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Reading adventures, Pt. 16: Lisbon, city of bookstores
As both an avid reader and a semi-professional book dragon, I try to make a point of visiting bookstores in every city I visit. (After all, what could be batter souvenir than a book that gets all the trip memories associated with it?) Most of the time, this involves me doing a bit of research…
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Reading adventures, Pt. 15: Spies and seaside chicanery in Estoril
Driving from windy, hilly Lisbon to the sun-drenched streets of Estoril feels like entering a totally different world. Gone are the hundreds of staircases that feel insurmountable after a day of climbing for views; the graffiti that line the walls in a riotous display of free speech. Instead, palm trees and sandy beaches and resort-style…
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Reading Adventures, Pt. 14: Lisbon, The Lusiads, and learning a culture
I’ve spent close to 75% of the last month on the road (I’m writing this from a plane seat!). And while that means I haven’t had the most time to write, it does mean I’ve built up a big stack of readerly thoughts to share with you. There’s content to come on mysteries, and adaptations,…
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Reading Adventures, Pt. 13: A murder, a flock, and the Pacific sunset
I know most of the country has been battling mountains of snow this week… But I’m lucky enough to be in California, and Mr. Owlet treated me to a special stay in Elk for a lovely dinner and hours spent reading by the sea. We were somehow the only two guests at the Harbor House…
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Reading Adventures, Pt. 12: Ghosts and spies in the City That Never Sleeps
After a cozy weekend spent in small-town America, it was time for a full 180. You can’t get much more “big city” than the Big Apple! Bright, loud, and full of life, there’s someplace to go and someone to see in every visit I make. But between the dinners and the cozy hangouts, I made…
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Reading Adventures, Pt. 11: Small Towns, Big Flavors – A Journey with Marilyn Hagerty’s Grand Forks
Long-time TCO fans may have picked up that I’m a city gal at heart. I love my life in San Francisco, with its walkable streets and abundance of creative restaurants. But I grew up taking many road trips, where I developed a deep love for small towns and their quirks. It’s that love that made…
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Reading adventures, Pt. 10: Lemons + learning on the Amalfi Coast
After bidding goodbye to the City of Flowers, we met some friends for a lovely week on the Amalfi Coast – known for lemons, linens, and beautiful ceramic tiles. The sheer cliffs and clear blue waters were a welcome respite from the inland heat. And I was looking forward to a week of lazing around…
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Reading adventures, Pt. 8: Architectural awe in the City of Flowers
From Rome, we took a quick train ride to Firenze / Florence. Fresh off the Roman nonfiction success, I was excited to repeat the approach and see how I felt. And for Florence, that meant reading about the Renaissance. As I would soon discover, the city center preserves that era, eschewing the more layered approach…
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Reading adventures, Pt. 7: Murder and marvels in Ancient Rome
It is once again time for this blog to move from strictly reading-focused to a combination of travelogue with literary musings sprinkled in. Last year, we explored Spain and Nice; this year, I’ve gone further east to Italy. Specifically, I’ve spent the last two weeks roaming Rome / Lazio, Florence, and the Amalfi Coast. There’s…
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Reading adventures: Mysteries in the Tahoe snow
It is truly Winter here in the Bay – the skies are grey, the streets are drenched. Which means, of course, that it’s the right time of year for a trip to Lake Tahoe. I love Lake Tahoe, even though I find Winter Tahoe to be strictly worse than its summer sibling. I’ve been up…