Making Mustard in Dijon
Mustard is a big deal here in Dijon. I met a women today who makes mustard every day, showing tourists and locals how to combine the seeds, some salt, and verjus, the juice of green grapes to make the perfect blend. At La Cuisine de Madeleine, Valerie Grandet showed […]
Dinner on a Barge in Dijon Sheds Light on France in 2013
There is no better way to get to know a country than to spend half a day with a group of tourism officials, especially if it involves sitting at a table with plenty of wine. Today among the things I learned about tourists and France is that there is a […]
“May I See Your Photos?” She Asked, while Burgundy France Whizzed By
I’m in my Dijon hotel room after a long journey starting in Boston and travel by car, TGV train and good old walking. I had some time to hang out at the Gare de Lyon in Paris after I took the Cars Air France bus from Charles de Gaulle Airport […]
Thought I Could Forego the Lighter Fluid on the Grill…But No
There are a lot of things swirling around in my head on this sultry May evening. First, I had to abandon my notion of a totally green barbecue when my plan to use newspaper and small twigs inside a can didn’t light the briquettes right. So I trudged over to […]
Ancient 1990s Technology Finally Gives Way on GoNOMAD Travel
I have made my living by publishing the GoNOMAD Travel website since 2005. It’s not something I fit into my life as a sideline or a hobby, it’s the main thing I do to bring bread to the table. When I bought the site in 2002, the travel articles were […]
Layaali and Life In the 413: Two Great Nights in the Big City
Two nights in the Big City: I enjoyed the same Old Speckled Hen lager at McLadden’s Irish Pub two nights in a row after two different nights out in Northampton. Both were memorable and say a lot about the quality of our local nightlife and the arts scene here in […]
Life in the 413: You’ve Gotta Live Here to Get It
I have lived in the Valley since 1978. Most of my best friends are also 30 or 35 year veterans of this old 413, so most of them will get a big kick out of the show that’s being performed on Saturday night at Theater 14 at Smith College. Life […]
France is Coming Up…Another Great Reason to Keep Travel Blogging
Regular blogging has its rewards. I am happy to report the fruits of my blogging that came through a couple of weeks ago. And this also speaks to the power of social media as a connecting glue that keeps people on other people’s minds. I say this because I am […]