Blog
"Life is a curious mix of fantasy, experienceand interpretation."
Note to readers: After a three-year hiatus, my blog has relaunched in a new home — on this website. You can subscribe to future posts via RSS feed, or by using the sign-up box below.
How to Borrow E-books and Audiobooks from the Library
An avid reader plots a germ-free escape from coronavirus news.
With Borders Closed to Contain Covid-19, Some Folks Can’t Go Home Again
Stranded in heaven or in Hell, travelers, nomads and expats wait out the crisis in foreign lands.
In Phu Quoc, Vietnam, a Fragile Piece of Paradise
The coronavirus has hurt hotels and left some visitors, Casablanca-style, stranded.
Travel in Asia as the Coronavirus Story Swirls
What’s so difficult to explain to folks back home is how the virus seems to have brought people together, in the face of a remote, but worldwide, threat.
Why the Coronavirus Hasn’t Made Me Cancel Plans
Staying home won’t shelter us from acts of God, terrorists or infectious disease.
Three Paris Markets That Are Worth the Journey
Open-air markets in neighborhoods all over the city are a foodie’s paradise.
Four Basque Markets That Are Worth the Journey
For foodies, the weekly markets of Basque Country provide a window on a rich cuisine traditionally produced at home or on fishing boats.
It’s Piquillo Pepper Season. So Don’t Mess with the Roaster in Tolosa
During harvest time in Basque markets, the pepper roaster and his Rube Goldberg contraption play a key role in the food chain.
Renting Homes in Five of the Périgord’s Medieval Villages
After the day-trippers leave, one can almost hear the echo of centuries past. What varies in each place are the modern amenities.
In Bilbao, a Flavorful Mix of Modern and Medieval
Far less touristy than the more oft-visited San Sebastián, Bilbao offers fine art, exquisite cuisine and a gracious pace.
Tracing a Legendary French Cheese to Its Source in Saint-Nectaire
Strict rules confine the production of this worldwide favorite to a small region in France, where the cows live a pampered life.
Enjoying Besançon Out of Tempo
Long known for its music festivals and 17th-century citadel, this cultural center in northeast France is also an urban forager’s delight.