My first morning in Paris, I made a beeline for the Musée d’Orsay — a stunning Beaux-Arts rail station in the late 19th century — that now houses an incredible collection of Impressionist formerly at the Jeu de Paume. The M’O also features special exhibits which are worth seeking out and I particularly enjoyed Marlene Dumas “La Spleen de Paris, an homage to Baudelaire on … Continue reading A Museum A Day in Paris
Bonjour! Did you know that the French say huit jours when referring to a week’s time? There are various explanations but I like the one that mentions Sunday to Sunday “inclusive,” as opposed to “exclusive” weeks (interestingly the more common quinzaine used for two weeks only has one bonus day). I just had the great good fortune to spend a French week in Paris and … Continue reading An Eight-Day Week in Paris
Actually, so long I couldn’t remember where to start or how to proceed. I stopped posting about two years ago due to conflicting emotions about the impact of social media on the places I loved. Jackson Hole — where I live — and the National Parks it abuts could be exhibit A for the downsides of tourists run amok. That being said, travel and widening … Continue reading Hello Again! It’s Been a Minute…
Visigoths, Romans and Moors – Oh My! That was what I wanted to call this post, but for those unfamiliar with The Wizard of Oz, it might have fallen flat – and that would be terrible, for I am on a mission to convince everyone to visit Córdoba and its amazing Mezquita Catédral – just not all at once.
Córdoba is the only city in the world with four UNESCO World Heritage Sites and it is an easy day-trip from Seville by car or regularly scheduled trains. Continue reading “Crazy for Córdoba”
I can’t wait to go back to Seville and spend another week – or even longer! Seville’s compact nature, strategic position on the Guadalqivir river and history dating to the 10th century CE is reflected in the Moorish influences juxtaposed with Castillian, ancient architecture with contemporary throughout this lovely city. Continue reading “Sublime Seville”
While the Alhambra may be its best known feature, Granada has a lively atmosphere (likely due to the large student population) and excellent food. I hadn’t realized until this trip that Granada is the Spanish word for pomegranate which explains why its representation is ubiquitous in this charming city.
Continue reading “Foodie Friday|Granada, Spain”
“There is no greater tragedy than that of a blind man in Granada”
This saying is variously attributed to Anonymous and to Francisco Asís de Icaza, a Mexican poet who lived in Spain in the early 20th century. It is as true today as it was when I first visited 20 years ago. I advise starting your time there with a full day at the Alhambra – the UNESCO World Heritage site that for over 1100 years has reigned over the city. Continue reading “Granada |Postcard from the Alhambra”
I wouldn’t say we saved the best for last; every day of our trip was full of wonders. However, Paro Taktsang, or Tiger’s Nest, is certainly iconic. World-renowned for its breathtaking beauty and its perilous perch, the temple complex sits 3120 meters above the valley floor. We were able to see it from afar and our final day in the kingdom, we rose extra early to begin our trek to see it up close and personal. Continue reading “Bhutan |The Tiger’s Nest”
“Let the trip take us where it will” was the unofficial motto of our time in Bhutan and the advice our guides gave us on our first day. Our travel from Gangtey to Bumthang was a case in point. Not every visitor to Bhutan makes the trek to Bumthang and for good reason: the highway is not for the faint of heart. Early and heavy rains meant that we encountered two major landslides and the five-hour drive from Gangtey to Bumthang (under 200 km) took almost 12. Continue reading “Bhutan | Expect the Unexpected”
Maybe the Beatles had Bhutan in mind when they composed “The Long and Winding Road.” Certainly, the East West highway (and I use that term advisedly) lives up to that description. We spent many hours on serpentine roads with steep inclines and precipitous drop-offs as we traveled up and over the Pelela Pass (11,200 feet) on our way from Punakha to the Phobjika Valley. Continue reading “Bhutan | The Road to Phobjika Valley”
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