When I am in London, I'm usually in shock. There's not much deep thought happening. I'm too flooded -- concrete facts sinking in the visuals, feelings, stimuli. It's a miracle I manage to get around.
Read MoreIn Edinburgh I'd asked one of our guides if we needed to worry about the "wee midge," the Scottish blood sucking flies that frequent the forests. He laughed and said no.
Read MoreA day in Edinburgh, a drive to Braemar, a visit to a castle.
Read More"Are you here to help out?" he asked. Before the question: "to help?" came out my mouth, I realized, he thought I was the help, the caterer.
Read MoreWe rode the ferry in the dark, same as I had a long time ago, back then I was afraid, but now it feels powerful to be propelled across the water with the moon lighting the way to the other side.
Read MoreI am full of contradictions. I change my mind so many times, and the only conclusion I make, (a trivial one) is that all my heroes are French women who misbehaved -- George Sand, Colette, and St. Therese (in her own way).
Read MoreWe walk from the metro to the restaurant and Paris looks especially beautiful. The sun won't set for hours, but it's like a prolonged magic hour. The way the streets are angled allows the sun to warm the buildings and sidewalks with an amber glow. We approach the fork in the road where the restaurant sits.
Read MoreDays three and four: Giverny, Lisieux, Caen, Bayeux, St. Honorine-de-Ducy.
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