I don’t much like the beach. Sure, a beach all sounds so wonderful: the surf, the sand, the sun. And yet, that surf is bracing cold ten months a year, the other months being hurricane season, and the salt water leaves this weird skin film and also you can’t rule out jellyfish. That sand is…… Continue reading Beach Boy
Tag: Travel
Mangeot of the Somewhat Nordlands: Among Les Français, 2018
Lately my traveling alter ego Mangeot of the Nordlands has chronicled expeditions through Norway, Quebec, and now France. Try not to judge him too hard. He means well. 13 April — Tours We arrive among Les Français (meaning “They who put sauces on anything”) at their chief aerodrome of Paris. It is a grand city…… Continue reading Mangeot of the Somewhat Nordlands: Among Les Français, 2018
True Splat: Behind “La Tomatina”
There are rules to the Tomatina. In their great wisdom, the Spanish have come to publish guidelines for their annual by-the-thousands tomato fight. No whipping soaked tee-shirts as weapons, for one. No throwing shoes or anything of beanball substance. Just squished tomatoes. Those you can throw at anyone in sight. For one hour. It takes…… Continue reading True Splat: Behind “La Tomatina”
Behind: “What Settles After the Stars”
One fated French night in 1700 or thereabouts, so the story goes, Dom Pierre Pérignon was stalking his Hautevillers cellar, turning his bottles, and the great monk decided then was as good a time as any to have a taste. And what he tasted went down crisp and bright and bubbly, the first modern champagne.…… Continue reading Behind: “What Settles After the Stars”