Views over Washington, DC from the Old Post Office Tower

In a city where buildings are not supposed to be built higher than the Capitol dome, there aren’t a lot of panoramic views over Washington. The Washington Monument is the best vantage point, but the Old Post Office Tower comes a close second. The Old Post Office was built between 1892-1899 in the Romanesque Revival…

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Have library card, will travel…

I am back this summer for holidays in New York, which means … I am putting my long-dormant library card to excellent use. I know, I know. It’s usually the City that never sleeps. Or Sex in the City. Or Shop ’til you drop. But to each, his own. When I’m back in the Big…

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Enjoying the passeggiata in Rieti

I’ve already written about the hillside town of Rieti, in the north of Italy’s Lazio region. You can read my earlier post here and learn how Rieti claims to be the town at the center of Italy. My younger son does track and field, and runs for Rieti’s team. Although he trains in Rome, we…

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Book review: The Hunting Party

I picked this novel up after having read good reviews about it. I liked the idea of a murder mystery set in a remote Scottish hunting lodge, cut off from civilization during a blizzard. This novel started off very well, and kept me quickly turning the pages. Nine old friends – most of them classmates…

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Beach bumming in Bidart

I’ve already written about a great family holiday in France’s Pays basque, and specifically, in the coastal town of Guethary. While there, we would often spend at least part of the day beachside. One of the beaches we visited most frequently was the large, sandy beach neighboring Guethary – in Bidart. We loved battling the…

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Book review: Crazy Rich Asians

Recently, I’ve been reading books I first encountered as movies. Admittedly, if they’re not classics, I’m usually not in a rush to read the novel of a film I’ve seen. However, in the case of Crazy Rich Asians, I’m very pleased I did. I took my kids to see the film when it came out…

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The playgrounds of NY’s Central Park

My kids are “too old” for them now, but over the years, we have spent countless hours in the playgrounds of New York’s Central Park. If you are visiting the Big Apple with kids, I highly recommend that you plan some stops in these well organized playgrounds to get the energy out. Or, if you’re…

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Book review: The Devil Wears Prada

This is one of the book turned movie novels that I’ve only gotten around to reading recently. I enjoyed this movie, but had never thought to pick up the book. I only read it recently, and I’m glad I did. With summer upon us (today!), this is a great summer read. Andie is a recent…

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Cliffside splendor in Moustiers Sainte-Marie, France

This spectacular town of 700 residents, is perched dramatically among the cliffs of the Regional Park of the Verdon. Since 1981, it has been designated as one of the most beautiful villages of France (Les plus beaux villages de France). Although human settlement in the area dates back tens of thousands of years, it was…

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Novels turned short stories

“Lots of short stories are actually the first chapters of novels.” —Pat Barker A nice observation on short stories by a contemporary British novelist. It says something about the lure of short stories, that readers are often left wanting more. Even a short story leaves readers invested in their characters, and sometimes wanting to follow…

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