The first time I heard of the Alhambra and saw a photo of it in a book, I was captivated. I couldn’t imagine that a place like that with a name like that existed in this century, on this planet. I was living in central Europe at the time, though, so I was standing inside [...]
Archive for the ‘Geography’ category
Escape fantasies
Sometimes I go to this website and look at the pictures and daydream about what I would build, and where, and how I would eke out a nearly cash-free existence. When I’m feeling just a little more practical, I browse this site and think about getting a cheap piece of land somewhere and setting up [...]
Thursday playlist: Loose associations
Last time grandpa fawcett posted here, it was a bunch of gripes. This time it’s a jumble of thoughts and enthusiasms, the ramblings of early dementia: 1.) This song “A Real Hero” by College (feat. Electric Youth) is from the movie Drive. I could not stop playing this song every day, ten times a day, [...]
Irene’s mother
Six years and a week after Katrina, New Orleans is still bustin’ open with music and oysters and muffalettas and floats and masks and slang and cocktails and friendliness. At night the street corners spill over with virtuosic brass bands. In the “right” parts of town, you’d never know anything had changed. Just like always, [...]
Forty-nine mixes later – highlights of trip
My son and I just got back from a 15 day road trip to explore possible college choices. Here are a few highlights. Best Advice, Fun Facts and Wisdom from Student Tour Guides: “The swans living on this pond are the 13th generation from the original swans brought here when the school was established!” “If you [...]
It’s time to hate on NYC!
Last fall, when everyone was posting this (admittedly horribly true) Onion article, I was pretty irritated about it. I still live here, damn it. And it happened to come at a time when it seemed like everyone I know was leaving me to go do something else with their lives. (Looking at you, Dave.) Just [...]
Amsterdam wins?
I have spent many hours in many different airports in the U.S. and Europe. After exhaustive research I propose that Amsterdam Schipohl is the best. It is the only airport I know that provides carts/trolleys for hand luggage. It has a library, a real library. There is a large children’s “forest” play area, which I [...]
Philadelphia means it
For years, I’d heard that Philadelphia was the place to be for New Year’s, and with the arrogance of a proper New Yorker upon hearing anything is good somewhere else, I thought, yes, I’m sure it’s lovely, dear. We have plenty of opportunities to vomit in public right here at home. As for some kind [...]
Cracking up!
One of the highlights of a British Christmas is the Christmas Cracker. Produced for a few pennies, this object, which comprises a cardboard tube, colorful foil paper, a fragile paper hat, a plastic toy, and a bad joke, really gives a lot of bang for the Great British pound. I was going to research the [...]
