Monthly Archives: October 2014
“Terra incognita”, by Sara Wheeler, Vintage
Did you ever come across a travel book that you have to read only in tiny bites, small series of pages in order to prevent you from saying “Ah, sod it” and leave the bus-train-metro-sofa where you were reading it, airport-bound? … Continue reading
Food for the road: rabbit legs and Vitelotte potatoes
A few days ago I left the Alpine Lys Valley, where I visited my friend Federico’s new business Paysage à Manger, with some kilos’ worth of potatoes of four different types, species that have been unavailable from our tables for … Continue reading
(Shameless advertisement) A new enhancement! A new page! Oooh!
…yes, much like those airlines that put up such a circus for having change their logo in the most imperceptible way (yes Cathay Pacific, I’m talking about you) I’m devolving a whole post to a rather minor change on this … Continue reading
Faithful London – Buddhapadipa Temple, Wimbledon
This is part 2 of my journey to discover if, and how, Londoners still practice religion. After visiting Chiswick’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral I made my way to Wimbledon where, hidden among the multi-million pound villas dotting the hill around the … Continue reading
Postcards from Tokyo
“…we’ll wait a little for a signal to turn green before entering Earl’s Court station, apologies for the inconvenience” the voice on the tannoy said to a chorus of groans, moans and a choreography of rolling eyes. Framed in a … Continue reading
Food for the road: Maluns, Graubünden style
A few days ago I left the Alpine Lys Valley, where I visited my friend Federico’s new business Paysage à Manger, with some kilos’ worth of potatoes of four different types, species that have been unavailable from our tables for quite … Continue reading
Faithful London – Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Chiswick
A few weeks ago I happened to be watching Simon Sebag Montefiore’s series of documentaries about Istanbul. What fascinated me, besides the undeniable beauty of that city, was how power – and religion – seemed to form the very fabric … Continue reading
Back to the roots: the return of agriculture in the Alps
“We decided to grow potatoes because potatoes were the staple that fuelled the Alps’ demographic boom”, explains Federico, a hand gesture encircling the tiny field, no longer than half a football field, stretching on front of us. With hindsight, finding … Continue reading
Granville Island Market, Vancouver
Immediately south of downtown Vancouver lies Granville Island. The fact that this is actually a peninsula gives me room to think that locals have a thing for giving the wrong names to places, a suspicion that is confirmed by the … Continue reading
“Shadow of the Silk Road”, by Colin Thubron
The first time I took this book in my hands I almost regretted buying it. Mind you, it was a cheap bargain at Turnham Green’s Oxfam branch, so at least I was sure that those £2.90 had not been wasted, … Continue reading