanted to visit Gdansk. While I always pictured visiting during the summer season…

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Writers in a perpetual dream state

“The good thing about writing books is that you can dream while you are awake.” —Haruki Murakami Love these wise words from brilliant Japanese author Haruki Murakami. After all, a writer will go nowhere without an active imagination. And yes, chances are your favorite author has a tendency to daydream at various points throughout the…

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Getting in the Christmas spirit … in Vigo, Spain

The last week of November found me at work in Galicia’s largest city – Vigo. I’ve been several times in this Atlantic coastal city, although always in late summer/early fall, so it was interesting to see it in the colder months. And it was a surprise to see that Vigo now touts itself as the…

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