I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Vienna, Austria, two times so far. First time, on a scorching summer in 2008. Second time, during winter in 2013. And the thing I dislike about winter is…obviously, the cold. While the weather wasn’t exactly nasty, it wasn’t warm either. And since I had planned to visit some museums, … Continued
Thelma and Louise in England Dimuthu and I hit the road. We were Thelma and Louise without the murdering and thieving. Dimuthu was my Sri Lankan sister, my twin. We shared a birthday, but she was young and pretty while I was past my best. We came from places half a world apart, yet we … Continued
I wake up on my first morning in Biarritz, France on a stiff double bed, my forehead sticky with sweat. In the first hazy minute between sleep and wake, I forget where I am. The eight hours I spent on a transatlantic flight bleed into my dreams. I sit upright and scan the room with … Continued
Southern Comfort in the UK. Two things immediately come to mind when I think of Sussex, England: the best fish and chips I’ve ever had and the South Downs. The fish and chips were consumed in the cafeteria of a British Homes Store in Brighton. The memory of the crispy brown batter encasing tender flaky … Continued
It was January and it had been raining for five days. As I walked down the street, shivering in my permanently damp coat, I considered my situation. I had moved from New York to Glasgow, Scotland without a job lined up or a place to live. My boyfriend and I were staying in a dirty … Continued
MARSEILLE, IN BITES GOÛTEZ! I have just had lunch– vin blanc and grilled sardines and carottes à la crème and saucisses pommes parmentier and oranges. One must never drink vin rouge in the Midi, on m’a dit. – Katherine Mansfield, Letters No matter the good, no matter the bad, one thing about life in France, … Continued
How could a place in northern Euroasia fettered by cold air, so soft and warm shows its beauty through exotic building, which scratched with thousand of history, full of meaning, and have value to its own gold in every location? Oh Russia! you be the largest country that greets the world with its beauty. He … Continued
The Ashmolean In 1990, I made my first trip abroad: a few days in Amsterdam, a few in London, with a side-trip to Oxford to see the Ashmolean Museum. That side-trip became the highlight of my time in Europe. The Museum itself, like so many others, is a beautiful and imposing building: an Ionic-columned entrance … Continued
Aside from all of the history and beauty of Granada, there is one more thing that makes it unique……FREE Tapas! Granada is one of the last spots in Spain in which tapas are served for free when you order a drink. Tapas come in a variety of sizes and can be hot or cold. And, … Continued
The French, they love their food. You can see this in the quality and freshness of the ingredients they use to prepare their meals. They don’t cut corners either when it comes to their artisan street food either, but if you know where to look and where to avoid you can steer clear of disappointment. … Continued