Dubai’s ‘Venice’

Madinat Jumeirah is the so-called Venice of the Dubai. We were here on our 24-whirlwind race around the Dubai during a short stop-over on a flight to the Maldives. If you’re in the Dubai, it’s worth getting to Madinat Jumeirah for a short wander. We stopped here on our quest to see everything of interest…

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Writing inspiration from Neil Gaiman

Where do I get my ideas from? I make them up. Out of my head. -Neil Gaiman Words of wisdom from the multi-talented author, Neil Gaiman. Although, for those who read Gaiman, I think any reader would be hard-pressed to believe Gaiman’s novels are simply rehashing his own stories and experiences. And that they most certainly originate…

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Medieval architecture and beer in Freistadt, Austria

Freistadt is located in the Austrian Region of Upper Austria (Oberösterreich), the is the largest town of the Mühlviertel region. This used to be one of the last border fortresses on the route leading to Bohemia. Today, it’s just a few kilometers from the border of the Czech Republic. Freistadt has impressive medieval architecture, including…

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Book review: How to be Single

I was looking for a fun, light read, and this book started out quite promising. The author had a great voice in the first pages, introducing a series of women and explaining how these bright, intelligent women living in New York had arrived to their mid and late-thirties without ever having married. The stories explaining…

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A spring day in seaside Sperlonga, Italy

During the Easter weekend, my kids and I had a perfect day in the beautiful beach town of Sperlonga, Italy. I’ve already written about this pretty little beach town on teh Tirrenian Sea, half-way between Rome and Naples. See my earlier post about the resort town once the favorite of Emperors. But my day-long escape…

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Let beach reading season 2016 officially begin…

Over the Easter weekend, I spent a great day in the Italian beach town of Sperlonga. The March day was spectacular, and my children and I had a fabulous time wandering the beach town we’ve visited many times before. We also had fun walking along the wide beach – always beautiful, but even better without the…

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Thermal Tuscany – San Filippo ai bagni

Tuscany, Italy, is a pretty nice travel destination. Every time I go to the Tuscan countryside, I find myself fantasizing about moving to some old, Tuscan farmhouse and spending my time in that peaceful, rolling landscape. My son goes to a running camp in the Tuscan region south of Siena, and I’ve already written about…

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Writing advice from Jane Smiley

“Writing is only one word at a time.” -Jane Smiley Is there any better advice for a writer? And even better coming from the talented novelist Jane Smiley. As writers know all too well, there are no shortcuts. It’s all about sitting yourself down in a chair and pounding out the words. Some days they’ll…

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Prague’s Old Town Square clock

Every hour on the hour in Prague’s historical center, Town Hall’s historic, astronomical clock chimes the hour as the crowds below watch. The astronomical clock, on Prague’s Old Town Square (Staromětske naměsti) stands at the base of the 14th century Town Hall. The clock itself was constructed in 1410, making it the third oldest astronomical…

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Losing the childhood writer in us

“All children ‘write.’ I suppose the real question is why do so many people give it up.” Margaret Atwood How true is this observation? And even better coming from the multi-talented author Margaret Atwood. For what child doesn’t enjoy writing and storytelling? Yet how many give up that passion as they grow older and develop…

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