Oh, to live the life of a feral cat in Istanbul. To spend languid days bathed in sunlight, and to be fed, coddled by strangers and generally looked after as we wander aimlessly through this wondrous city. But wait! That was us, at least in the seven days we enjoyed exploring the depths and edges of ancient and contemporary Istanbul. […]
» Read moreWith two days left in our six-week stint in Cyprus, now’s as good a time as any to share some parting thoughts about this tiny island of magic, mystery and mayhem. Cyprus’s one million inhabitants enjoy a rich cultural and social history, cobalt waters that caress pebbled beaches along a fascinating and gorgeous coastline, brown and grey wheat and barley […]
» Read moreThe sun continues its inexorable whitewashing of Cyprus as another day greets us on this tiny island of history, mystery and magic. Cyprus is a tiny dot of an island in the Mediterranean whose capital, Nicosia, is the last divided capital in Europe (under Cypriot and Turkish control, marked by a border crossing that splits a major shopping avenue). The […]
» Read moreHalfway through the woefully under impressive but wildly amusing meal at Ristorante da Vinicio, Gabi put down her fork. “It’s like being in the Italian version of Fawlty Towers,” she said, causing me to pass half a teaspoon of tasteless red wine through my left nostril. I choked back the laughter and acknowledged her perfect assessment of a mediocre dining […]
» Read moreThe passion of Cinque Terre – with its stunning vistas, quaint towns, friendly people and incredible food – brought us to its shores. But it was the hidden gems we discovered that will remain as iconic memories of this magical place. Long a tourist mecca in northern Italy, the five hamlets have been thoroughly strolled, hiked and, in summer, stampeded […]
» Read moreNoah’s guests arrive two by two. Some come in four-by-fours. Some come on foot. And some on wheels. They pour into the Ark by the boatloads. Not to escape from the floods, but to take a gander at the panda. And to browse among the cows. And to stare at the bear. Not since our visit to the flying chicken […]
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