In fiction about the 19th century, you see them everywhere: they’re carrying tea trays, opening doors, serving dinner, or wandering about decoratively at balls wearing powdered wigs and knee-breeches with silk stockings, carrying trays of champagne glasses. I’m referring, of … Continue reading
Join me for a celebration of Easter on my first trip through the Greek islands. NOTE: I’ll resume my Virtual Italy Vacation posts next week with the Vatican Museum. This week, I’m revisiting memories of my first backpacking trip around … Continue reading
Now that my household are all past our second shots, we are beginning to step, very slowly and carefully, back into something resembling normal life. No, we haven’t had any friends over for dinner; and no, we haven’t been inside … Continue reading
I am watching “Death in Venice” (Luchino Visconti, 1971). Dirk Bogarde is enjoying a feature spot on the Criterion Channel—11 movies, including those of his stunningly dark characters in “The Servant” and “The Night Porter”. I am old enough to … Continue reading
Your virtual Italy vacation continues as Thor and I visit St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican in Rome. NOTE: Since travel is still on hold with the pandemic continuing, I’ve started a new blog series offering a virtual vacation and … Continue reading
In these days of Title IX when young women can participate in pretty much any sport they choose, it’s easy to forget that not much over a hundred years ago, anything much more strenuous than a decorous horseback ride in … Continue reading
Your virtual Italy vacation continues as Thor and I ramble across the Tiber River to Rome’s Trastevere district, and more. NOTE: Since travel is still on hold with the pandemic continuing, I’ve started a new blog series offering a virtual … Continue reading
It isn’t literally true that now that spring is making its presence known, my husband has left me for the garden–it just seems that way sometimes. Actually, I jest: I thoroughly approve of his efforts out there. If I wasn’t … Continue reading
Picture from here. I am, of course, talking about Philip K. Dick’s Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner. There. Will. Be. Spoilers. … Continue reading
From the Sublime to the Macabre! Your Italy virtual vacation continues with the beautifully preserved Pantheon and a chapel decorated with Friars’ bones. NOTE: Since travel is still on hold with the pandemic continuing, I’ve started a new blog series … Continue reading
