Jogging in St Julian’s, Malta
For those who read my blog occasionally, you may know I often pack along jogging sneakers when I travel – and particularly when I travel for work. My work days can be quite long, and there’s nothing like starting out early (after I silently curse the dreaded ring of the alarm clock) and heading out…
Read MoreBravo, Kazuo Ishiguro!
To be frank, after last year’s nomination of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan as Nobel Laureate for Literature left me rather annoyed, I wasn’t expecting much to emerge from Stockholm this year. So was I ever so pleasantly surprised to hear that this year’s honor was awarded to fabulously talented and diverse Japanese-English novelist Kazuo Ishiguro. My…
Read MoreTurin’s Egyptian Museum, Italy
I was recently back in Turin to visit a friend of mine who was in Italy for a short visit. I hadn’t been back to Piedmont’s capital in years, not since I lived “in the neighborhood” of (relatively) nearby Milan. Being back was a pleasant surprise, since the city has changed quite a bit from…
Read MoreRereading high school favorites…
With my oldest son in high school, I’ve enjoyed some of the ‘joys’ of returning to some of the old Classics I haven’t read since my own (long, long ago) high school days. Of course, many classics I reread regularly on my own, but strangely enough, for some others I apparently need a little push.…
Read MoreBasque gravestones in southern France
As someone who loves history, I’ve always been drawn to old cemeteries when I visit places. I grew up outside of Boston, and always enjoyed visiting pilgrim cemeteries when I was a kid. In Europe, many of the church cemeteries are quite picturesque and interesting – and this was also true of the little towns…
Read MoreDo you ever need a vacation from the novel you’re reading?
My true problem with reading is that I very rarely give up on a novel. It’s the same mantra I preach to my kids (with varying levels of success). However, sometimes it pays off. My kids’ generation are (sadly?) used to novels that read more like action movies – dumping them in the action in…
Read MoreSummer holidays in France’s Basque country – and beyond
Although I (admittedly) suffer from acute Wanderlust and love travelling anywhere, my main travel weakness is my status as a complete Italophile. However, as a close second, I’m also a hopeless Francophile. These two countries actually have a lot in common, with their strong regional characters that make exploring the various regions a real treat,…
Read MoreMy thoughts will be in Matera for the Women’s Fiction Festival!
I’ve spent many a happy weekend at the Matera Women’s Fiction Festival in the spectacular, southern Italian “cave” town of Matera. After a one year hiatus, the Festival will take place once again at the end of this month, but sadly without me. My inability to attend this year doesn’t mean I won’t be thinking…
Read MoreExploring Narni’s winding, medieval streets
This past summer, my track-and-field-addicted son attended a running camp in the Umbrian hill town of Narni – in central Italy. I’ve travelled a lot in Umbria, but it was my first time in this little village. Picking my son and dropping him off for his camp, I was quite envious he got to enjoy…
Read MoreBook review: Wake
Oddly, I’d had this book on my shelf for some time. I remembered it only after picking it up in French in a French bookstore and being drawn in by the story and the excellent blurbs – before realizing I shouldn’t buy it because I had the original version back home. : ) This novel…
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