Baby, it’s cold outside…
It’s not just that today’s the shortest day of the year, and that it feels as cold and dark as it’s going to get. It’s not only that in Rome – after a balmy autumn – we’re now experiencing chilly temperatures. The real reason I constantly finding myself humming what has become a Christmas classic…
Read MoreA splendid coastal resort fit for a (Sun) King: Saint-Jean- de-Luz
When we spent a summer holiday in the French Basque town of Guéthary, Saint-Jean-de-Luz was the nearest large market town. It also happened to be an architectural gem, situated on a beautiful bay. I’ve already written about the stunning coastal path we took to walk here, the same coastal path that led us 25 km…
Read MorePirandello in the ER
I had to take my younger son to the emergency room this past weekend. Luckily, we were able to rule out more serious concerns with exams, but – until we got the good news that all was well – we had many hours to spend in the ER. I had thrown into my bag the…
Read MoreGetting into the Christmas spirit … in Madrid
We recently went on a weekend trip. My younger son asked to go “someplace Christmasy – like Vienna or Berlin”. We didn’t set out to dash those hopes, but in the end, we chose Madrid, Spain. The Spanish capital wasn’t selected for its Christmas decorations, but we were pleasantly surprised that it was well decked…
Read More‘Tis the season for books!
It’s come around once again … the holiday season, also known as the perfect time in which to purchase books! It’s also a good time for me to check out books I might not have known otherwise. I’ve already selected historical books for my husband, business and economics books for my older son, and everything…
Read MoreEgyptian splendor … in Madrid
I’ve been a few times to Madrid, but when I was back for a visit last weekend, I was surprised to learn that Spain’s capital boasts an impressive Ancient Egyptian monument. This can be found at the Parque de la montaña, close to the Royal Palace. It is called the Temple of Debod and it…
Read MoreI met my 2018 Goodreads Reading Challenge
A public pat on the back. I finally met a deadline over a month in advance of the due date. Of course, it helps that the deadline was self-imposed, and entirely pleasurable. If only they were all like that … Each year I do the Goodreads Reading Challenge, and 2018 was no exception. I set…
Read MoreZipping around the aqueducts at Rome’s Parco degli Acquedotti
If it’s an early Sunday morning in the fall, there’s a good chance I’m out shivering in some Godforsaken park around Rome for one of my son’s cross-country races. Luckily, however, I do live in Rome, and some of those parks I discover on those early morning jaunts are truly spectacular. This season’s races opened…
Read MoreProhibition-era beer in Utica, New York
On a trip out to western New York last summer, we were staying near then small city of Utica, New York. I’d never been to Utica before, but I knew its Saranac beer (and soft drinks). We saw there was a tour of the Matt Beer Brewery Company and decided to join in on the…
Read MoreA new award for African literary voices
Exciting news that the French literary award, the Prix Orange du Livre, will be celebrating its tenth year by launching a new award aimed at African authors. You can see more in this article (in French). For this first year of the award, editors must submit works that were published between 1 January 2017 and…
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