Category Archives: Life

Checking In

by Wendy

We aren’t checking in for flights or checking into hotels, just checking in during this strange situation. A blog could always be considered a form of social distancing, a way to connect with others and communicate over distance. So while we probably won’t have any new travel stories to share for awhile, I wanted to check in and send wishes that everyone is safe, healthy and well.

The other night Jack and I mixed drinks and looked through travel photos for about an hour. In our tiny office we traveled from Beaune to Logrono to London to San Sebastian to Paris to Reykjavik to Barcelona and beyond. Our cat prowled around wondering if his pet humans ever plan to leave the house. We reassured him and each other that this will one day be possible again. Dad has said a great trip is equal parts anticipation, participation and recollection – so two-thirds of that is still in play. We can relive and appreciate past travel. We can dream and look forward to future trips with family and friends, to favorite destinations and journeys to new locales. Take good care, everyone.

Books Read in 2019

by Wendy

What did you read in 2019? Any recommendations to share? Here is my annual list of books read over the past 12 months. Several of these were published or translated in recent years, while others are rereads from decades past. I appreciate those that were gifts, as well as ones my sis-in-law leaves behind after visits to the East Coast. Continue reading

In Defense of Aperol Spritz

by Wendy

The recent debate whether Aperol Spritz is a good cocktail is a pointless and stupid one, which makes participation nearly irresistible. This combination of sparkling wine or champagne mixed with Aperol bitter orange liquor (a little lighter than Campari) over ice has been popular for a few years, around the time when trendsetters feel the need to take it down a peg. Sure, the drink can be saccharine if made poorly, or if you knock back too many in a row. But why the disdain? Why the controversy? Aperol Spritz can be wonderfully refreshing and delicious, and it looks so pretty in a glass. As my husband Jack said, Aperol is said and done, we love this drink. Continue reading

Get Back

by Wendy
Get back home. Get back to work. Get back to nature. Get back to the routine. Get back into a fitness routine. Get back to blogging. Get back to where you once belonged.

It can be hard to get back into the daily rhythm after a busy summer of travel. One way of easing the transition is to find something new to appreciate in your city. Jack and I recently visited the National Arboretum in DC for the first time, loved it, and went back a few weeks later. As you can see from Jack’s beautiful photography, this is a gorgeous place. Continue reading

Remembrance of Derby Days Past

by Wendy
It’s been many years since I was in Louisville on the first Saturday of May, otherwise known as Kentucky Derby Day. But I celebrate the event every year.

You’ve no doubt seen the pomp and pageantry on the news. Southern belles with glamorous hats on head and mint juleps in hand, gents in seersucker and sunglasses, dignified horses striding sometimes proudly sometimes flippantly toward their post position. This is fabulous, but there are other Derby Day experiences. I don’t need to eat a slice of Derby pie or drink bourbon to vividly recall times past, but it certainly doesn’t hurt either. Continue reading

Looking Ahead

by Wendy
When manic weather swings from balmy to cold rain, and New Year’s motivation has left the party long ago, and you’re powering through the work routine in the daytime and hibernating at home in the evening, travel adventures can feel far away from reality. Looking back at old photos helps spark inspiration, as well as the reassurance to keep looking ahead. There will be beauty on both familiar and unfamiliar paths. Continue reading

Favorite Dive Bars

by Wendy
What constitutes a great dive bar? I’ve read articles and watched television shows dedicated to the topic. Does a dive bar by definition have to be at least 10 years old? Can a dive bar serve delicious food? Is a dive bar allowed to remodel anything? What if it gets “discovered” – still a dive bar? Who knew it could be so controversial.

I’m no expert. The older I get, the more I gravitate to places not too crowded but lively, not too expensive but with a decent menu, not overly-stylized but with clean facilities. Yet I can think of a few dive bars that have been special to me in the past. Continue reading

Books Read in 2017

by Wendy
One of my resolutions was to read 24 books in 2017. I reached the goal and look forward to aiming for it again in 2018. The list of what I read over the past year follows. It’s an assortment of American, French, English, Russian, Norwegian, Swedish and Spanish writers. Some are classics, some were recently published, and some I’ve read previously and wanted to revisit. I actually love to reread books, which is a good thing because we have an extensive collection and it helps save money.  Continue reading