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Camille Roberrini is Going Places in Reims

Camille Roberrini of Reims Tourism.

I met an ambitious, smart and bold young woman tonight who took me to dinner in Reims. She owns her own house in a small village, she’s the assistant to the director of the city’s important tourism board, and she’s traveled by herself to far flung places like Bulgaria, Egypt, […]

Champagne Drappier Is a Seven-Generation House with New Blood Coming In

Champagne Drappier Is a Seven-Generation House with New Blood Coming In

In front of a crackling fireplace sat an 87-year-old Champagne maker and his son. We were at Champagne Drappier, in the country village of Urville, where this family has been making fine champagne and other wines since 1808, seven generations of family business.  They’re one of the biggest family-owned producers […]

Making Mustard in Dijon

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

aboard the barge Cancale in Dijon

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 […]

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

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 […]

The AP Will Cover a Local Speller –for a Fee

The AP Will Cover a Local Speller –for a Fee

The Associated Press is teaming up with an outfit called eByline to offer paid editorial.  Their email said that they could offer me 200 words about a local speller who is participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee for $100. It’s going to be featured on the AP Wire, so […]

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