Latest posts
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Cherry Clafoutis
I’m not a great fan of deserts; however, cherry clafoutis is an exception. We look forward to buying fresh cherries and making this delicious tart which is just cherries steeped in Kirsch (a cherry liqueur) and baked in a dense custard with almond meal. Yesterday we caught up with one of the local truffle farmers…
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The Pace of Provence
It hasn’t taken us long to settle into the relaxed pace of Provence. An early start in the morning to the nearest market (the picture is from Gordes), home by late morning, a swim, a glass of wine, and some cooking in the afternoon. It’s very hard to take! Meals have very much been guided…
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Catchup
We spent our last evening in Paris just wandering and ended up at a restaurant we had been to once before – Le Vent D’Armor – and managed to get a table without a reservation. Pretty lucky, since there are only eight. Sunday morning, we were up early to catch our train to Montpellier and…
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Last Day in Paris
It’s Friday, and our last day in Paris. Yesterday we walked through the very classy Montparnasse district and found a restaurant for lunch that is famous for being one of Ernest Hemmingway’s favourite watering holes (there’s a brass plaque at the bar where he used to sit and write). The picture is of a different…
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Notre Dame
After the devastating fire in 2019, the restoration of the magnificent Notre Dame Cathedral is now nearly complete. Walking inside again was something we never imagined would be possible in our lifetime. It was a profoundly moving and unforgettable experience. Monday and Tuesday were wet and cool, but Wednesday was perfect, and we walked all…
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The Last Supper
Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper is remarkable not only for its artistry but for its survival against all odds. Painted directly onto the wall of a convent dining hall, it endured centuries of decay, a doorway cut through its centre (visible as the square section beneath Christ), and even WWII bombings that destroyed the roof…
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Milan
The train from Rome to Milan was fantastic. It’s still very hot, but that didn’t deter us from visiting the Duomo (the incredible church in the picture) before finding an air-conditioned restaurant for a couple of reviving cocktails. Tomorrow, Da Vinci’s masterpiece The Last Supper (the real deal!). In the gallery I have added a…
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Parking in Rome
Bill Bryson’s quote about parking in Italy, which appears in his book Neither Here Nor There, humorously describes the chaotic nature of Italian parking. He says, “I love the way the Italians park. You turn any street corner in Rome and it looks as if you’ve just missed a parking competition for blind people. Cars are…
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Adventures in Rome
Our first day in Rome was somewhat complicated by the fact that our luggage decided it would like to go to Athens for a little holiday all by itself instead (it finally arrived at our apartment last night). So it was that we arrived for our tour of the Vatican Museum wearing the same clothes…
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Our last night on Crete
We have had a wonderful time on Crete. The photograph is of the Venetian fortress of Heraklion, situated at the entrance to the old harbour, which we can actually see from our hotel room. Tomorrow morning we leave for Rome, but I have a feeling we will be back!