Italy | Spain | France
Europe Bound
It’s an interesting stage in life to say the least. I hit that mark in life where the journey starts to slow down in some ways and gear up in other ways. It’s at this juncture where life could, if I let it, become stagnant and mundane. We often hit the ground running...
Feet First
After a long day and a half of travel my feet finally hit the ground of Italia. When I arrived in the Florence Airport I opted to take a taxi rather than a shuttle to the bus depot where I commenced the journey to the small medieval town of San Gimignano. Though more...
Be Still Like Salami
Along the way to town to start my day, I stopped for an espresso and breakfast-local salami and pecorino cheese. It's in this quiet stillness that I have become increasingly aware of the brewing sense of urgency that interupts my ability to fully appreciate the...
Have Car Will Travel
This morning I made my way to the city square to order breakfast-espresso, orange juice and wild boar Ragu with homemade pappardelle pasta (ya I did!) and contemplated the day ahead. Not so still this morning, boar will do that to you. I decided having seen most, if...
Pizzas and Piazzas
I woke on this day more rested than I had in days. I'm adjusting. After a lovely breakfast in the vineyard of freshly baked bread, local sliced meats, tomatoes, olives and strong black coffee I relaxed by the pool. It's difficult to put into words the landscape that...
“Every Goodbye has a New Beginning”
It is my last day in this beautiful vinyard and charming town. I was told that I must not leave before trying the gelato in the towns square-Gelateria Dondoli-also known as "the best gelato in the world". Admittedly, I am not much of an ice cream or gelato lover. I am...
Rooftop Chronicles
As I arrived in the city o Florence the clouds hovered, threatening yet another rain shower. Unfortunately for me, this weather has not been a typical Italian June. That said, I was born in a rain forest so nothing will break my stride. I drop my bags at my modern...
I’ll Cross that Bridge when I Find it
I arrive by train to Venice. From the train station I follow the herd of fellow foreign cats to the water taxi until I reach Basilio. This was the real moment when I became aware of the ridiculousness of my oversized suitcase and hindering shameful abundance of...
Figaro and Other Love Stories
I woke the next morning to the sound of a trolly left outside my door laden with a delightful breakfast of croissants, preserves, and juice. The church bells ring to the tune of "figaro" and it makes me giggle. I fix my plate and an espresso, hop back into bed, prop...
Foodie in the Sky with Diamonds
After a 20 minute walk back over those tiny bridges, two water taxis and a bus ride, me and my albatross finally arrived at the Venice airport. This was one of the most disorganized airports I have ever encountered. A plane full us were herded like cattle into a...
Lost and Found
I wake the next morning with a steadfast commitment to continue to be unfazed by my missing albatross. I made a few calls with little success. The airport said they found it but now the courier has it somewhere in this town, however he did not arrive and they cannot...
Falling Stars
I'm staying in a shared flat and so there is an inevitable feeling of being home. This feeling transcends onto the streets as I navigate with ease through the corridors of old town. I ventured further today towards another beach. Here the surf pounds against the shore...
Stuffed Duck
It was my last day in San Sebastion. I did not feel melancholy. This is my European counterpart and as such it is a home I will surely return to. On this last day I made arrangements to take a cooking course on traditional Basque cooking. Basque cooking, as it is...
In Search of Mona
We left Bayonne by train enroute to Paris. Eric packed a picnic for the journey (he's good like that); ham with truffles, cheese, fresh baguette and Tomatoes with salt. Finally we arrive. They found a girl who was willing to lend me her flat in the suburbs. We go to...
Final Chapter
Every journey comes to an end sooner or later. The impermanence of everything in life has not been more apparent. But what I have found is that it's when we let go and embrace change rather than resist it, the journey unfolds into something far greater than the risk...