Torino’s a Architectually Rich City, and Fun Too
We left France early and drove through the 11 km Mt Blanc tunnel, and it was sunny as we drove the winding road to Torino. This is a delightful city, about 900,000 inhabitants, settled 2000 years ago, and full of porticoes, students and wide open piazzas. Carol our guide pointed […]
Le Dru Challenges Climbers in the Sea of Ice
This is much steeper than it looks! After watching these ice hikers, we went back down and ran to catch a train. It was the cog mountain railway that took us up a steep grade to the other side of the mountain, to the Mer de Glace. Chamonix, we learned […]
Walking the Knife Edge on Mt Blanc
Today I was humbled by the towering edifices which nature has plunked down here in Northwestern France. We got up early and drove to the famous ski town of Chamonix. Our destination was that big ole mountain we saw from the air yesterday: Mount Blanc. In front of the cable […]
Only the French Admit to Still Smoking
There was a telling moment as we were touring a chalet at La Ferme de Marie, an upscale hotel chain with outposts here in Megeve, Province, Lyon and other French cities. Our tour guide was showing us the upstairs bedroom of a beautiful large wooden beamed chalet that was available […]
Dipping and Swooping Amidst Mt Blanc’s Glaciers
After a hike in the clean Alpine air, strolling up through the mountains outside of Megeve, we all felt renewed and refreshed. We were relaxed and happy…so what else but to have another giant meal? No, this one wasn’t as spectacular, just the usual two courses and wine, and we […]
Is This a Luxury Prison, Or Is There a Switch?
I awoke to a totally darkened room here in my luxury off-season room in Chalet Alice. What gives? Try as I might, I see no way to lift up these metal shades that have clamped down, blocking my Alpine view. Whoa, it’s like a very well-appointed prison, no way to […]
Romanee Conte, 2000 Vintage…Nearly Priceless
We visited the cellar at this Relais and Chateau property, Domain du Mont d’Arbois in Megev, and I asked if he had any Romanee Conte. “Oh yes,” said Francois, “more than a few cases.” This wine is the ultimate treasure for wine lovers. It’s so rare and is only made […]
Don’t Do This to Me, I’m Fat Enough Already
This goes out to anyone who has ever been on a press trip. You know the suffering. The madness. The ‘it’s already time to eat? We just had lunch’ feeling you sometimes get when your hosts want you to sample their cuisine and pile it on. I’m sure I’ll get […]
Braised Mangoes, Spinach and Toasted Almonds: Cafe Salad
I tried writing this post on my cute new iPhone. But it was useless, I really can’t write anything more than a few words with that absurdly small keyboard, even though the letters do conveniently jump up and enlarge themselves for you. One would have to have the slenderest of […]
McCain’s Secret Weapon
This is going to be a tough one….I mean, women in skirts like this get what they want. I was all pumped up about the Democrat’s chances after watching Obama wow the football stadium. Now I am worried that this secret weapon of McCain’s will be our undoing. Even though […]
Our Turnaround Hope is to Sell a Huge Pick-up
Bad news on the front page of today’s Gazette. The local Dodge dealer might close. It is hardly a surprise after what I read in last night’s WSJ about the company’s strategic plan for a future recovery. It is stupendously out of touch with reality, since the story said their […]
Lunch at Mountain Huts–Who Can Say No?
The cool air of fall is upon us, and even if summer is scheduled to be here through Sept 21, it’s chilly and feels so much different now. Last night I went out and copied my friend Larry by buying an ipod Touch. What this sleek device offers is super […]
Ouch, Oh God, That’s Gotta Hurt
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a television program that forces you to laugh so hard at such terrible and painful things happening to strangers. It’s ABC’s Wipeout, and watching professional cheerleaders, aeronautical engineers, and former college football players bounce hard off of six-foot round rubber balls or get punched […]
Nobody Wants to Be Chief
Visiting Colombia’s remote and rarely visited Pacific coast last week, we met a man who has worked to help local people there become responsible and promote entrepreneurship. It’s an uphill battle, Guillermo Gomez told us, as we sat having coffee in the open air ramada where he keeps the motorboats […]
Building a Missile Silo up on Mt Sugarloaf
It felt great to be back in the cafe once again. One bit of news that perked me up was when Sara told me that one of the producers of the film “Edge of Darkness,” part of which will be shot on top of Mount Sugarloaf, had stopped by the […]
Tales of the Drug Old Days in Colombia
One of my favorite parts of any overseas trip are those times after dinner when you get a chance to relax and talk with the local hosts. At El Cantil, in remote Nuqui, Colombia, Memo Gomez and his wife Nana lingered with us and told us about what life was […]
How Much Do Things Cost in Colombia?
It´s a welcome relief to be traveling in a place where the dollar buys a lot of pesos and nothing seems very expensive. Tonight we went to one of the coolest places in Medellin, Colombia, the Plaza de Posada and joined hundreds of Paisas watching a very important soccer match. […]