Why I loved Nagasaki
Nagasaki was unexpected. Perfect for wandering, uncrowded, with great food and shopping - plus a delightful welcome at the port! It boasts Japan’s oldest arched bridge, and a garden which inspired Puccini’s Madame Butterfly.
An Apartment in Florence
Thoughts on staying in an apartment in Florence above the San Lorenzo Markets. Of course food became a central part of the stay, with the Mercato Centrale just around the corner. Plus the place came with a clothesline hanging out the window.
Memories - A Poem
A poem, Memories, from my collection Songs of a Sad Summer
Eating Japan.
Japan is a land of contrasts - which is reflected in her food. From a traditional breakfast to a meal from a vending machine; instant noodles to a deer curry, not to mention the green tea ice cream: each meal offers a new adventure.
As Salty as the Mediterranean - Not
As I muse on how much salt to add to the water when cooking pasta, I manage to contemplate two of my favourite foods: pasta and coffee.
Mont St Michel
Against the darkness Mont St Michel rose from the sea, unchanged from medieval times when the island became a mystical emblem of the heavenly Jerusalem, an earthly image of paradise. By day the place may be filled with tourists, but stay on the island overnight and you step back in time.
Le Vieux Paris
Where else to begin exploring Paris but where the city began? Walking through the Île de la Cité covers some 4000 years of civilisation, from when the first Gauls settled here, to those living statues who pose each day outside the Notre-Dame for tourists.
Travels With an Epicurean Zombie
When the zombie apocalypse arrives, why not embrace it and enjoy some food along the way, while travelling the world?
My Computer on Holidays
Musings on how, after being unplugged and put to one side for a while, my computer decided to work again - well, enough not to need to a visit to a computer doctor. Had it just needed a holiday?
The God Shot
My search for the God Shot - the perfect espresso. Of course it was in Italy (Naples, to be precise).
Memories of a year gone
Musings on the passing of another year, on the new adventures I made as well as the trusted paths I walked.
The Cave of 1000 Buddhas
The Cave of 1000 Buddhas, where old and worn statues go to retire, is a short boat-ride away from Luang Prabang, Laos.
Five Types of Coffee
Five different types of coffee, from my tastings as I travel, from Rome through Naples and into Vietnam and Japan.
Memories of Hiroshima
Images and thoughts from a visit to Hiroshima on a rainy day