Italy: Rome 1st Day

ARRIVING I always find the first day hard and long after flying the Atlantic. Our flight over was bumpy much of the way and true sleep eluded me.  The baggage claim was packed with people, but coming through passport control was somewhat simpler than in the past.  It was an hour from landing until we were in …

Tidy Tidbits: Watching and Eating

VIEWING Still (Apple TV+) This documentary about Michael J. Fox is ultimately a testament to one man’s steadfastness in the face of illness.  Michael J. Fox was a hot young TV star in the 1970’s who then branched out to movies.  He was funny, brash, and always in motion.  It seemed the world was his oyster, until.  As many know, …

Tidy Tidbits: Mostly Local

BOOKNOTES Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson I thought Kate Atkinson’s Life after Life was a tour de force of a novel and I loved it.  I started Shrines of Gaiety about a month ago, read about a third, and then set it aside.  I wasn’t sure I’d finish it, but every time I picked it up again, I read a few …

France: Provencal Villages

Yesterday and today we took a relaxed approach and each day went for lunch and a wander in a small town.  We were sorry this morning to leave our B&B in Avignon, our longest stay.  It was a lovely setting, our hosts were super, and the accommodations met all our requirements! ST. REMY DE PROVENCE St. Remy …