As I Was Going to Cornwall…
As I was going to Cornwall1 I found a hedgerow, dense and tall After the hike a windy theatre With cliffside seats and comedy feature2 Then on to biomes full of plants, An indoor rainforest, birds and ants3 Fields of flowers, the best bouquet And one to take back home, in gray4 Gates, plays, plants and all How many days was I in Cornwall?5 And finally, some bonus ones Just a few, since I took tons This rhyme is based, as you may know / On one written long ago [↩]The protagonist, a real sad sack / Was Moliere’s hypochondriac...
read more ->Roscoff Skies
After a rainy drive to Roscoff, we were rewarded in clouds. Other rewards included delicious local delicacies (crèpes and cider), a hike around Île de Batz, and a visit to a gorgeous botanical garden. The next day, we were off to Cornwall by ship… Share...
read more ->Quimper in Stained Glass
Whenever I visit a new city, one of my favorite pastimes is photographing stained glass in every church and cathedral I can find. Not the usual, “this is a really big wall of glass and look at all the beautiful colors” photos, but photos of the intricate details that are easily missed when taking in the window as a whole. Why do I do this? Sometimes to find inspiration for my own illustrations. Sometimes because I love the stories the glass portraits tell. Sometimes because they make me laugh. And sometimes, simply because I like...
read more ->Saint-Émilion, Home of the World’s Most Convincing Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Is nine months too late to write an overdue travel post? Last June we found ourselves in peaceful Saint-Émilion, staying in an historic farmhouse in the middle of wine country.1 We began in Bordeaux on the day of a huge wine festival,2 enjoying local wine and the best sunset of our trip. The following day, we explored Saint-Émilion, an ancient city dating back to prehistoric times. We explored Roman ruins, sampled more local wine (of course), confused a cat, and visited a nearby market town with friends. We bought homemade, herb-encrusted...
read more ->Carcassonne, a Day in Verse
Oh! Dear readers, do please accept apologies, for I have kept away too long, and long delayed more stories of our escapades.1 Imagine now an ancient city, fortified, and very pretty. Up to the walls march our young heroes. Unarmed with any sword or spear, so2 luckily equipped with minds astute, we snuck in through the tourist route. The gate was tall, the passage narrow. We tried to shoot through like an arrow but all around us, like molasses were lumpy tourists on their asses.3 (Observing these most grave offenses, we understood the strong...
read more ->Unexpected Concert
Sometimes life in Morocco can be frustrating. If I need to fill out paperwork at the police station, send a package, or have the plumbing fixed, for instance. And sometimes it is just lovely. 8:45pm on a Tuesday. A lone trumpet echoes across the street outside. Soon a drum joins in. I wander over to the window, and there–in the street–is a full brass band. As they launch into a traditional wedding song, children gather around them and begin to dance. Neighbors lean out of their windows and stand in doorways. I spot one dancing...
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