Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd president of the United States of America, announced on July the 4th, 1803 to the American public, that their country had just about doubled in size due to the Louisiana Purchase. Of course the residents, living in that vast swath of land west of the entire Mississippi river did not even …
Just a quick notice that the blog has been on a little pause this week, but promises to resume next week from July the 4 th. I am in the midst of chasing sunshine and new adventures on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, Montenegro and the western islands of Greece; Corfu and Cefonlania. After …
Today is June the 14 th, and one year ago to this day I published my very first post. Now a whole year later, and with 122 articles under my pen so to speak, I feel a sense of personal accomplishment. I decided to celebrate the day by making some éclairs caramel au beurre salé(caramel …
The problems of peeing in Paris is an old one I would say, dating back no doubt to the very first inhabitants of Ile de La Cité; the Parisii tribe. Before the installation of underground sewers, I can hardly imagine what people had to put up with; the open sewage flowing through the streets as a …
It always happens each time I return to the states. I am certainly not alone in this, as just about every long-term expat I know goes through the same process of re-acculturation. You might think that it is strange for someone who grew up and was schooled in a certain country’s culture would even have to experience …
Ernest Hemingway was one of America’s most talented and prodigious writers, who despite his immense fame, fought many demons in his life. Recognition for his writing though never seemed to completely satisfy his ego, as an emptiness within compelled him toward wild feats of thrill seeking as if to prove something he held in doubt …
Last Sunday was free museum day and as usual I head to whatever enclave of beauty and art that calls to me. Most often like a homing pigeon, I find myself back at the Louvre, because the whole place is so immensely complex and full of nooks and crannies, that you can go …
Morgan Triplette is a 20 year old student at the University of California Santa Cruz who filed a false rape claim that left her campus in fear and cost the county more than $20,000 in investigative charges. In reading about her I was struck by her immense psychological pathology. As I have said before stories …
Woman Hires Man to Beat Her Up, Then Claims Rape Read More »
It happens every season, winter or summer on Mont Blanc to such an extent , it’s always predictable that several unfortunate persons will meet their death on the pristine slopes on the tallest mountain in Europe. This past week was especially tragic in that 10 skiers, climbers and even a mountain patroller died. From afar …
I am often emotionally moved, and touched to the core by events in the news and this is one of them that I felt compelled to share for my 100th post! Underneath the whole story is a truth in need of being celebrated. Crystal Kelley is a single mother of a 2 young daughters, who …
All of us have months, dates, or seasons that we have associative memories, both good and bad. February is one month that brings back some painful and sad memories, wishing I could just as soon zoom past straight to March. I do not think I am any more superstitious than the average person, but perhaps …
This is the second time that I have been a victim of pickpocketing within a year! Once is already enough! This last time occurred after buying a ticket at the machine in Cité Universitaire RER rail station using my credit/debit card. Last Monday, Paris was still covered in snow as I scrambled in haste to …