Columbus Circle, New York — Leaving the serenity of the Conservatory Garden behind, we’re back on the race course for the grand finale. It is a lovely stretch that trots past the Guggenheim, behind the Met and flows through a perfectly autumnal Central Park. I hope that these folks are able to enjoy it. Though the […]
Across 110th Street, New York — It is incredible how quickly the mood changes when you step across 110th Street and enter Central Park at its northeast corner. I guess it’s no surprise as Bobby Womack wrote the R&B hit about the experience and it’s been used in a couple of films, one by the same […]
Harlem, New York — Last year at this time, we were hosting a couple of German students here in Queens and I thought that a great way to tackle some of the sights of Manhattan would be to tag along for the last few miles of the New York City Marathon. On race day morning, just […]
New York, New York — Last week, I trekked into the city to see the film “An Education” which I highly recommend, but that’s far beside the point. Exiting the theater, a few days of rain had given way to bracing sunshine and the urge to wander over to Central Park was primal. Entering just above […]
Munich, Germany — There are many lovely distractions in Munich on an early autumn morning but my favorite choice remains a stroll through the Viktualien market. The name derives from the Latin for food, victuals. And victuals there are aplenty as well as exotic herbs to spice them up, wines to wash them down with and […]
Munich, Germany — Last week, we finished up our first walking tour of Bavaria and Austria and we were a bit anxious to see what folks’ reactions were going to be. You can plan every trip to the nth degree but you will never know how the whole experience is going to come together until you […]
Olbia, Sardinia — I’m here in repose in our cabin on the ferry bound for Genova and I can’t get the theme music from Looney Toons out of my head. This is not because of some lovely childhood memory. The music was blasting through the entire ship while we boarded and got settled. An odd choice […]
Porto Cervo, Sardinia — Ancient legend tells that way back in 1961, the Aga Kahn was aimlessly wandering the Mediterranean in his yacht and stumbled across the picture perfect bay of Porto Cervo. He liked it, he bought it, he built a luxury resort on it and the coastal culture of Sardinia would never be the […]
Oliena, Sardinia — Here in Oliena, it seems that the femina agabbodora have modernized. Apparently, “a sharp tap on the head with the hammer” just doesn’t cut it anymore. I have always heard that Oliena is Sardina’s true spiritual heart, the village where the Sard’s independent, quarrelsome and reclusive nature is most strongly on display. Yes […]
Luras, Sardinia — We checked into a lovely, isolated B&B the other night, Lonely Planet recommendation, very nice, my compliments. While chatting with the owner, she said that we might want to check out the Museo Etnografico Galluras in Luras. I have to say that they have one of the most unusual exhibits there that we […]